by Beth Shriver
Alex drove up and she waved, hoping he would wave back, and these guys would find someone else to bother. He gave a quick flick of his siren to signal he’d caught the message. The punks played it cool and walked past her car and around the corner of the building.
Alex parked right in front of the store and was leaning against his car when Liz walked up.
As they walked through an aisle that lead to the cash register, Liz glanced at the magazines. There was not a single one her mother could set eyes on. She stopped at one and gaped. Alex chuckled and encouraged her to keep walking.
She’d let Alex do the talking since this was more law enforcement. That meant that he would do the enforcing, and Liz could leave if things got hairy.
Carrie was behind the checkout counter talking to a guy a little older than she was. She looked their way but didn’t acknowledge them. She appeared small behind the counter. Carrie was a pretty girl, but her body posture and her lack of expression took away from her good looks, making her appear older than her eighteen years.
As they approached the counter, the guy saw Alex and left in a rush.
“What’s he in a hurry about?” Alex saw the guy slip through the back.
“Guess he doesn’t like cops,” Carrie said holding his stare.
“Carrie, I talked with the placement where your brothers are staying. They are doing really well. Thought you might want to know.” She moved her gaze from Alex to Liz.
“Good. Thanks.” Carrie’s bored tone told them she didn’t want them there.
Alex held up the sketch of Pirelli. She tried not to show it, but Carrie’s eyes widened when she saw the picture.
“Your boyfriend sells drugs to little kids. There’s nothing I hate more than jerks like your boyfriend, and if I ever see him around that school again, he’ll have to deal with me.”
He was being awfully intense. If he had a game plan, Liz wished he had let her in on it. Carrie looked like she was going to cry or hit him. Liz wouldn’t want Carrie to hit her. She was small but seemed pretty tough in an angry sort of way.
Alex didn’t even blink. “The narcotics cops at Scotty’s school have a positive ID on him.” He stepped back, rigid and unyielding, and crossed his arms over his chest.
“By the way, you’re not old enough to work in a store that sells liquor. I’d hate for you to lose your job.”
He had her where he wanted her, and she knew it. She whipped her head up, and if looks could kill, Alex was a dead man.
That’s your cue to step in, Liz thought. “Does any of this have to do with what made your dad so angry?”
Carrie waited a couple of beats but finally peeled her glare off Alex and over to Liz. “Yeah.”
“And Scotty ended up paying the price for it,” Liz stated, as Carrie ‘s gaze shot daggers at her and then turned away.
“Is Sanders just buying, or is he in on this drug ring too?” Alex asked still looking at Carrie.
“Drug ring?” She narrowed her eyes.
“That’s what you’re involved in, Carrie. Where does Sanders fit in?”
“Just a customer,” she mumbled with a sigh.
He waved his arm gesturing around the store. “And this is where it all happens.”
Carrie gave him a look. “I can’t be telling anything. I shouldn’t even be standing here talking to you.”
“Well, if you can’t get yourself out, at least get your brother out.” Alex turned and walked to the door. “And tell Pirelli I’m looking for him.”
Liz gave Carrie a curt wave and followed after him.
“Playing the bad cop today are we?” she quipped when they were out the door.
“Hey it worked.” He had quickness in his step with sort of a swagger.
Liz shook her head and pulled out her notes. “I don’t like Scotty’s involvement. I’m glad I placed him.”
“I don’t like that Tom Harris tried to beat Scotty out of being in the middle of all this. If anyone’s to blame, it’s his big sister, hanging with trouble like Pirelli.”
She stopped and became annoyed. “You need to get Pirelli. He’s bad news if he’s still going to that school.”
He lifted his head up and faced her. “Yes, but I’m going without you.”
She leaned back and decided silence was the best option, glad to turn Pirelli over to Alex. She had resolved to lie low and avoid the offenders from here on out.
Alex opened the door and took out his laptop and set it on the hood of the car. “I might get me a drug dealer out of this whole mess. That would make my day.”
“You’re such a cop.” She scrutinized his face and body posture evolving into Eastwood. “You think you’re Clint now?”
Alex sneered. “No, Clint is like me.”
Liz laughed as he squinted one eye shut and pulled his mouth up like a half-smirk imitating Clint Eastwood.
He adjusted himself to look at her straight on. “Just think, next week we’ll be looking through our stockings at your parents’ place.”
Surprised at his change of conversation, she shook her head and met his gaze. “I can’t believe you’re doing this. You don’t know what you’ve gotten yourself into.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
“Are you really?”
“Your mom and I had a nice talk. Got things all planned out, even talked with your dad.”
Liz gasped and looked away for a moment. “What a nice guy you are.”
He leaned against the car. “If I’m not, your mother will make your life miserable.”
“You’re right. What’s in it for you?” Liz’s usual skepticism reared its ugly head.
“I’ll get to be with you.”
She smiled and began to twirl her hair. His enthusiasm surprised her.
He hitched a thumb on her twirling finger, giving her a mischievous smile. “Christmas with the Adams family.”
Their fingers remained interlocked, and Liz laughed at his depiction of her family.
“So what are you doing this weekend?” he asked, his thumb brushing over hers.
“I’m going over to Margie’s for dinner,” she said with reluctance and pulled her hand away to write some notes.
He chuckled. “That should be entertaining. Her household sounds like a war zone. Believe me, I know what it’s like to be in a house with four boys.”
She smiled at the thought of him wrestling and fighting with his brothers, tormenting his mother as a kid. Then the guilt set in. She couldn’t bring herself to tell him it was a date. Then again, she didn’t need to because it was an arranged get-together, not a real date. And she didn’t want to go, so that helped ease her conscience too.
“Do you want to come over tomorrow and watch the game?” The invite popped out of nowhere, but Liz wasn’t going to back down.
His face lightened as he replied with a nod, “I was hoping you’d ask.”
Chapter Fifteen
The light from Michael’s office flooded the dim hall. Liz paused at the doorway, and he motioned her in while finishing a phone conversation. She sank into the chair, thankful for its embrace after a particularly difficult day. She concentrated on the lineup of photos on his desk that she’d seen a hundred times before.
He had a picture of his family and some of the trips he had taken. He loved to travel and had been to some great places. The photos chronicled interesting sites from all over the world, and his photography skills were impressive.
Liz noticed a new one of a smart-looking woman with a sweet face. She wondered if this was who he’d been seeing recently, which wasn’t a common occurrence for Michael. He didn’t take the time to date. She’d have to try to pump him for information. He got off the phone and noticed her looking at the picture.
“Is this Shelley?” She asked, nodding toward the photo.
He was silent for a moment and answered slowly. “Yes. How was court?”
She got the hint. “It went well. The family will hopefully do what needs to be done.”
He nodded. “Always the optimist with your clients. I’ve always liked that about you. I’m going to the café to have a cup of coffee. Care to join me?”
They had never done anything outside of the office, except for the occasional Christmas party, baby or wedding shower hosted in the office. She didn’t want to have a personal conversation but if it was all work what could a harmless cup of coffee do?
“Let me get some paperwork together, and I’ll meet you downstairs in five.”
He smiled and stood quickly. “I’ll get us a seat.”
Michael was always politically correct, did his taxes in January and never talked about anything other than work. So what could he possibly want to talk to her about? The promotion or the change of assigning caseloads?
She finished a few forms and put all the paperwork together for Norma. She dropped the file on her desk and went down to the coffee shop on the first floor.
The shop was quaint with Italian décor. Small café tables were scattered throughout the place. The tinkling of silverware filled the room, along with the low hum of voices.
It was busy this time of day, and she had trouble finding Michael at first. Then she spotted him. He sat forward gazing out a huge pane glass window with a forlorn look on his face.
He already had his coffee so she ordered a latte at the cash register. The dull misting noise of the espresso machine put her in a cheerful state. The cashier handed her a cup and she sipped her coffee feeling the comfort of the warm liquid. Liz walked over and sat down across from him at the little wooden table for two. Michael slowly turned his head to look at her.
“Are you okay?” As she set her purse and briefcase on the floor, she discovered her cell phone wasn’t clipped on her purse. She hoped it wasn’t lost, and tried to think back to the last time she’d used it.
He shook his head.
Maybe if he weren’t her boss it wouldn’t be so weird, but it was. Trying to change the subject, she made small talk for a while. She even got him laughing a little at some of her stupid jokes.
“Do you remember the year you catered the Christmas party?” He held his side and laughed. “The food was great except for the fact it gave us all food poisoning.” He laughed again.
Liz laughed too but didn’t think it was quite as funny as he did. “Yeah, I got plenty of flack for that and had to make a solemn oath not to ever be in charge of any party at the office ever again.”
Once he settled down she asked, “Are you going to tell me what’s bugging you?”
He let out a long breath. “Shelly and I broke up.”
“I’m sorry, Michael. What happened?”
“She got back together with an old boyfriend. She said I worked too much and didn’t spend enough time with her. But it’s all right. Maybe it’s for the best.”
“I’m sorry, but if she didn’t understand how important your job is to you, it would have been a constant problem.” Spoken like a true workaholic.
“Oh, there was already. No use dwelling on it. I guess I don’t have the time for a serious relationship, and I don’t know how to have a superficial one, so I guess I’m permanently single.”
That sounds lonely . She set her cup down. How well that described her.
“It may seem that way right now, but I don’t think either of us wants to end up alone forever.” She heard her advice as if hearing it from a stranger.
Michael cocked his head. “That’s interesting coming from you.”
“It is, isn’t it?” She tapped her fingers on the table, wondering why she was giving this sort of counsel.
“Anyway, that’s not why I asked you to meet me here. There’s something I need to say to you.”
“Okay...” she said hesitantly. He was too serious. A little teasing was in order to lighten the mood. “Am I getting fired?”
That caught him off guard. “Of course not. This isn’t about work.”
“So we’re not talking about the promotion either then?”
“No,” he mumbled as he sat back in his chair. “I’m trying to apologize. I’ve been playing the big brother role with you and Demas. I think he’s trouble, but it’s none of my business.”
She appreciated the apology, but his cautioning words only made her want to be with Alex even more, to prove to everyone he wasn’t who they thought he was. She ran out of patience just as Alex popped in out of nowhere and handed Liz her phone.
“Hey, you two, hope I’m not interrupting anything. Liz, I found your cell phone in my car. I thought I’d try and catch you before you left work.”
He pulled up an empty chair from the table next to them and sat down, oblivious. Michael leaned back in his chair, deflated. Liz on the other hand was never so happy to see Alex. Maybe if Michael spent a little time with him he would see past the rumors. Without even thinking about what she was about to do, she put her hand on Alex’s cheek pulling him toward her and kissing him on the other cheek.
“Thanks for bringing me my phone. I was wondering where I’d left it.” She stood up and grabbed her purse and briefcase. She looked at her watch. “I’m late, gotta go.”
Both men stared at her in shock as she smiled at one, then the other and left.
****
“Brenda, you have to come over here tonight.” Liz paced her kitchen trying to decide what she wanted to eat, or more so, if she wanted to cook.
“Okay. What now?”
“I’ll tell you when you get here.”
“I liked it when your life was like mine, boring.”
“Me too, Brenda.”
Liz charged her cell phone and checked messages. As expected, there was one from Alex.
“You can run, but you can’t hide. We need to talk. Oh, and tell Brenda hello.” Alex knew her too well if he knew she was seeking Brenda’s counsel, and that Liz would avoid him.
By the time Brenda got there, she had started a fire, ordered a pizza and slipped into her pajamas. This was definitely a girl’s night, and she was looking forward to it. They sat in front of the fire munching pizza, as Brenda filled Liz in on her new boyfriend. When Liz finished, Brenda started laughing.
“What’s so funny?”
“This is hilarious. You, the girl who hasn’t had a guy in over a year, and now look at you. A blind date and Alex, the guy you’ve always been sweet on.”
Liz sighed and set down her pizza. “I’m nervous about this, Brenda. I mean, what do Alex and I have in common?”
Brenda poured herself more soda and pulled a blanket around her legs. “Have you ever asked him? And how do you know you don’t have anything in common? All you two talk about is work.”
“We haven’t been lately.”
“That’s because you’re seeing him off duty.”
“He’s great to work with, and we have the same philosophy about work-related issues. But I don’t know what a relationship would be like beyond that.”
“You just can’t let yourself believe in anyone,” she said matter-of-factly.
Brenda had a point, but Liz didn’t know how to forget the past and be ready for a relationship again. She sighed. Lord, If I’m supposed to get involved with someone, You’re going to have to drop him in my lap. But first she would have to peel her hands off her knees.
Brenda tilted her head in thought. “And the blind date is yet to be seen, literally. What do you know about this guy?”
“Margie thinks the world of him. I’ve seen a picture. He’s good-looking, involved in his church, finishing his doctorate, sounds perfect.”
“So, Alex might have some competition after all.” Brenda wiggled her eyebrows.
“Oh, you’re impossible.” Liz grabbed the TV Guide and scanned the movie section. “ In the Heat of the Night is on tonight with Sidney Poitier.”
Brenda’s eyes lit up. “I love that one.”
****
It was almost game time, and Liz had just gotten out of bed. The African Queen had come on after Sidney, so they watched a doubl
e feature. Then Pillow Talk started and they couldn’t pass that up. Brenda had been too tired to drive home so she’d slept in the guest room.
Liz opened the door to see Brenda lying on her back in a deep sleep. “Good morning. Did you dream of Sidney, Bogart, or Hudson?”
Brenda’s eyes squinted open and she sat up. “None of the above. Blake.”
“You’re very loyal to the guy you’ve dated for only a month.” Liz opened the blinds and sat down in the rocking chair, covering herself with a crocheted blanket. The room held a brass double bed, nightstand and dresser. A floral-print area rug covered the middle of the wood floor.
Brenda lay back down in the bed with a thud. The pillows and comforter puffed up and back down as the air went through them.
“You need some caffeine. I’m going to the kitchen to make coffee.”
Liz had just started the coffee brewing when the doorbell rang. She pushed up the sleeves of her Bugs Bunny sweatshirt, ran her fingers through her hair and walked to the door.
****
Alex saw her gasp and smiled at her through the side window. She slowly opened the door.
“Did I wake you?”
She pushed her hair back and let him in. “No. If you had come five minutes earlier you would have.”
He chuckled as he stepped inside. To his surprise, Brenda came shuffling out yawning. Sleep lines still formed on her rosy cheeks. She pushed some big blond strands of hair out of her face and gave Alex a lazy smile. He and Brenda had always gotten along well. She was a good friend to Liz, and Alex could tell Brenda liked Liz spending time with him.
“Good morning, Alex.”
“Morning. Well almost afternoon. Haven’t seen you in a while. How have you been?”
“Good. Still slapping those babies’ bottoms.”
He smiled. “Sounds like a good job to me.”
Brenda nodded. “Want some coffee?”
He stuffed his hands in his pockets and smiled. “I’d love some.”
He followed Liz into the kitchen. “Nice PJs.”
“Thanks. I love flannel.” She tugged at her pants. “Sorry I’m slow getting around. I didn’t realize how late I slept.”
“Did you two go out on the town last night?”
