Page 79 of Dirty Filthy Boy
"Give love a chance, MacKenna. After what happened to your sister, I get why you have an issue with men, but not everybody is like Tommy Hawkins. You're giving up an opportunity to date a man who cares for you, and maybe find something special with him. You're allowing the past to rule your life."
"You're right. I have issues when it comes to men. But that's not the only reason I can't date him. I can't socialize with him while I'm working on his story. And I have Ryan Taylor's to do before his."
"So what happens after the story's done. Will you date him then?"
Avoiding Mar's gaze, I carefully fold the napkin, before rising to our dishes to the sink. "I don't think so."
Mar follows me into the kitchen. "Why not?" Should have known she wouldn't leave things alone.
I rinse our plates, put them in the dishwasher and set it to wash. Done avoiding her question, I turn back to her. "I can't say. Please don't push me on this."
"Okay. I'll drop it. For now."
"Good." I dry my hands on a kitchen towel and hang it up on its hook. "Now can we change the subject?"
"All right."
"More coffee?"
"Please."
After I brew us some fresh java, I bring our cups to the coffee table in the living room.
She dumps four teaspoons of sugar in the coffee and enough cream to make the brew a cafe au lait. "So, have the police gotten any leads on Tommy Hawkins?"
"No. The detective called a couple of days ago. He didn't have much to share."
"Surely, that lowlife didn't disappear into thin air."
Before answering, I stir a teaspoon of honey and a dollop of cream into my coffee. "Maybe he left Chicago."
"He travels all the way here to revenge himself on you and then leaves? I don't buy it."
"You're not making me feel any better."
"I don't want you to feel better. I want you to realize the danger you're in."
"I take care. I do."
"You may now live in a secured building. But your parking lot at work is not safe. It's out in the open."
"At the end of the day, I walk out with somebody else to my car. Sometimes Dotty and I ride together. And I carry a baton in my purse and pepper spray on my key chain."
"What about when you have to go on an assignment? Like the women's shelter? That place is not in the best place in town."
"I took an Uber so I wouldn't have to park, got dropped right in front of their door. I did the same when I returned to the newspaper. I take care, Mar."
She shudders. "I worry about you, MacKenna. Please let me talk to Oliver. I'm sure he'd arrange security for you."
"And owe him more than I already do? No thanks." I click on the television. "Look, the game's about to start."
She gives me a side glance, but doesn't say anything more. She's not the only one worried. So am I. Until Tommy Hawkins is caught, I live in fear of what may happen. But I've taken as many precautions as I can. They will have to be enough.
