Chapter Ten #2
He grinned at her. It was that charming smile that she’d always loved.
“You’re right, you’ll probably see me tomorrow.
Now that I know you’re working the mid-shift, I intend to eat my lunch in your section.
I’ll complain about the food and the service and I’ll leave you a five percent tip,” he said, repeating his fake threats.
She couldn’t help but laugh. “You are such a goofball.”
He reached up as if to cup her cheek, but dropped his hand back to his side and instead opened the door. “Good night, Dominique,” he said as he turned back to her. “You know I’m here for you. As I’ve told you before, if something happens that frightens or concerns you, then call me.”
“I will. Good night, Luke.”
He disappeared out the door and she closed and locked it behind him. She went back to the sofa and collapsed into the corner.
The fact that he’d turned down the offer to stay the night with her, to be intimate again with her made her realize that it was possible she really had only been a job to him.
Sure, they’d been intimate the one time, but maybe he’d only slept with her because he was curious and wanted to explore his physical desire for her. He’d satisfied his curiosity and now he was done with that aspect of their relationship.
A wave of unexpected sadness swept through her. She hadn’t expected it would be so difficult to tell him goodbye. But now it was done and it was time she think about her future.
Maybe it was time she started dating. Maybe it was time for her to agree to go out with some of the men who had invited her out over the past few months. One of them could be the man of her dreams…the one who would give her children and a happily-ever-after.
If she was ever going to find a husband, the only way she could do it was to begin dating again. Would Luke start dating now that his evenings belonged to himself again?
She knew he wanted to find that special woman, the one who would fit into his life of routine and structure. She could only wish him well because more than anything she wanted to see Luke happy.
GUTTED, LUKE SAT in his car, not yet ready to drive home. He stared at the swamp entrance, now barely discernable with the darkness of night falling.
While he had wanted her to agree to stop going out in the swamp chasing after Pierre, he was now faced with the realization that he would no longer be spending his evenings with her.
Even though he knew it was for the best, that didn’t stop the heartache that rode with him as he finally started his car and began the drive home.
When she’d asked him to stay the night, he’d been so tempted to agree. He would have loved to hold her in his arms once again, to taste the sweet heat of her lips and to make love with her one last time.
It had been his overwhelming love for her that had stopped him. He’d recognized that he didn’t want another memory of her to keep him mourning her and his ill-fated love. It had been that, plus the fact that she’d said it would just be casual. He couldn’t do casual anymore with her.
He’d been a fool to let her get so far into his heart. He should have protected himself more. She’d never indicated to him that their relationship was anything other than casual for her.
It was time now that he move on with his life and somehow, someway get over loving Dominique. He had a feeling that was going to be a difficult thing to do.
By the time he got home, he was exhausted. It was a mental tiredness coupled with the heavy weight of his heart. He would miss their conversations and their shared laughter. He would miss the very scent of her and the way her facial features displayed her every emotion.
That night, it took him a very long time to fall asleep, and when he did sleep, he fell into dreams of dancing in the rain with her.
He awakened early and for the first time in a long time he was at the police station early. It was just after seven when he walked into the murder room where Clay and Daniel were already seated.
Both men looked at him in surprise. “Hey, Luke. You’re here early this morning,” Daniel said.
“Yeah, Dominique didn’t go out in the swamp last night so I got home at a decent time.” He sank down in the chair between the two men. “In fact, she’s decided she’s done stalking Pierre.”
“Really? Well, that’s really good news,” Daniel replied. “If it’s true. Are you sure she’s really done?”
“Yeah, I’m sure,” Luke said.
“Well, that’s one less thing for us to worry about and I get back one of my best officers. A win-win situation as far as I’m concerned.” Daniel took a sip from his coffee cup.
“We’ve got plenty of other things to worry about,” Clay said. “Like finding the creep who’s after her and getting some evidence so we can make an arrest in Mystique’s murder.”
“I still don’t know how we’re going to get any evidence to prove Pierre’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.” Daniel frowned.
“Somehow, someway, something is going to break in the case,” Clay said optimistically. “Maybe Pierre will get drunk one night with his fishing buddies and he’ll let something slip.”
“We can only hope something like that happens,” Daniel replied.
“Right now, I’m more concerned about Dominique’s safety.” Even saying her name aloud ached in Luke’s heart.
“Too bad we haven’t been able to pin down solid alibis with all the potential suspects she gave us,” Daniel said, his frown cutting across his forehead. “It would be nice if we could at least rule out some of those men.”
“What I worry about is that none of them are guilty and the perp is somebody not even on our radar,” Luke replied.
“We just have to keep working the case and see what pops up,” Daniel said.
“I don’t want to wish anything bad on Dominique, but it would almost be helpful if the perp left another note or something for her,” Clay said. “Maybe the next time he’ll get sloppy and leave me some nice prints.”
“As long as it’s just a note or something like that. Of course, my biggest concern is that there will be another kidnapping attempt and this time he’ll be successful.” The very idea of that tightened all of Luke’s stomach muscles and made him half sick. “So, what’s on today’s agenda?”
Daniel released a deep sigh. “We do our usual patrol. Keep your eyes and ears open for any information that might help in either of the cases. Then, why don’t we plan to meet back here right before lunch time.”
All three of them stood. While Daniel headed down the hallway toward his office, Luke and Clay headed out the back door.
“It’s going to be nice to have you back here where you belong,” Clay said.
“Thanks. I have to admit, I’m glad to be back in my regular routine,” Luke replied. Routines he clung to…routines that assured he would never be the right man for Dominique.
In the mornings, Luke was usually on foot patrol. He headed down a very quiet Main Street. It was too early for the stores to be open and so the sidewalks were void of people.
The only place where there was any activity at all was the café, where already cars were parked as people went in to enjoy an early breakfast.
Dominique wouldn’t be there yet. He knew from talking to her last night that she was working the mid-shift. Was his plan to eat lunch at the café today because he was hungry for the food? Or was he just hungry to see her again?
By nine o’clock, Main Street began to fill up as shoppers arrived and stores opened. Luke greeted the people he met as he walked. He stopped and went into the feedstore, where he visited for a few minutes with the owner, Ben Jackson.
He always tried to stop in some of the stores and speak with the owners or whoever was working. It was part of Daniel’s plan to keep relations good between the police department and the business owners.
As he stepped out of the store, he ran into Nola Fontenot. “Good morning, Officer Madison,” she greeted him cheerfully.
“Morning, Nola. How are you doing on this fine day?”
“Oh, I’m doing okay. Of course, I’m just waiting for you all to do your job and get that murderer Pierre Guidry under arrest.”
“We’re doing the best we can,” Luke replied.
She cast him a sly smile. “I understand you’ve been spending a lot of time with Dominique.”
Luke’s heart squeezed tight. “Yeah, I was helping her out with an issue, but now that issue is resolved and so I won’t be seeing that much of her.”
“Oh, that’s too bad, I know how much she was enjoying spending time with you,” Nola replied. “You know, I’ve known the Santori women since they were babies. They are a fine bunch and now that Mystique is gone, I think of those girls as my very own.”
“I know how close you were—are—to all of them,” Luke said.
“Well, I’d better be on my way. I have a few errands to run and I always like to be back in my shanty during the heat of the day.”
“I’ll see you later, Nola.” He watched as the plump woman headed on down the sidewalk. He was glad she’d moved on, for talking to her only reminded him of Dominique.
The morning passed uneventfully and at eleven thirty, he returned to the police station. It was difficult for him to think that tonight he wouldn’t cross Dominique’s bridge with the sweet anticipation of seeing her again.
He met Daniel and Clay in the break room. “How about we all head to the café for lunch?” Daniel suggested, as if reading Luke’s mind.
“Sounds good to me,” Clay said agreeably.
“Me too.”
“So, did either of you encounter any trouble on your morning patrols?” Daniel asked once they were in his car and headed down the street to the café.
“I spoke to Nola, who once again berated us for not doing our job and getting Pierre under arrest,” Luke said.
“And I wrote out a speeding ticket to Alex Whitmeyer. I clocked him going seventy miles an hour on Magnolia Drive, where the speed limit is fifty-five,” Clay said.
“The little snot told me his parents would speak to the prosecuting attorney and he wouldn’t have to pay the fine and wouldn’t be in any trouble. ”