Chapter 7
Parker
We only worked for another thirty minutes when Detective Morris threw down his pen and stood up. “It’s late. I’m calling it a night.” Without a wave or acknowledgement, the man walked out the door, leaving the rest of us to stare at the closed door.
As SSA Walker stood up. The rest of us quickly began to put away our folders and laptops.
Sounds of rustling papers and scraping chairs filled the room.
As I slung my satchel over my shoulder, I glanced up at Detective Nakamura to see that he was already watching me.
I walked over to him and stuck out my hand.
“We haven’t really been introduced other than our names,” I said. “It’s good to meet you, Detective.”
His expression softened as he took my hand in his. His hand was calloused more than most law enforcement officers would be, and I knew he spent real time on the farm working with his partner. He looked down at me with a soft smile. “It’s good to meet you as well, Special Agent.”
I felt my face heat. “Are you sure it’s okay for me to stay in one of the cabins?” I asked quietly. “I know your partner’s aunt said it would be, but if it’s any trouble…”
“No trouble at all, I promise you,” he said. “Come on, let’s head out. I’m sure you’re hungry after such a long day. The housekeeper makes a large meal every night. There will be plenty if you’d like to eat in the main house,” he said as we walked to the elevator.
We stopped with the rest of the group and waited for the doors to open. I could feel eyes on us but ignored them, knowing SSA Walker was carefully listening to every word. “You’re sure it will be okay? I can grab something and eat in my cabin. I wouldn’t want to intrude.”
“Trust me, Gage wouldn’t mind in the least. Our other friend, Dante, might not join us, but he doesn’t always anyway. I’m sure eventually you’ll meet him, though.”
We stepped onto the elevator, and we were all silent on the short ride down to the first floor. As we walked through the now quiet police station, I asked, “Gage, is that your partner’s name?”
He nodded and grinned down at me. “Yeah. He’s a little… quiet. I guess you can say stoic. I’d blame it on his time in the military, but from what his family has told me, he’s always been that way, even as a kid.”
I nodded, understanding what he meant. Some people just weren’t the chatty type. I was okay with that. “I’m going to go grab my suitcase from the van. Where are you parked?”
“I’ll come with you,” he said, keeping in step with me.
Not wanting to argue, I simply accepted.
When we reached the van I’d arrived in, I opened the back and reached for my suitcase, but before I could grab it, Detective Nakamura took hold of the handle, easily lifted it from the van, set it on the ground, then raised the handle.
“Thanks,” I said and took the handle from him. It seemed the detective had manners.
“SA Parker,” my team leader spoke from right behind me, making me startle.
“Yes, Sir?” I asked as I turned around.
“Don’t forget,” he began, looking between the detective and me. “I expect nightly phone calls letting me know you’re safe.” His gaze landed on the man beside me with a small glare of warning. I wanted to give him a glare of my own, but held back for the sake of my job.
“I will text,” I reiterated my earlier concession.
“Goodnight, Sir. See you in the morning!” I called out to the rest of the team.
I gave him a nod and turned to Detective Nakamura to see him completely unfazed by my supervisor’s warning.
“Ready?” He nodded and led me through the parking lot to stop next to a mid-sized SUV.
After depositing my luggage in the back of his vehicle, he walked around to the passenger side and opened the door for me. He stood there as I climbed inside. “Make sure you buckle up. Wouldn’t want your boss angry at me for not keeping you safe,” he said with a wink.
My face felt hot at his words, as well as the wink he gave me.
I wondered if he’d sensed the over the top concern my supervisor had for me.
I hoped he didn’t look down on me for the unwanted attention.
When he climbed inside and started the engine, I fidgeted with my hands, wondering if I should bring it up or just let it go.
I didn’t have to wonder anymore as he turned onto the road from the parking lot and started heading out of town.
“So, are you and your boss dating?” he asked casually, though I could sense the tenseness in his tone and see the way his knuckles tightened on the wheel as he waited for my answer.
I couldn’t help the small groan that escaped as soon as the words left his lips. “No. Absolutely not,” I said adamantly.
“Does he know that?” Detective Nakamura asked, but I saw some of the rigidity leaving his hands.
I laughed softly and shook my head. “I have tried to make it clear that my job comes first and I can’t be in a relationship with him.”
“But he’s not taking no for an answer?” he asked as he side-eyed me.
I looked out my window to see that we’d left the town and were driving down a road with a lot of large, mature trees. Not quite a forest, but not just open fields of cattle like I had expected. It was pretty. “I wouldn’t quite say it that way. Perhaps, hopeful would be a better description.”
He hummed in the back of his throat, and I wasn’t sure if he agreed with me or not. Then he eyed me again, this time with a small smile. “So, do you have a first name, or should I just call you Special Agent?”
I laughed softly. “I go by Parker,” I admitted.
I hadn’t used my first name in years. It felt too weird and childish when I was trying to appear self-sufficient as a mature adult woman in a male-dominated career.
“What’s your name, or should I just call you Detective?
” I teased. I realized how comfortable I felt in his presence.
I hadn’t felt so at ease with someone in a long time.
I couldn’t remember the last time I had laughed or teased someone. I had to wonder why.”
“My name is Ryu, but most everyone calls me Ry.”
“Nice to meet you, Ry,” I said softly.
“Same to you, Parker,” he grinned at me as he turned onto a long driveway. It was just wide enough for two vehicles to pass each other carefully, and I stared at the window at the long fields lined with wooden fences on both sides.
“It’s really pretty out here,” I admitted. “I thought it would be more like the drive was when we came into town from the airfield.”
“Yeah, it’s nice,” he said. “I’m originally from up north in a big city.
I had never lived on a farm until I moved here with Gage.
I wasn’t sure I’d like it, but it grew on me quickly.
It’s quiet and peaceful. Except when the rooster starts crowing at the crack of dawn,” he laughed under his breath.
I wondered about his story. There was a hint of sadness in his tone that made me wonder if he truly missed the city, or if there was something more.
A large, breathtaking house appeared in the distance.
It looked like it had been standing for decades, definitely not one of the newer, modern houses I’d seen between the trees on the drive.
It was white with wooden siding. Black trim and shutters brought it into the 21st century.
At the same time, a huge front porch looked like it was made for sitting and staring out into the fields while drinking a big glass of ice cold lemonade.
I could almost picture the beautiful woman from the inn doing just that with a man by her side, looking at her with hearts in his eyes.
I shook my head at my wistfulness. “I’m surprised his aunt gave this place up. Though I’m sure it would have been too much work for one woman to take care of.”
“She’s a great woman,” Ry said. After her husband passed, she didn’t want to live in this big old house anymore. Too many memories. I guess it hurt too much.”
I nodded without saying a word. I understood perfectly.
After my sister was taken from us, it was like her ghost lived in the walls.
As much as I loved her, my heart ached every time I walked past her room.
Every time I sat on the couch where we spent hours playing video games, I would feel that familiar ache building inside me until I hurt so much that I needed an outlet for the pain.
I gripped my thighs tightly, trying to dispel the memories.
We drove past the large house and continued on to a row of four much smaller ones a short distance away.
They were cute, painted to resemble the main house.
It was lovely. I was honestly excited to get out and explore.
I couldn’t wait to look around the cabin, but I also wondered if I’d have time to walk around the farm while I stayed here.
Unfortunately, I had a feeling that it wasn’t in the cards.
We were here to work, after all. We had a murderer to catch.
Ry parked in front of the small cabin and climbed out of the SUV.
I met him at the back of the vehicle as he was pulling my single suitcase out.
“I’ll carry it so it doesn’t get dirty,” he told me with a wink.
I wanted to protest, but just smiled while trying to ignore what that wink had done to my insides.
It seemed the more I was around the guy, the more butterflies multiplied in my belly.
“Thanks,” I murmured and followed him up the single step to reach the porch.
It was reminiscent of the main house’s design.
Though obviously not as elegant, it was very charming.
He produced a single key from his pocket, dangling from a butterfly keychain.
A sudden lump in my throat had me choking as I tried desperately to swallow back the unexpected storm of emotions that the sight of the butterfly gave me.
I quickly turned my head so the observant detective wouldn’t see.