"I'm no lady."
"My sex life, or lack thereof, is none of your concern."
"Fine." She pushed her sunglasses back onto her face. "I have my connections though."
"Whom?"
"Oh, now you want my help."
"Never mind."
"Jenny's a good girl and she'd be perfect for you. I'll give her a call when we get back. Remind me." Jenny was one of her close friends that worked in the office of the team’s garage.
"Jenny? She wouldn’t give me the time of day.”
“I’ll talk to her.”
“If you insist." Aiden smiled, but didn’t look at her.
"Of course sir, I certainly am insistent on insisting you go out with my impeccably decent friend." She feigned his accent.
"You are not funny."
Raleigh grabbed a stick of beef jerky she'd thrown in the console for breakfast.
They buckled their seatbelts and headed north.
"Beef jerky for breakfast?" Aiden made a face displaying his disgust.
"Protein."
"Mhm. That's not what I would call it." He took it away from her and passed her a low fat latte he'd picked up and a non-fat scone.
"I hate you."
"You're welcome." He smiled. "You have a shoot in three weeks, can't have you heffing up."
"I hate you." She repeated and took a bite off the disgusting scone. "By the way, nice outfit."
She could see how uncomfortable he was in the clothes she'd purchased for him.
"Yes, I do like the sandals, ripped jeans, and this faded Levi's shirt. I feel so stylish." He said sarcastically. "However, still better than a pair of hoochie shorts and cut off hoochie shirt."
"Hoochie?" She laughed. "These shorts come halfway down my thigh! And this is a tank top, not a cut off shirt. God, you are so sheltered."
"Whatever you say."
Raleigh pulled onto the highway and they started their long journey to Maine. It would be a journey full of playful bickering and arguing with her much younger, yet old, assistant. He was well compensated for his duties which took him all over the world with her. He'd been at her side for the past year and was like a brother.
*****
"Hey Sarge."
"Ryan, what is it today?" Mike picked up his phone at 9am knowing Ryan had something up his sleeve.
"Jess has been in labor the past few hours so I'll be starting my time off a couple weeks early."
Ryan asked for maternity leave to be with his wife upon the delivery of their baby, but she was not due for two more weeks. Little Andy decided to make a prematurely entrance.
"Wow." Mike sat up in bed. "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, she's doing great." Mike could hear the apprehension contradicting his words. "Won't be much longer now."
"Congratulations, Ryan. I hope everything goes well and I'll be thinking of you both."
"I'll send you a picture of the little guy later."
"Good luck."
"Bye Sarge."
"Bye."
Mike pulled the sheets over his head trying to drown out the sunlight that poured through the window. He didn't have to work and felt compelled to spend the morning in bed. It had been another rough night fighting for sleep. He'd become accustom to sleepless nights, but it was an exceptionally restless night, haunted by the past and worried about Cass. She always returned his calls and she hadn't the day prior.
Ugh. He sat up and picked up his phone.
"Cass, it's Dad again. I'm starting to get worried about ya. Give me a call and let me know you're okay. If I don't hear from you, I'll be driving down there myself to check on you.”
No more than five minutes went by and his phone rang.
"I was sleeping Daddy."
"You didn't call me back yesterday. I was worried."
"I was hanging out with a few friends and I forgot. I'm alright. I don't have to work this weekend, so I'll be up then and we'll spend the day together." She sounded as tired as him.
"So everything is okay?"
"Yes, Dad. You worry too much. I'm not a little kid anymore."
"You'll always be my little girl."
She yawned on the other end. "I'll call you back this afternoon, I didn't sleep much last night."
He knew the feeling, but wondered if this was because of her “friends” and if they were male friends. He wasn't going to ask though.
"I love you Daddy."
"I love you too Cass. Have a good day."
"I will, bye."
"Bye, hun."
Mike put the phone back on the nightstand and stared at the alarm clock. Whether he slept or not, he had chores to attend to. He rose from bed and forced himself to get ready for the day. Into the bathroom he stumbled and turned on the light over the sink. He looked as tired as he felt. His close cropped black hair was slightly disheveled and his five o'clock shadow very defined. His face was chiseled and showed all of his forty one years. His age made him look defined, not weathered, despite his less than perfect life. He turned the faucet on and splashed cold water onto his face forcing himself to wake.
Mike, you look like hell. He thought to himself. He turned the shower on and stepped in. On with the day. An exciting day of chores around the house. That entailed mowing the lawn and working on the new deck he was building. Scintillating.
CHAPTER THREE
SATURDAY
"I can't believe we drove all the way from North Carolina to Maine in fourteen hours dead ahead." Aiden looked like he'd been through hell and back. "What happened to sightseeing?"
"I saw all the sights I needed to." Raleigh and Aiden ate breakfast in a quaint cafe on the outskirts of the small town they were vacationing in. She looked far less tired than Aiden. Though that was partially due to the fact that she'd driven like a rally driver. As a result Aiden was terrified during the entire course of their fourteen hour commute.
"Do we really have to stay in this horrid town?" Aiden was not used to their surroundings. Small towns. Unpaved roads. Locals who wore far more flannel in one day than he’d seen in all his years combined. The lack of a Starbucks had him in utter shock. He’d never been exposed to such “squalor”, as he called it.
"It's not horrid. It's cute."
"But, Miss, we're staying in a cabin. Cabins are what you see in all of those American horror movies. I don't feel comfortable." He was genuinely concerned.
"Jeeves, it's costing me more than seven thousand dollars to stay at that lodge for less than two weeks. It has two hot tubs, an in ground pool, four bedrooms, a billiards room, a bar, and a personal Maine Guide if we chose to use one. This is a half million dollar cabin, at least, on one of the most upscale lakes in the state. Moose Lake is known throughout the region. What more do you want?"
He fixed his messy hair.
"A city." He looked around at the locals and sneered.
"You are such a little snob. Get over it."
"Easy for you to say, you fit in with these crass people."
She put her fingers in the ice water that sat in front of her and flicked it in his face.
"That right there, perfect example." He wiped his face.
"I'll drop you off at the rental company to pick up your little economy hatchback and then you can do what you like."
"You didn't rent me an economy car." He laughed.
She smiled.
"No, Miss. There is no way I will be driving something like an Aveo." He pronounced the word Aveo with his snooty twist.
"There is a swanky coastal town called Buckstown about two hours away from here. You'd love it. Why don't you go there for the day?"
"When we get my vehicle, I'm going back to the cabin to sleep. I wasn't able to rest all night because I heard rustling. There are rodents."
"There aren't any rodents." She tossed the company credit card to him. "You can do what you like for the next two weeks and I'm going to do the same. I don't expect you to be at my side all the time."
"What do you ex
pect me to do here? All there are, are trees!"
"I expect you to stop bitching like a little British girl and do whatever the bloody hell you want. You're my assistant, not the opposite. Let's go." She stood up and Aiden followed.
They went to the rent-a-car company and picked up Aiden’s car. He followed her back to the lodge.
"I can't believe you rented me a Chevrolet Aveo."
She laughed. It was the least expensive vehicle she could find. Aiden was not used to vehicles that were so…economical. "Not very appreciative."
"Right. Well, thank you Miss."
"That's more like it. You're welcome." He held the lodge door open and she walked in.
"I will be in my room. Call if you need anything from me."
"I'm going out kayaking this afternoon so you won't see me until nightfall."
"Where?" He gave her a dirty look.
"Moose River. I used to go there all the time with friends. You're invited if you want to come."
"You shouldn't be going alone.” He huffed. “So I suppose I'll get ready."
"I know what I'm doing, don't be like that."
"You are a public figure, you can't expect a haircut and fake tattoo to completely camouflage you. I'll come with you."
"You are hardly a bodyguard Jeeves. Maybe a pint size one." She shook her head. "I can take care of myself."
"That's what I'm afraid of. Pennsylvania all over again."
"Are you coming, or not? I'm not spending the day bickering with you."
"I'll stay here I think." He kicked off his flip flops.
"Suit yourself." She ascended the stairs to change her clothes. "Watch out for mice."
"Ha...ha...ha." He walked in the opposite direction to his room. "Good luck with spiders, Miss. I know how you like those."
"Arse."
*****
Mike hitched his warden issued boat to the truck and pulled it out of Moose Lake. He'd spent the morning patrolling the water and checked the few fishermen that populated the lake. On this day it was all of one boat and they were as legal as legal came. The sparseness was odd for a hot summer day, but it was late in the season and he was on the end of the lake that wasn’t highly populated. Onto the next check. With both Mitch and Ryan on leave, he was patrolling their coverage areas solo.
"2351 to Green, I'm back in the truck, 10-8."
Green was the Department of Public Safety Green Division. They dispatched for both the wardens and state police units out of their division.
"10-4, 2351." Dispatch answered him.
Mike put the truck in drive and headed for Union Lake. It was a much smaller lake, but the bass fishing was legendary and he'd have better luck there. The song Danger Zone by Kenny Loggins played on the retro lunch hour radio program and he found himself humming along.
"Shit!" Mike yelled in reaction to the object that barreled toward him.
*****
Raleigh burst through the front door of the lodge on a mission.
“Pack your bags. You’re getting your wish.” Raleigh barked to Aiden then shut his bedroom door.
“What?” Aiden slid the sleeping mask off of his face and stumbled out of bed. “Did you say pack my bag—”
He saw her condition when he opened the door and his eyes bugged out. “What the hell—what has happened to you?”
“Nothing, pack your shit. I’m taking a shower then we’re leaving, so get moving.” She rifled through her luggage that she’d yet to unpack.
“Are you okay?” He looked over her concerned.
“I’m fine.” She said defensively. Her body was covered in a mixture of red and black, from her bare feet to her bikini clad top, yet he couldn’t find any injuries. “Don’t ask any questions.”
“You think I’m not going to ask any questions? You walk in here covered in blood and on a mission to flee, then tell me not to ask any bloody questions. I don’t think so, Miss. Tell me. Now.” Aiden scolded her.
Raleigh stopped and faced him. “I’m proud of you Jeeves, you finally told me off. Now pack.”
“Is there going to be a warrant of arrest issued for you?”
“I’ve done nothing wrong, immoral, or illegal, so stop it and pack. Please don’t ask questions.”
“You’re not in any trouble?” Aiden didn’t believe her.
“NO!” She yelled with force. Aiden stepped back.
“I’ll be ready in five minutes.”
“Thank you.”
The shower streamed on and steam filled the air. She stepped into the shower. Blood and soot turned the white tile floor she stood on murky brown.
You are in so deep. She leaned against the wall of the shower. Her entire body trembled and she tried to reign in her emotion.
“The bags are in the car.” Aiden met her in the living room after her hurried shower. “And I’ve talked to the owner of the lodge. He won’t refund the rest of our stay.”
“It’s fine. Let’s go.” Raleigh looked like a new woman in her skinny jeans, loose fitting top, and oversized glasses.
“Do you want me to drive?”
“No.” Raleigh hopped into the driver’s seat and Aiden stepped up into the passenger seat. “I could use the distraction.”
“Are you going to tell me what has you running away? Something happened.”
“It’s nothing you have to worry about. I didn’t get into a bar brawl, I promise. Stop asking.”
Aiden looked over at her, but couldn’t decipher the emotions displayed on her face due to the oversized glasses.
“As you wish.”
They pointed the car south toward North Carolina. Their little vacation ended as soon as it began.
*****
Mike was rushed into the ER entrance and brought into a trauma room. Medical terms were thrown out left and right, none of which the young rookie understood. Charles "Kip" McAfee had been off training for all of two months and hadn't developed a relationship with his Sergeant up to that point. His co-workers warned Kip that Mike wasn't personable, or warm and fuzzy, but he demanded respect and deserved it. He’d observed those facts within his short time of service.
"You need to go to the waiting room warden." A nurse pushed Kip back as they finished cutting off the remainder of his clothing. Kip obeyed and reluctantly walked away from the emergency room to the nurse’s station. He dialed Green dispatch.
"Have you had any luck getting ahold of Kerr's daughter?" Kip tried the numbers he'd been given for her unsuccessfully.
"Mitch is going to her apartment. We'll keep trying to call her cell." The dispatcher answered.
"Alright. Let me know if you get her." Kip hung up his phone, sat down in an uncomfortable metal seat, and rested his head against the wall.
Kip doubted his sergeant would pull through. From the brief synopsis he was given by Ben Anderson, the first state trooper whom arrived on scene, Mitch was barely holding on.
Kip would have preferred to be with the crew at the scene trying to piece together what the hell happened over his current seated position in the ER. A long set of skid marks were found at the scene indicating the presence of a second vehicle, one that forced Mitch off the road. Beyond that, everything was a mystery.
Several hours passed.
The waiting room was filled to the brim with Mike's co-workers. They may not have been the best of friends, but his co-workers were his “brothers” when it came down to it. There were nearly a dozen wardens buzzing about, all hoping and praying their superior would pull through. Ben Anderson joined the crew after wrapping up the accident scene hours later.
"Where is he?" A young girl burst into the packed, but hushed waiting room. The girl looked as though she hailed directly from Scotland. Her hair was fiery red and naturally curly. Her skin was pale as snow; her green eyes glowed with worry. "Where's Dad? Is he okay?"
"Cass, calm down." In plain clothes amongst the sea of green, Mitch was out of place. He put his hands on her shoulders. "Let's talk to the nurse."
&
nbsp; He led her over to the intake desk.
"Is he okay? He's alive, right? Please tell me he's alive!" Cass begged the intake nurse.
"I'll be right back." The nurse held up a finger indicating she would be gone for a moment.
A Courtesy Call (Green Division Series Book #2) Page 2
