by Jet MacLeod
Reagan stood from her desk, weary from work. It was almost four thirty and she knew that Catherine would be arriving soon at her house. Reagan gathered her things and headed out the door. She didn’t stop to give anyone any last minute instructions like she usually did. It was Friday; she would give them their weekend for once.
She was going home to her Catherine. That was all she was worried about. She checked her cell to make sure that she had it on ring. She got in her car and made the trip to her house on the cove.
She pulled up into the subdivision and laughed, like she did every day, when she passed the subdivision’s sign. She couldn’t believe that someone had actually named it “Rainbow Cove.” She knew that a lot of couples lived on the side of the lake and she was happy to know that most of them were gay or lesbians like her.
Reagan drove past Grace’s house on the way to her own. She was relieved to see that Grace’s big black truck was still in the drive. She pulled into her own drive way. She got out and grabbed her brief case.
When she turned from the car and headed for the house, she was met by a lovely hug and a smile. Reagan’s eyes grew wide and she smiled. She hugged the figure back.
“Hi, there baby. How is my Catherine?” Reagan asked her, taking her hand, as they headed back into the house.
Everything was going to be wonderful this weekend. Reagan was going to make sure of that. She wasn’t going to let anything get her down as long as she was with Catherine. Catherine made her forget all the troubles of the day.
Chapter Three
Reagan sat at her desk, unhappy that the weekend was over. She wished that she could have spent more time with Catherine, but Reagan knew she couldn’t. She decided that she would get back to work and hope that she would forget about the pain that was in her heart. She hoped that her work would distract her.
“Mrs. Bentley,” she said into her intercom on the phone.
“Yes, ma’am,” her office manager replied.
“Can you bring me a set of contracts and the O’Shea file? I need to review it and add to it, today, before I have to meet with him,” Reagan replied.
“Yes, ma’am, I’ll get it for you,” Mrs. Bentley answered.
Reagan sat back in her chair. She wasn’t sure that she really wanted to go to Padrick O’Shea’s place. She wasn’t sure what she would run into if she did. Reagan wasn’t one who liked surprises. She didn’t deal with them very well.
“Here you go, Ms. Knightley,” Mrs. Bentley stated as she laid the files and contracts on Reagan’s desk.
“Thank you, Mrs. Bentley. Do me a favor and clear my schedule for the rest of the week. I have a feeling that this account is going to take me awhile to clear up,” Reagan told her.
“Yes, ma’am,” said Mrs. Bentley.
Reagan looked over the file. She flipped through the file. She had done well with Padrick’s company. She hooked him up with all the latest software and other packages that he needed to make his business prosper. She had to admit that they had helped each other out with their business deal. He gave her “word-of-mouth” business and she made his run more efficiently.
She began to fill out the contracts for the new services that she was going to do for him. Reagan began to plan out the services that she would need to complete what Padrick had told her that he wanted at his house. It sounded like he had a network that he needed to install and to be able to do the same things that he could do at his office.
Grace was uninterested in what was going on around her. She hated interviews, especially if she was the one that was being interviewed. She sat there, though, in her best black suit.
“Welcome to Lexington,” the officer told her.
“Thank you, ma’am,” she replied.
“So, why did you choose us? With your record, I would think that you would have gone out for SLED?” the officer stated.
“Don’t like that much government. I like local stuff. That is why I turned down the FBI three times. I know that I had a stellar jacket. I am good at my job. I know that, but I don’t want to work with the big dogs. They have enough to worry about without me. I like taking out the small time crooks. The more I help cut them down, the better chance that they don’t become one of the bigger fish that the big dogs have to hunt down,” Grace explained.
“I see. So, do you want to tell me about your break in service? Why did you wait to apply here?” the officer questioned her.
“I liked your outfit better than the city’s. Plus, my old captain told me that he knew some of the officers that worked for you. I decided that I would give it a try,” Grace answered.
“Well, I am not sure I like that answer, but I’ll take it. So, what did you want to do? Vice? Narcotics? We don’t have a big program like Atlanta, but I think that you’ll see that we have enough to worry about on a daily basis,” the officer stated.
“Actually, I would be happy to have a change of pace. I am not really into vice and narcotics anymore. I have seen enough of that to last me a life time. But, I’ll work where ever you put me, Captain,” Grace replied.
“A detective without a preference? I might like you after all, Big City,” the officer stated, “My name is Captain Danica Wannamaker. I am the head of this area and patrol. So, you will be working for me. I have the perfect place for you. I have an opening in SVU if you want it,” Danica told her.
“SVU, huh? That would be a change of pace, completely. I think that I can handle that,” Grace stated.
“Good, then take this down to county office. They’ll put all your paperwork in the system. Then go to the hospital for your physical. It is right off of I-26 and highway 378. You can’t miss it. Then, tomorrow, report here and we’ll get everything else squared away,” Danica explained.
“Thank you, for this opportunity. I will do my best for you,” Grace told her.
“I don’t expect anything less,” Danica replied.
Grace walked out of the office and the station house. She was happy again. She had a job, something that she could put her energy into without having it kill her.
Grace looked at her watch. It was nearly six and she had to be at her parents by seven. Paper work, she thought to herself, why did paper work always take so friggin’ long to do? Why is there always so much? Guess it is good to thorough.
She got in her truck and headed to her subdivision on the Lake, “Rainbow Cove.” Gracie figured that she had enough time to shower and change before she went over to her parents’ house. She didn’t like the way she felt in her black pants suit after she had just been poked and prodded by the wonderful hospital staff at Lexington Medical. She had to admit that they were thorough, maybe too thorough, and she wanted a cigarette.
Her cell phone rang to the tune of “Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha going to do?” and she answered it.
“O’Shea,” she answered.
“Good, I got you,” Danica stated.
“What’s up, Cap?” Gracie asked.
“Wondering if you want to start a case now, or wait until the morning. Your partner Detective French is already working it. Just wondering,” Danica informed her.
“I think that it’ll have to wait, this time, Cap. I not really official yet, and I have to go to dinner at my parents’ house if I want to stay in the country, much less the state. You don’t know my dad,” Grace answered.
“Well, make sure you get with him first thing tomorrow. Oh, and O’Shea, everyone around here knows your dad. Don’t let him bully you too much or you might start riding a desk,” Danica stated.
“Gotcha, Cap, gotcha. I’ll be in early tomorrow,” Gracie replied.
“Good and good luck with that dinner,” Danica said and then hung up.
“Great, just great. Not even a full day on the job and my Dad is screwing me. Damn, can’t I do anything in this area without being linked to him? Maybe I should change my name or something,” Grace said out loud to no one at all.
Reagan was gathering her things and preparing to leave the off
ice when Mrs. Bentley stopped her.
“Reagan, there is a call for you on line three, sounds urgent.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Bentley, I’ll get it,” Reagan told her.
Reagan grabbed the phone off her desk and pushed the button for line three.
“Knight Tech, this is Reagan Knightley, how can I help you?”
“Reagan, darling, good. I know that this is short notice but I need you to come over immediately and fix some things for me,” a woman told her.
“Sorry, I can’t. You will have to file with the Tech Line and someone will be out tomorrow. You know the procedure, but thank you for calling Knight Tech,” Reagan replied.
“Come on, darling, is that anyway to treat li’l ol’ me?” the woman asked.
“When are you going to learn that I am not going to help you solve your itch, Justine? If you have a tech problem, I will send someone out tomorrow. If not, then we have nothing further to discuss,” Reagan stated.
“It is amazing what a little money will do,” Justine hissed into the phone.
“Yes, it is, isn’t Justine? Good day,” Reagan stated.
“Wait, baby, wait. Give me another chance. I am sorry,” Justine begged.
“What about Catherine?” Reagan asked.
“Fuck her, you’re mine,” Justine answered.
“Wrong answer. Good-bye,” Reagan said hanging up the phone.
She gathered her things and shook off the ick that she felt when she talked to Justine. She walked out of the office, glancing at the clock. It was a little after five. She would probably make it Padrick O’Shea’s house around six if she was lucky with traffic.
“From now on, Mrs. Bentley, we will be screening my calls. I will not speak with anyone unless it has to do with a client or a former client. Any calls that do not pertain to business will have to and should go to my cell phone. If they don’t know it, then, oh well,” Reagan said heading to the elevator.
“Yes, ma’am, and good luck with the O’Shea case,” Mrs. Bentley told her.
“Thank you. Good night, Mrs. Bentley,” Reagan answered getting into the elevator.
Chapter Four
“Well, that should be it,” Reagan said, getting up from Padrick’s desk.
“That’s it?” he questioned her with his thick Irish accent.
“You are connected with your network at work and I put an icon on the desktop for you for easier access. You can now do everything that you do at work, at home. I also sped up your internet connection for you. I’ll send you the bill for this with your monthly maintenance fees,” Reagan said.
“Verra gud, verra gud,” Paddy stated, “I like the wae you think lass.”
“You’re welcome. Why don’t you come and try it?” Reagan asked him.
She ushered him to his own chair and showed him the icon. He clicked on it and was immediately logged into his network from work. He was smiling. He could now work from home and didn’t have to worry about how things were running without him being there. He could check up on things.
“You must stay for dinner,” he said, rather bluntly.
“I am sorry?” she questioned.
“You simply must stay for dinner. I can’t let you leave on an empty stomach. You ‘ave done so much for me, the least I can do is feed you. You simply must stay,” he added.
“Well, I guess that will be alright,” she answered.
“Good, stay here. I will go tell Brianna that you are staying,” he said, walking towards the door of his study, “I have another project for you to work on, if you want.”
“What?” Reagan asked, feeling like she was being suckered into something.
“I was wondering if you did websites,” Padrick asked.
“You know I do,” Reagan replied, her skepticism building.
“Good, then, I would like you to totally build me a new one based on this file,” he said, handing Reagan a disk, “It is the only file on there. Please feel free to look at it here.”
He walked out of the room. It was like he was a teacher giving her homework. She could only help but wonder what Padrick O’Shea was up to when he left her in the room. She had to admit to herself that he had piqued her interest in the file and she decided to look at it, at least.
She put the disk into the computer and waited for it to load. Reagan watched the files open and saw that it was a new business venture that Padrick was undertaking and it looked like he was planning on doing it from home. She glanced at the data that was on the disk and decided that she could build a data base for him that would allow him easier access to the information when he need it.
“Paddy, what are you doing?” Brianna asked him as he fixed himself a drink at the bar that was in their living room.
“I do nae know what you are talking about,” he said.
“Yes, you do. You know that Grace do nae like Reagan and yet you just invited her to stay for dinner.”
“So?”
“Padrick Thorne O’Shea, you are up to something. I know you. I know that smile. Tell me wha it is,” Brianna demanded.
“I am nae doin’ anything. Now, go on, woman and let me deal with me business. This is a business dinner. Reagan is doing business with me and so is our daughter, Grace. If she wishes to do business with me, Bri, then Grace must learn to deal with how I handle business.”
“Well, when the dinner table turns into a war room, don’t say that dinna warn you.”
“Fine, my love.”
Padrick watched Brianna go back into the kitchen and to her cooking of dinner. He decided that he needed to look in on Reagan and see how things were going with the new project. He was a mogul and a thrifty business man, but he wasn’t so sure about things when it came to computers. That is why he loved having Reagan on his payroll, in a way.
“Can ya do somethin’ for ol’ man, like me?” he asked.
“I think you need a database set up and then I will show you have to access the information that you will need to handle your new project, but I didn’t know that you were going into real estate. That is a little different from whiskey and wool, Paddy,” Reagan said.
“Aye, it is. But, it makes money. I am trying to make sure that no O’Shea of mine has to suffer like I did, like my forebears. Money can last long enough if you know how to make it.”
“I don’t think that there will ever be an O’Shea of your line that needs help with money, Padrick. And, if you are worried about Grace, then why did I hear that she applied at Lexington County. She doesn’t think that you money is a blessing. She is a hard worker,” Reagan said.
“I know that, but I want it there just in case. Plus, it is just a few small houses. I am just trying to fix ‘em up and sell ‘um. I don’t plan on keeping them. This house is even too much for Brianna and me, but don’t tell her that. I am selling the lake house to Gracie anyway. That is where I got the idea,” Padrick said.
“Well, it is your money, and if you want me to help you spend it, just let me know,” Reagan said, laughing.
“I’ll keep that in mind, Reagan.”
He had finished just as the doorbell rang.
“I wish she would learn that is nae a guest here,” Padrick said, walking out of the room.
“I hope that doesn’t mean, Grace,” Reagan whispered, “I doubt that she wants to see me, especially after last week’s fiasco.”
Reagan continued to compile the database for Padrick. When she heard the words that made her heart sink with doom.
“Gracie, dear, you’re early for a change,” Padrick said very loud.
Reagan wondered if it was to warn her.
Then she heard Brianna say to Grace, “Gracie, go wash up and then come set the table. Your father had business to attend to before dinner and I need your help in the kitchen.”
Reagan knew that Brianna was trying to help her back out of the dinner date now that she knew Grace was there. Brianna was trying to buy her some time to come up with a reason to leave and a way to get out without Grac
e necessarily having to see her in their home. Reagan told herself that if she got out of this that she would have to thank Brianna for the help later.
Reagan racked her brain for a reason to leave, but she couldn’t think of one. She knew that it would look bad to back out of the diner invitation now that she had just accepted it. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew that Padrick had set this whole thing up so that neither one of them could back out of it. She knew Padrick. She knew Grace, more then she wanted to and she knew that Grace had no idea that she would be there at what Grace would think was a family dinner.
Chapter Five
“Come in dear, come in,” Padrick said, seeing that Grace had finally arrived.
Grace eyed her father with a certain amount of suspicion. She knew that her father was up to no good and when he was trying to be serious. She had a feeling that he had something up his sleeve and he wasn’t quite ready to disclose it yet. She hoped that it didn’t have to do with the house on the lake. She wouldn’t be happy if he actually tried to sell it out from under her, but she knew that he didn’t care about that. She had done enough in her life to upset her family, but she promised herself that she wouldn’t throw a temper tantrum tonight because she wanted that house.
“Hello, Da, how’s business?” Gracie asked him.
“Good. Verra Good. How’s the job hunt going? I know that you aren’t planning to live off of your trust fund for the rest of your life. Found anything, yet?” he asked her.
“Actually, yes, I just left an interview and I took the position.”
“What is it, lass?” Brianna asked, overhearing and joining in the conversation.
“I took a detective’s slot with the Lexington Sheriff’s Office,” Grace answered.
“That’s good, dear,” Brianna said, “I have to go check on dinner. Why don’t you come set the table for me? Oh, yeah, and set an extra spot, too. Your father invited a business partner to dinner tonight.”
