The light changed and the car spun its wheels trying to get traction. Finally did and shot forward. The driver hit the brakes and went sideways, pulling it back around before doing a full donut.

"I think we should light them up." Poulson reached for the shifter.

"No, I'm sure it's okay. Let them go."

"I'm just saying-"

Holm sighed, tossed the parenting tips into the backseat. "Maybe, I don't know, follow them a little. See that they get home okay. But do you really want to get out in this?"

"Cold air's good for the heart." He shifted into D and inched forward from their shelter on the East side of the abandoned Chinese buffet, shut down for health violations. Shame. Holm was craving their barbecued pork. Soon as they cleared the wall, it felt like a crowd of bodybuilders was pushing the squad car sideways.

Poulson eased in behind the car, kept a good thirty feet or so between them, but it wasn't like it was hard to tell what was up. Even on a blizzard-free day, they couldn't follow someone in New Pheasant Run without being seen. The town only had two main streets that criss-crossed right before downtown-College and Main. They were on College.

"Going to be okay, Cindy? Need a break?"

"Fine, fine. Keep going."

"When are you taking leave, anyway?"

"You in a hurry to get rid of me?"

Poulson blushed. "It'll be hard talking to myself. I don't think they can spare a replacement."

"I figure a couple of months."

"Don't I get one more run at you while you still can? God knows you've been teasing me." Smiling.