Page 7 of Love Over Easy

I get in and start the truck, but before I shift into reverse, I ask, “What’s your name?”

She doesn’t even give me a glance. She also doesn’t answer. “Fine. If that’s the way you want to play it.”

Frustrated, I back out and spend a very quiet drive to town. I know she’s not from around here. We’re a small town; I know everyone on a first name basis. Since all the advertising that’s been going on, we have gotten more than a few new faces around, but I know I would remember seeing her.

My cell phone rings. I glance at the screen and know I have to take the call. “Hey, Mom, you should be in bed. I told you I’d check out the light you saw.”

“I know, but I couldn’t sleep until I found out what it was.”

I don’t want to frighten my mother by telling her someone had broken into her neighbor’s house. At least not late at night. I’ll tell her tomorrow when I know more about the circumstances. “It was just someone with a flashlight. We can talk more tomorrow. Now get to sleep.”

“Why don’t you come over for breakfast?”

I grin. That’s my mom. “I’ll call you if I can make that happen. I love you, Mom.”

“I love you too, dear.”

I end the call and put my phone back in my shirt pocket. When I glance at my prisoner, I find her staring at me with a curious and uncertain look on her face. Again, I wish I could push that infernal hood off her head so I could see her clearly. “What is it?” I ask.

She turns her head forward to gaze out the windshield. “You didn’t say goodbye. You… you told your mother you love her?”

“Yeah. So?”

She shrugs and looks down at her hands. “I’ve just never heard that. “

I notice she’s picking at her nails, a sure nervous habit. That has to be a telling clue.

“You don’t tell your parents you love them?” I’m truly curious for her answer.

I don’t think she’s going to answer, but then she softly says, “No.”

There is a lifetime of emotion in her single word reply. Sadly, that tells me a lot. She’s either an orphan or she has a shitty family. “Our family has always said I love you instead of goodbye. My parents said they never wanted us to doubt their love.”

She turns my way again and asks, “You have siblings?”

I take my eyes off the road for just a moment and glance her way. “I do. I have a brother and a sister. Both are younger than me. How about you?”

Again she looks down at her fidgeting hands and replies, “Yeah, I do. Brothers.”

That’s all the info she gives about her family. One of her brothers may be the one that knocked me out. The rest of our drive is in silence. After helping her from the truck, I unlock the door to the station, flip the lights on, and lead her back to the only jail cell we have. I can’t even remember the last time it was used. In fact, I don’t really know where the key is to lock the door. Maybe it’s in Sadie’s desk drawer.

“Turn around,” I tell her once we’re inside the cell and then fish the handcuff key from my pocket. She yelps as I lift the cuffs behind her back to unlock them. Once free, her arms go around her body like she’s protecting her ribs.

“Are you okay? Did I hurt you when I fell?” I ask, knowing by the sudden indrawn breath that she is injured.

She shakes her head, but doesn’t meet my gaze. “No. I’m fine. Just go.”

She’s lying. Whoever she is, I know she’s not a professional criminal; she doesn’t lie well. With my hands on her upper arms, I turn her around. She winces from my touch and immediately I drop my hands. “You are hurt,” I say firmly.

She stumbles backward and I reach out to steady her, but she steps out of my reach. “I said I’m fine.”

I cross my arms over my chest and I’m two seconds away from ripping that damn hoodie off. “And I don’t believe you. Take off your jacket.”

Her gaze moves up from the floor, meets my eyes square on, her chin tipped in defiance and she says, “No.”

I plant my feet and my hands go to my hips. I don’t know how intimidating I look in a town issued FI Sheriff t-shirt and gym shorts. When my mom called, waking me from a sound sleep, I never anticipated actually finding a person behind the light she saw on her way to the bathroom. “Listen. It’s late and I’m tired of your games. Take your jacket off so I can see where you’re hurt or I’ll take it off myself.”

Her jaw tenses and her eyes turn to steel. “You wouldn’t dare. That has to be against the law. If you even try it, I’ll sue you.”

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