Page 3 of The Detective

When I got to the restaurant I park and walk inside, I check my watch. I am five minutes early. I step to the hostess desk and give her Wayne’s last name for the reservation. The hostess tells me that he is not here yet as she walks me to our table to sit and wait for him.

I started to leave. I had text him and gotten no reply. It is now 7:33 pm, and I am getting embarrassed and feeling like I was being stood up. I said to myself I would wait a few more minutes before I got up to leave.

Finally, he arrives at 7:35 pm.

He walks up to the table, and before he goes to sit down, he walks up to me and kisses me on the cheek and says, “Hey babe, I am sorry that I am late.”

I just look at him for a few seconds before replying, “I was just fixing to leave thinking that you had stood me up. Why are you late? I even text you a few times.”

“I got held up at work and my phone died. I really am sorry. I will make it up to you,” he said as he motioned the waiter over to our table. “I know what I am having. Are you ready to order?”

“Of course, I am,” I replied in a smug and angry tone. I was so aggravated and pissed off.

We ordered our food, and I tried my best to move on from him being late, but there was something that just didn’t settle right with me and I couldn’t put my finger on it, but my radar was on high alert.

When we finished, he walked me to my car. He kissed me by giving me a peck on the lips and said he would call me tomorrow. I was feeling really uncomfortable now about him and didn’t know why. Maybe I was just being paranoid. I will just keep my eyes open.

Blair

About 7:15 pm and my phone rings. It’s Captain Shepherd’s desk phone at the station.

“Sorry, Connors. I know you haven’t been home long, but we just got a call in your case. There has been another robbery at the Memorial Museum,” Captain Shepherd said into the other end of the line.

“Damn it. I am on my way. I will be there in fifteen,” I replied.

When I arrived at the scene, I walk up to Sergeant Amelia Harper. I was surprised to see her here. This isn’t something she normally shows up for unless called in.

“Sergeant Harper, I am surprised to see you here. Can you fill me in?” I ask her.

“Detective Conners, good to see you. I was in the area heading home when the call came in over the radio. I came to see what I could do to help out until you got here. These guys are really good. They had to have known where the cameras were. We don’t have any views of their faces. They wore all black. Unfortunately, once again they didn’t leave us anything to go on. No fingerprints, no views of their faces. Nothing,” Sergeant Harper said.

“Thank you. We will keep trying to find evidence. They are going to slip up at some point,” I said. At least I kept hoping that they would mess up somewhere and soon. I wanted to catch these guys bad.

CHAPTERFOUR

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Blair

Two months later….

I am sitting at my desk at the station completely frustrated. It has been two months, and I am no closer to finding these robbers than I was when they started their trail of robberies. Since the museum break in, they hit another casino, a large one, but they didn’t get away with a lot of cash, but the principal is the same. I need them to make a mistake and show their hand. There is no consistency in the places they are hitting. They are all over the map.

I am still just waiting for them to screw up and that really pisses me off. I hate feeling like I am not doing my job. I know that I am doing all that I can considering what I am being given to work with. But the hand that I am being dealt, isn’t given me anything to work with, not even a pair.

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Emma

I am on my way to Wayne’s duplex apartment. It is a Thursday impromptu date night at his house for dinner. I am nervous because it is my first time there. I still haven’t told him where I live, but I think tonight is the night that I am ready to take that next step in our relationship. I had that weird feeling a few months ago, but I haven’t had one since, so I ignored it. Things seem to be moving along at a good pace and I really like him.

When I pulled up at his duplex apartment my nerves hit me a little and I had butterflies in my stomach, and not the good kind of butterflies, but I got out the car and headed for the door. I rang the doorbell and when he opened it, I had the strangest feeling again. I don’t understand it, but I brush it away and head inside. He had dinner ready, and the lights were dimmed, candles on the table with a bottle of wine.

He handed me a bouquet of long-stem red roses. I smelled them before leaning in to give him a kiss and said, “They are beautiful! And all of this looks perfect! Thank you!”

“Anything for my beautiful girlfriend,” he replied.

I was shocked. It was the first time either of us had put a label on our relationship. I wasn’t completely sure how it sounded. I know I am guarded and taking my time, but I should be happy about him calling me his girlfriend, right?

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