Page 30 of No Surrender
“You thinking big and splashy or small and intimate?” Pete asked, leaning against the counter. They were nearly at closing time, and the shop was empty for the first time in hours.
“Intimate, but maybe not small given the size of Vic’s extended family,” Simon said with a chuckle. “I’ve looked at a lot of the hotels. They have gorgeous ocean views, and I’m sure the food would be great, but they’re hella expensive. And I don’t want to risk planning everything to be outdoors—you know how the weather can change here at the drop of a hat.”
Simon opened the photos he had just received and handed Pete his phone. “I looked at the Train Depot on a whim, but now I’m intrigued. I think it’s big enough for his family and our friends. They have relationships with caterers and DJs. It’s not a religious site—which avoids some problems—and as far as I can tell, there’s nothing problematic about it historically, which is hard to find in the South.”
“Is it haunted?”
“No—another point in its favor, although neither are most of the hotels,” Simon replied. “I’ve got to admit; I like that it’s quirky. From the photos, they put on a really nice event with twinkle lights and centerpieces and a dance floor. And it’s definitely more affordable.”
“No ocean view,” Pete pointed out.
Simon gestured toward the shop’s large front windows. “Dude, I’ve got an ocean view all day, every day. We can always do our photos on the beach, weather permitting.”
“That could be really nice.” Pete handed back Simon’s phone. “Memorable and unique. I’ve been to some wedding receptions in the hotels. They do good events, but they’re rather…cookie cutter. Slick. The Train Depot would be pretty cool.”
Simon slipped his phone back into his pocket. “Thanks. I haven’t run it by Vic yet. Like I said—preliminary research.” He twisted the ring on his right hand, still feeling the thrill of the promise they had made to each other. Even though they hadn’t chosen a date, looking at venues and figuring out all the other pieces—cakes, photographers, music, and more—made it feel real.
Simon and Pete closed up together, and Simon walked Pete to his car.
“The reporters stayed clear today,” Pete observed. “Maybe they’ve found somewhere more interesting.”
Simon appreciated Pete’s optimism. “I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop. They’ll be back.”
Simon saw Pete off and headed home, relieved when he saw that reporters weren’t camped outside the blue bungalow.
Once he was inside, he checked his phone for missed messages. The rest of his Skeleton Crew hadn’t turned up any information about caves, but Gabriella was able to talk to the families of the victims on the list. Their stories corroborated what Simon had already learned, which was helpful but didn’t add new insights.
His phone vibrated, and Simon saw a text from Vic letting him know he’d be running late but that he hadn’t forgotten about picking up dinner.
Simon:Just be careful,Simon texted back.Come home safe.
5
VIC
“Sorry I’m late. But the food is hot.” Vic hurried into the house, set the take-out bags on the table, and handed off the bouquet to Simon, then grabbed him by the belt loops and pulled him in for a kiss. “Miss me?”
“Always,” Simon replied when he came up for air.
Vic set out the Chinese food on the table. Simon stopped to sniff the flowers as he put them in a vase, closing his eyes and smiling wide. Vic loved to see Simon smile, and if bringing home some blooms would make those dimples pop, Vic vowed to do that more often.
“Eat first, then talk shop.” Vic chuckled as Simon’s stomach growled.
He knew that cops tended to have a hard time leaving work at the office. Coming from a law enforcement family, Vic understood the dangers of the job—physical, psychological, and the toll taken on relationships.
Having Simon as his official partner on cases with a supernatural angle helped, but sometimes that meant that they both had trouble separating personal time from work. Feeling guilty for taking time off with an unsolved crime in the balance didn’t help.
They talked about everything except the case while they ate. Vic had intentionally scrolled through headlines to have conversation topics since his day had focused on nothing but the Slitter investigation and the attacks on the D.A. and the judge—and waiting for the fanboy to take the bait. Vic had the feeling that Simon was holding back as well. That worried him and made him wonder what Simon had discovered and just how much he had dug into old unsolved cases.
“What do you think about the old Train Depot?” Simon blurted when they were about halfway through the meal.
Vic blinked, completely confused. “The old depot? I don’t have any thoughts about it. Should I? Did something happen there?”
“Our wedding—maybe?”
Vic managed a bemused smile. “I think you had half of that conversation in your head without me. Want to start from the beginning—out loud this time?”
Simon looked chagrined. “Sorry. Bad habit.”
