Tested by Fire. Kathryn Springer

Marty.”

      “Excuse me.” Finn tried to move past them, but Ricky stepped in front of her again.

      Colin suddenly slipped alongside them like a shadow and planted himself next to Finn. She reached down, feeling comforted by his presence. “Stay, Colin,” she said, hoping the dog would actually listen to her.

      Ricky glanced down at the shepherd, whose lips had curled back to expose a set of intimidating teeth. He took a wary step away from her.

      “See you later, Officer.”

      Finn nodded briefly and started to run again, aware of the fact they were watching her. Marty apparently found something else amusing, because his laughter echoed down the street behind her.

      “You must be a good judge of character, Colin,” she said. “And by the way, thanks for your support.”

      Colin dashed into a row of bushes and emerged half a block away. When she whistled, he ignored her.

      “At least your timing is good.” She shook her head.

      A half an hour later, she jogged back up her grandparents’ driveway. All the lights were out except for the guestroom upstairs.

      She had been so tempted to confide in John about her problems at the department. The small changes in her reports, the missing court notice. Would he accuse her of not concentrating? Of not being able to handle the job? She had no proof that someone was undermining her work.

      Lord, You see what’s going on…show me what to do.

      She got ready for bed and curled up in her favorite chair with her Bible.

      I love thee, O Lord, my strength.

      The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

      I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, And I am saved from my enemies.

      The words sunk deep and spread like a balm through her, loosening the cords of frustration and giving her strength. David had been a soldier. She felt a common bond with him. He had been called at a young age to stand against evil. He knew what is was like to be pursued. To be afraid.

      You were his refuge. His shield. And You are mine, too.

      Finn wrote a few paragraphs in her journal and then began lifting her family and friends up in prayer. Looking out the window, she could see the light still glowing in John’s room and she prayed for him, too.

      The next morning, John was waiting for her by the garage. She tried not to notice that he looked incredible in casual gray chinos and a green-and-gray checked cotton shirt. In his hand was an official-looking leather briefcase.

      “Good morning.”

      “Finn.”

      “Did you know that Chief Larson made it mandatory for everyone to attend your training session this morning?” Finn asked. “Just so you understand why the guys who’d normally be off duty today are glaring at you.”

      John slipped into the passenger side of her Jeep. “Thanks for the heads-up.”

      “Do I get a preview of today’s lesson, Agent Gabriel?” She flipped the visor down out of habit and checked her hair, pulled out a tube of her favorite lipstick and then saw the look on John’s face. “What?”

      “You’re primping,” he said in disbelief.

      “But never while I’m driving.” She flashed him a saucy grin.

      That remark was rewarded with one of John’s reluctant smiles.

      “I’m going to give a mini-seminar on Internet crime,” he said. “Computers are like anything else—they can be a weapon in the wrong hands. Law enforcement has to keep up with the changing technology or the criminals have an advantage.”

      Finn glanced at him. “Is this your area?”

      “One of them,” John admitted.

      “Your favorite?”

      He shrugged, but she had seen the spark flare in his eyes. The spark of passion for an area of his chosen career.

      “What’s yours?” he asked. “Besides trying to get little old ladies safely across the busy streets of Miranda Station?”

      How to answer that unexpected question… Finn turned the car into the parking lot of the police station. “I guess I haven’t been an officer long enough to find out.”

      She wasn’t about to tell John that there were too many days that her job was frustrating. She was only a small cog in the wheel of law enforcement. If she made an arrest, it went to the DA, who determined whether there was enough evidence to prosecute. If she made a referral to Social Services, then a case worker took over and made a determination. Too many times she felt as if she were wearing her own handcuffs. It was one of the unexpected struggles she’d faced since becoming a police officer. One she hadn’t voiced to anyone but God.

      They got out of the car and walked toward the station. John suddenly paused just outside the doors.

      “I’ve got to make a phone call. You can go in without me.”

      “All right.” Finn wondered about the quicksilver change in his mood. She had the feeling that John didn’t make it a habit to share much of himself, but for a brief moment during their conversation in the car, it felt as if they’d had a connection.

      Then again, maybe she’d only imagined it.

      John waited until she had disappeared inside, pulled out his cell phone and called time-and-temperature, then walked in alone. He didn’t want any of the guys Finn worked with to see them come in together. He couldn’t let anyone think he and Finn were friends if he was going to try to get a handle on what was going on with her at the P.D.

      The small conference room had been set up for his presentation, and Finn was right—the looks he got when he walked in told him exactly what some of them thought about being called in on their day off.

      Finn was already sitting in the front of the room, an empty chair on either side of her. The rest of them were filled. After that one brief glance, John didn’t look at her again.

      He spent two hours updating them on the latest ways to use computers to catch criminals and another hour answering their questions. After the first fifteen minutes of his talk, there was a change in the room. Even the most disgruntled officer was leaning forward, listening intently. John judged his presentation a success by that one officer. Carl Davis. Davis also asked the most questions. When Finn asked a question, however, he noticed two of the officers behind her look at each other. One of them rolled his eyes and the other, Wes Garrett, smirked. It was an intelligent question, showing that Finn had been paying attention, but he couldn’t show his approval.

      Still, the temptation to make the guys eat their ASP batons was great.

      The officers drifted away when the session was over, and Finn approached him while he was packing up his materials.

      “Thank you. Your presentation was great.”

      He shrugged off her praise. “Part of the job. And now I owe Seamus one less favor.”

      “He never worked here, but you’d think he’d run the department at one time,” Finn said. “He and Chief Larson are golfing buddies.”

      Another interesting tidbit of information that might explain why Finn was hired, John thought. He slowed his movements, waiting for the room to clear.

      “Go ahead and take my car home,” Finn said. “I’ll get dropped off at the end of my shift anyway.” She handed him her keys.

      “Thanks.”

      Mike Alloway appeared in the doorway. “Kelly, I need you to mail some evidence to the crime lab. Think you can find your way to the post office?”