While Tim Jamieson ate lunch on the rail depot porch, Sheriff John Ashworth arrived to sit and talk. Sheriff John reported that Absimil Dobira was expected to be okay and that Absimil’s brother, Gutaale, had joined him at the hospital. Sheriff John added that Gutaale had seen the two suspects before, implying the store had been cased, and said he had sent Tag Faraday to take both brothers’ statements.

Sheriff John praised Tim’s response the previous night, contrasting Tim’s speed and decisiveness with the likely slower responses of Deputies Gibson and Burkett, and suggesting Wendy Gullickson was far better at dispatch and clerical work than field duty. Tim acknowledged Wendy’s strengths on dispatch.

Sheriff John then offered Tim a path onto the department: with Bill Wicklow turning in his badge at the end of the year, Bill could become the Night Knocker while Tim would put on a uniform and carry a gun again as a deputy. Sheriff John said he had already spoken with Bill, who was open to the swap.

Tim asked for time to consider the offer, and Sheriff John agreed, noting there were still five months until year’s end and that the department would be glad to have Tim. When Tim asked if that welcome included Wendy, Sheriff John said Tim had won her over significantly with his performance the previous night.

On a personal note, Sheriff John encouraged Tim to ask Wendy to dinner and suggested venues other than Bev’s, such as the Roundup in Dunning or a Mexican restaurant in Hardeeville. Tim thanked him for the advice and said he would think about the job.

The scene closed with narration that Tim continued to consider the offer, and a foreboding line indicated that a significant, chaotic event would occur on a hot night later that summer.