Sharp Edges

by K. L. Middleton

I smiled and nodded. I was actually a little excited about being pampered. It had been too long.

  Darcy and I followed a young stylist into the back where she sat me down in her salon chair. The girl’s own hair was black with blue highlights, she had tattoos all over her arms, and more piercings on her face than I could possibly count. I was a little nervous but I knew from looking at Darcy that the girl had crazy skills.

  “Thanks for fitting her in, Sara,” said Darcy. “We both really appreciate it.”

  She nodded. “You lucked out. I had a cancellation; perfect timing.”

  “So I’m thinking she could use the works,” said Darcy.

  I stared at myself in the mirror as Sara began running her fingers through my thick, unruly hair.

  Sara stared at my reflection intently. “Haircut and some color?”

  Darcy nodded. “And those eyebrows need to be shaped.”

  “Mm…a little bushy, I see what you mean.”

  “Girls?” I interrupted, my face turning red from their scrutiny.

  “Oh, did you have some suggestions?” asked Darcy with an amused grin.

  I sighed. “Just make me look… sophisticated,” I told Sara.

  “And sexy,” said Darcy.

  Sara nodded. “I think we can manage that.”

  I smiled.

  Darcy sat down in the empty chair next to mine to watch. “Okay, Sara, work your magic.”

  Sara nodded. “I already know exactly what I’m going to do, and believe me – she’s going to love it!”

  Love it? Anything would have to be better than the homemade style I’d walked in with.

  Two hours later I stared at myself in the mirror, speechless. I looked like a new woman. My red hair was freshly layered just below my shoulders with foiled copper and blonde highlights. She’d also waxed and plucked my eyebrows, which I had to admit, really brought out my eyes.

  “You look amazing,” said Darcy.

  “She looks drop-dead gorgeous,” gushed Sara.

  I didn’t know about that, but I figured I looked much better than when I’d walked in.

  “This is also very easy to care for, too,” said Sara.

  “I’m paying for the hair products, by the way,” said Darcy. “You need those, Linds. So, no arguments.”

  “Thanks. I’ll pay you back,” I answered. I was beginning to sound like a broken record.

  “Just make sure that you come back in a few weeks so we can keep this look going. No more ‘do-it-yourself’ cuts,” said Sara. “Okay?

  I smiled. “Don’t worry. I’ll definitely be back.”

  I wasn’t sure how I’d scrape up the money, but come hell or high water, I’d be back.

  We left the salon with a bag of products that cost almost as much as my hairstyle.

  “Now,” said Darcy, unlocking her car. “Saturday I’m available if you’d like to go shopping for clothes.”

  I nodded. “Well, I’m certainly free.”

  “Good. Have you been looking around for jobs yet?”

  “No, I don’t even know where to start.”

  “First of all, you’re going to need a resume and then you can check the newspapers and Internet for listings.”

  I raised my eyebrows. “Resume? There isn’t going to be much to list on my resume.”

  “What kind of computer skills do you have?”

  “Actually, I’ve taken some online classes and can navigate around the Internet pretty well, if I do say so myself.”

  “Have you used any programs, like Microsoft Word or Excel?”

  “Yes, in fact,” I said, “I’ve been working on a book.”

  She stared at me. “A book? What do you mean?”

  I shrugged. “Just a story I’ve been working on for quite a while. It’s more of a hobby, though.”

  “Well, you always were a good writer, even back in high school,” she said. “What is it? Romance, horror, mystery?”

  “Actually, it has a little of everything.”

  She smiled. “Can I read it?”

  I bit my lower lip. “Maybe…”

  “Seriously, email it to me so I can read it.”

  I nodded. “Okay, but just remember I’m only a rookie. Don’t expect too much.”

  She shook her head. “You have absolutely no self-confidence, do you? I have a feeling that’s going to change now that you’ve booted Scott to the curb permanently.”

  “What do you mean?”

  She raised her eyebrows. “Oh, come on – he basically controlled your life! Kept you from working, didn’t allow you to get out there and spread your wings. Remember back in high school? You had so many dreams.”

  I sighed. “He never stopped me from doing anything. I just became pregnant and things turned out differently. I’m happy with my life, though. Or, I was.”

  She reached over and squeezed my hand. “Well, now things have turned out differently for you yet again. Everything happens for a reason, Linds, and I have a feeling you’ve turned a corner in your life that’s going to open up more possibilities than you could have ever imagined.”

  “I wish I had that same optimism,” I murmured.

  She smiled. “You just wait. Your life’s not over, it’s just changed course and headed towards a whole new adventure.”

  Before I could respond, she slammed on the brakes.

  “Shit!” she hollered staring at a pregnant woman who’d sped out of the darkness and was now standing in front of the car, flagging us down.

  “What in the hell is that woman doing?” barked Darcy.

  As the stranger moved closer I recognized her as Tina, the young woman I’d met at the park over a week ago.

  “Do you need some help?” I asked, rolling down the window.

  “Yes, please help me!” she sobbed, her face a mess of mascara and tears.

  Darcy unlocked the back door and the woman jumped in. “Do you need a doctor or the police?” she asked.

  She pointed. “Oh, God, here he comes! Get us the hell out of here!” cried Tina.

  We both turned towards a tall young man rushing towards us. He wore a police uniform and a look of utter dismay.

  Darcy turned towards the panic-stricken woman. “Why in the world are you’re running from a cop? What the hell is going on here?”

  “He’s my husband! Please, we have to leave!” shrieked Tina.

  But the man was holding his hands up defensively and already blocking our path. “Tina, honey,” he said, moving towards my side of the car. “Baby, what are you doing?”

  Tina didn’t answer.

  He smiled at me and Darcy apologetically. “I’m terribly sorry; my wife is pregnant and gets a little… emotional.”

  Darcy’s eyes narrowed as she turned back towards Tina. “Are you okay? Would you like us to take you somewhere else to talk?”

  I looked at Tina, whose eyes were now locked with her husband’s. As they stared at each other, you could cut the tension with a knife.

  Darcy and I glanced at each other, not sure what to do.

  The man smiled coldly at his wife and the look in his eyes even gave me the chills. “Come on, honey,” he said, evenly. “Jenna really needs you. She’s frightened.”

  Tina drew in a sharp breath and opened the door.

  “I knew you’d see it my way,” he said with a smug look on his face.

  “Wait, Tina!” I called as she began moving back towards her home. “Can you come here just for a minute, please?”

  She walked back to my window and bent down, a despairing look on her face. “Yeah?”

  I whispered my address and she nodded, slowly. I reached for her hand and squeezed it. “Seriously, don’t forget it. I’m so close and very willing to help, if you need it. You and Jenna.”

  “Tina, let’s go,” commanded her husband.

  Without answering, Tina turned away and we watched as she followed him back into their townhouse.

  “What in the hell just happened there?” asked Darcy. “Did we m
ake a mistake by letting her go back in there?”

  I rolled up my window. “Considering the fact that I saw bruises on her face the other day, I think she definitely needs some kind of help.”

  “Shouldn’t we call the police?”

  I sighed. “Honestly, I don’t know what to do. We can’t prove anything and she went back with him willingly.”

  “Maybe you should run it by your next door neighbor? He’s some kind of cop, right?”

  I nodded. “You know, that’s a very good idea.”

  Chapter Eleven

  After Darcy dropped me off in front of my house, I went inside to let the kids know I’d returned.

  “Holy crap, mom!” laughed Regan. “You look so much better.”

  “Watch the language,” I answered, smiling in spite of myself.

  Jeremy frowned. “You really are getting divorced, aren’t you?”

  I sat down next to him on the sofa. “To be honest, honey, I really don’t know.”

  “Well, when Hugo’s mom got divorced, she lost weight, bought a Humvee and a giant set of hooters. Now she has two or three boyfriends and he hardly ever sees her.”

  Regan rolled her eyes. “Hooters? You’re so gross.”

  “What? It’s true,” he said.

  I smiled. “I assure you, that won’t happen, here.”

  Both of them looked at me as if they didn’t quite believe me.

  I raised my eyebrows. “Look, the only reason I had my hair done was because I need to find a job. Your father and I could really use the extra income right now.”

  “A job?” asked Jeremy. “I thought dad made decent money?”

  “Things are tough right now, even for him,” I said.

  Just then, my cell phone started ringing. I grabbed it out of my purse and groaned inwardly.

  Scott.

  Shoving it back into my purse, I noticed it was almost nine o’clock. “You both should get ready for bed. You have school tomorrow.”

  “Fine. By the way, dad called for you, again,” said Regan. “You’re supposed to call him back.”

  “I’ll take care of it,” I said. “Now, take a shower and get ready for bed.”

  After the kids were settled in for the night, I looked out the window and noticed that Jake still wasn’t home from work, so I decided to wait for him on my porch. I grabbed my Kindle and a blanket then settled into my glider bench and began reading the rest of my sensual detective story. Soon my eyelids grew heavy and I dozed off.

  The sound of thunder woke me up some time later and I was slightly irritated. I’d been in the midst of an erotic dream, my faceless lover devouring my skin with kisses, driving me wild. I wanted more, and oh… he was about to give it, I could just sense it. But then I was ripped from the dream and forced back to reality.

  Dammit. Even my dreams leave me sexually frustrated.

  Sighing, I pulled my blanket in closer and watched as thick raindrops began to fall onto the steps, wondering if I should just go inside. But then, Jake’s unmarked sedan pulled up to his driveway as the rain began to pour.

  I got up, put my blanket and Kindle back inside, and rushed over to his garage through the rain, where he was grabbing a beer from a small refrigerator.

  “Jake?”

  He turned around and stared at me. “Oh, hey, Lindsey.”

  “Sorry to bother you,” I said, shivering slightly from my wet clothes. “I…um…there was an incident today and my friend suggested I talk to you about it. You mentioned you were a cop, right?”

  “I’m actually a Narcotics Detective.” His eyes narrowed. “What’s going on, did Scott do something?”

  I shook my head. “No, nothing like that.” I then explained what had happened earlier with Tina while he listened.

  He sighed. “Well, I could check it out if you think she’s in any real danger.”

  “I definitely believe she’s being abused; there were bruises on her face and also on her child the other day at the park.”

  He frowned and then put his beer back into the fridge. “Want to take a ride?”

  I nodded.

  He motioned for me to get into his car and then joined me. As we were backing away, he glanced at my shirt and smiled. “Chilly?”

  I looked down and my cheeks grew hot. My T-shirt was wet, and through my bra you could see that my nipples were at full attention. I crossed my arms over my chest. “Damn rain.”

  He chuckled and turned on the heat. “I certainly didn’t mean to embarrass you.”

  I sighed. “No, it’s fine,” I said, dying to change the subject. “Anyway, Tina lives near the park, by the newly constructed townhomes.”

  Our eyes met. “You said he was a police officer?”

  I nodded. “Yes, but he certainly didn’t look like he was ready to protect and serve.”

  He chuckled. “Well, I’ll check it out while you wait in the car.”

  “Okay. Thanks again, Jake.”

  “No problem.”

  As we drove near Tina’s, I could smell a trace of his cologne, a slight woodsy scent. It made him even more appealing and I groaned inwardly at my growing attraction towards him.

  What the hell was wrong with me? I wondered, laying my head back against the seat. Was I turning into one of those lonely, desperate housewives? Would I be hitting on the pizza man or the cable guy, next?

  “You okay?” he asked.

  Our eyes met again. “I’m fine.”

  “We’ll get this figured out,” he said. “I’m pretty good at reading people. If she’s hiding something, I’ll know within the first thirty seconds. Then we’ll go from there.”

  “Okay.”

  Tina’s house was dark and quiet by the time we pulled into her driveway.

  “Lindsey,” said Jake, “you wait right here. I’ll be back.”

  I nodded and watched as he approached the house in the rain, knocking on the door. A minute later, the husband answered and Jake pulled out his badge. They spoke for a while and then Jake followed him inside.

  I stared at the house and noticed a little face peeking out of an upstairs window.

  Jenna.

  She ducked away and my stomach tightened with worry. How could anyone hurt a child – especially, a cop? I could only pray that Jake’s appearance would knock some sense into Jerry, or that Tina would come to her senses and tell Jake the truth. Deep down I knew it wasn’t that easy.

  Ten minutes later, it had stopped raining and Jake stepped back outside, still talking to Jerry. When they were finished, Jake turned and began walking back towards the car as Jerry watched. When he saw me in the passenger side, recognition spread across his face. He waved at me with an eerie smile and I felt a cold shiver run down my spine.

  Jake got in and closed the door. “Well, I spoke to Tina and her husband, Jerry. Even checked on their daughter and everything seems calm at the moment. Tina claims it was her hormones that started the fight earlier.”

  I frowned. “She’s scared of him.”

  He sighed. “Personally, I felt something a little off, too. Unfortunately, there’s nothing more we can do, right now. I was actually surprised that he let me in.”

  I stared out the window. “He’s a cop. He probably doesn’t want any trouble.”

  “Of course not.”

  I sighed. “So, let me get this straight, unless she turns up missing or dead, we can’t do anything else to help her?”

  “Not much, but you could call Child Protective Services and let them know you saw bruises on the little girl. They might be able to do something.”

  “I hope so.”

  We drove home in silence until he pulled into his driveway. “So, are you ready for our run tomorrow?” he asked, shutting off the engine.

  “I hope so.”

  His eyes glittered in the darkness as he smiled. “Well, don’t worry. I’ll go easy on you.”

  “Like I said, don’t let me hold you back. My pace and yours will be slightly different.”

&nb
sp; “You’re underestimating yourself or overestimating me.”

  “Yeah, right,” I said, opening the door. All this talk about our bodies moving together was making me warm and I definitely needed some cool, fresh air.

  He got out and cleared his throat. “I’ll walk you to your door. It’s pretty dark.”

  Our neighborhood was as safe as any, but after seeing the cold look in Jerry’s eyes, I welcomed Jake’s offer. “Okay, thanks.”

  “So, how are you doing?” he asked as we walked to the end of the driveway. “You certainly appear happier than the last time we talked. Your hair looks very nice, by the way.”

  I touched my hair, which was still wet from the rain and couldn’t have looked very appealing at the moment. I smiled. “Thanks. I’m still pretty devastated, but after this thing with Tina, I’m just grateful my kids and I are safe and not living in fear of their father.”

  His lips thinned. “It’s a crazy world. There’s so much shit going on all around us, you have no idea. Things I’ve seen that will probably haunt me for the rest of my life. Fuck, I had no clue what I was getting myself into when I signed up for this job. ”

  I frowned. “It has to be really tough.”

  He sighed and ran a hand through his dark hair. “Yeah, well I shouldn’t burden you with my problems. Sorry.”

  I touched his forearm. “No, don’t worry about it. Everyone needs a friend or someone to talk to.”

  He smiled. “That goes both ways, I hope you know.”

  I smiled back. “Thanks.”

  “Well,” he said as we stepped onto the porch. “Get some sleep. I’ll be over around ten, is that okay?”

  I nodded.

  He stared at me quietly for a minute, then reached over and brushed a strand of hair from my lips. “You’re husband’s an idiot,” he stated.

  “Thanks,” I answered, reminding myself to breathe.

  He nodded and stepped back. “Well, I’ll see you tomorrow, then?”

  “Sure will. Goodnight, Jake.”

  “Goodnight.”

  I closed the door, thinking about the way he’d looked into my eyes. He’d definitely caused my pulse to race, which was really frustrating. I didn’t want to be attracted to him or anyone else at the moment. Including my husband.

  “Where’ve you been?”

  “Scott?” I gasped, turning on the light in the living room. “Jesus, what are you doing sitting in the dark?”