Page 289 of 7+Us Makes Nine

The Lieutenant was on the phone as I entered. He waved me in as I poked my head round the door and gestured for me to shut it after me.

“Yes sir. Absolutely. Thank you, sir.” He put the phone down with a flourish, turning to face me with a broad smile.

“Jack. You got yourself a case. Congratulations.” He leaned forward, arm extended. I shook his hand gratefully, grinning with relief.

“Now,” his expression turned serious in an instant, his voice low. “Tell me what your thoughts are. And Jack, keep this case to yourself.” He looked over his shoulder to the other detectives, some of whom had been staring through the slats at the window and turned away awkwardly as he looked their direction.

“We both know there are ears everywhere. Let’s just keep things quiet until we get something solid, something that makes us, you, untouchable by those meatheads out there.”

The Lieutenant looked at me with concern, the way a kindly uncle would when offering advice to his nephew. I knew I was one of his favorites, and it was common knowledge that he was due to retire soon. If I did well on this case, my gut told me I’d be sitting in his desk come the end of the year.

“Of course, sir. I got this. I’m not gonna say a word to anyone until I get something we can use.” I sat down in the chair opposite him, notepad in my left hand as I rubbed my chin thoughtfully with my right.

“So here’s what I’m thinking so far...”

TEN

Eden

I’d managed to put a brave face on the day after Conall’s visit while I was working at the diner. I passed off the bruised cheek and slight black eye as a drunken stumble into a door when visiting my friend over the weekend. Hell, I’d rehearsed the lie so many times I was actually starting to believe it myself.

In truth, I was shaken. My confidence that I’d built up from nothing over the last few years had taken a big hit. As soon as I left the house in the morning I was looking over my shoulder constantly, paranoia turning every shady looking character into one of Conall’s goons.

God knows there’s enough of them in this town…

I had the same feeling when I was walking home after finishing at the diner, like I was being watched. The hairs on the back on my neck stood on end, and I felt a shiver run down my spine.

Then all of a sudden an image of Jack appeared in my mind. Strong, tall, handsome. Smiling casually at me like the last time I saw him, as he rested against the bar, eyes looking deeply into mine. Part of me longed to see him when I opened the door to my house, for him to take me into a warm, protective embrace.

Thoughts of Conall and his threats started to evaporate as I thought about Jack. When I did, I found myself distracted, unable to concentrate on much else. I’d been a bit ditsy since I’d seen him Friday, not my usual, intelligent, focused self.

I got back home, head held high and smiling as I entered the front door quickly, making sure to lock the door behind me. I was once again greeted by silence and a sense of loneliness as I walked through to the kitchen.

Damn. No Jack. Well, maybe if I play my cards right one day soon he’ll be waiting for me when I get home. Just need to make sure I get this right, or we’ll both be in trouble...

I still had a few hours before starting my shift at the bar, and I set to work rehearsing my plan for when Jack visited me later in the evening.

That’s if he turns up…

I smiled to myself, thinking about the way he’d looked at me when we’d met. Somehow I knew he was gonna be there.

I decided to wear pretty much what I was wearing before, choosing a different set of underwear than the last time. A bit les

s cleavage, makeup not so pronounced. I wanted Jack to see the bruise on my face. Plus I didn’t want too much unwanted attention from any drunken strangers tonight.

A while later, after having a long, hot shower and getting ready for work, I sat on a chair in my kitchen, chewing thoughtfully on a pen. My laptop sat on the table in front of me, a small scrap of paper next to it. I was browsing a local map online, zooming in and out and scrolling around town. I nodded decisively, the screen fixed on a single location. I brushed my hair back over my ear as I scrawled a note onto the scrap of paper, then hiding it in my pants pocket.

“Here goes nothing,” I said aloud, sighing as I rose to leave for the bar.

I rehearsed my story about how I’d gotten my black eye in my mind as I walked to the bar. I didn’t need Jack to believe me, in fact I wanted the opposite. And anyway, if he was as good a detective as Cindy had said, he’d see through the bullshit anyway. It was anyone else who might be listening that I needed to convince.

I needed to convince them I was still covering for Conall. And that I wasn’t interested in talking to a cop.

My heart felt slightly heavy as I arrived for work, knowing that I’d need to brush Jack off casually if I wanted the ruse to work. But something told me he was sharp, that he noticed things others didn’t. I was confident he’d understand, maybe even play along.

God, I hope so. I don’t want to ruin things before they’ve even started.

I steeled myself with a deep breath before entering the bar, looking around casually and smiling furtively at the few faces I saw dotted around. As I’d expected, there were only a handful of drinkers in so far tonight. Only a few more would likely come and go before the end of the night.

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