An Unlikely Match

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“I don’t see why not,” Claire said. “But before we decide, I have to go back to the town hall and make sure everything’s okay, and then I have to see if SueAnn can stay at the shop until nine tonight.” In Heron Point, it was prudent to stay open late on Fridays and Saturdays when the tourists were in town.

She took Jane’s hand and they headed toward the office. It had been a busy day. The tour of Dolphin Run had been cut short once Claire and Jack had discovered Curtis and his cats. It had taken some doing, but Claire had finally convinced Jack to bring Curtis and his menagerie back to town. She’d returned to the mayor’s office for a while and then worked at Wear It Again until it was time to do crossing-guard duty and meet Bella for tea. Claire didn’t know where Jack had spent the rest of the afternoon. He’d only told her he was going back to the inn to continue his exploration.

But she knew where he was now.

Jane tugged on Claire’s hand. “Look, Mommy, isn’t that the man who came to our house last night?”

“Yes, honey, it is.” Jack was in front of the town hall talking with Gail and Lou, one of the department’s service aides. Jack seemed absorbed in scrutinizing the details of one of the green-and-white golf carts used by Heron Point law enforcement. Claire hushed Jane and stood off to the side to listen to the conversation.

“So this is what the police regularly use?” Jack said. “A pair of golf carts?”

“They’re all we need,” Lou said, with the authoritative voice he’d used for decades in a Florida classroom. Like many of Heron Point’s residents, he’d come to the town to retire, but had decided to take the service aide position to fill his hours.

Gail, a recent graduate of Florida State University’s criminal justice department, nodded enthusiastically. “See, we mounted these red and blue lights on top of the carts so people know they’re official.” She reached inside the cart, flicked a switch and the lights came to life.

Claire remained behind a crowd of people where she wouldn’t be seen by her officers or Jack.

Jack folded his arms over his chest and gave the rotating lights appropriate interest. “You can’t mean you actually pursue criminals in these things.”

Lou frowned just a bit, causing his bushy white eyebrows to meet in the center of his forehead. “We sure do. You can do that in a town where there are as many golf carts as cars. And where the crime rate is low.”

“Have you ever caught anybody?”

Lou puffed his chest out with pride. “People in this town know that these carts mean business. If they see the lights, they pull over.” He motioned for Gail to turn off the blinkers. “You want to take her for a spin?” he asked Jack.