Read Online Anonymously Yours by Shirley McCann - Free Book Online
Authors: Shirley McCann
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something, joined Justin at the table. “Yeah, but if that is the case, then why is he following me?”
Justin reached out, pulling me into the chair next to him. He took my hands in his and looked pleadingly into my eyes. “Denise,” he said. “Look at yourself. Your hands are shaking. You’re scared to death. Can’t you see now why I don’t want you going into police work? It’s dangerous, and I care about you.”
I sprang from the chair, feeling as though I’d been slapped. “I never said I wouldn’t be scared, Justin. Do you really think the men and women who risk their lives everyday aren’t sometimes scared? Of course they are. Confidence will come with experience. But I could make a difference.” I slammed my fist on the table. “I will make a good investigator, Justin, with or without the approval of you or my parents!”
Justin shrank back and the room grew ominously quiet. Only the hum of the refrigerator penetrated the dismal silence.
I put my head in my hands and combed my hair back with my fingers. Why couldn’t I make him understand? I wondered. Did all law enforcement officials go through the same disharmony, or is it just the women who have to put up with the constant opposition?
A lengthy silence followed before Justin finally broke the silence. “When will your parents be home?” he asked softly.
I leaned against the kitchen sink, peering out the window, seeing nothing. “In a few days,” I mumbled. “Mom called this morning before you got here. Apparently Uncle Bob has been trying to reach me on my cell and became worried when he couldn’t get me. They called to make sure I was okay.”
Justin sighed deeply and shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “I know you’re not going to like this idea,” he said. “But maybe you should consider staying with your uncle Bob until they get back. After all, he is a private investigator. He might even have some thoughts on how we should handle this situation.”
I spun around. “We?” I asked with surprise.
He turned to face me, his expression grim. He stood and crossed the room to stand next to me, taking my hands in his. “And your uncle Bob,” he added, pointedly.
I started to protest, but I knew Justin might be right. Uncle Bob had the experience to deal with the situation. But right now, the thought of spending time with the man who was responsible for me bussing tables at Winslow’s Diner was not an appealing thought. And if I hadn’t been working at the diner, I wouldn’t have been asked to return the wallet to Mr. Black’s house in the first place, and the name, Angelica Belmont, would mean nothing to me.
Instead of a committal, I hedged a bit. “I’ll think about it,” I said. “And only on the condition that we don’t tell him everything right away.”
Justin started to protest, but I stopped him with a raised hand.
“Now wait,” I said. “We don’t know how he’ll react. He might want to go to the police, and that’s not what I want. Let’s find out what we can before it comes to that.”
He pursed his lips and seemed to consider the proposition. “All right,” he finally agreed. “For now we’ll keep it our little secret. But if anything else out of the ordinary happens, we go straight to your uncle!”
I smiled and kissed him on the cheek. “Just one more thing,” I added. “Before we jump to any hasty decisions, let’s just spend the rest of the day together alone. Far away from Michael Black, the diner, and Uncle Bob.”
Justin put his arms around me in a tight embrace. “I’m all for that,” he said. “But you’re not getting off that easy. If any more red Toyotas start following you, the deal is off.”
Chapter Five
“This isn’t exactly what I had in mind when I suggested we spend a quiet day alone.”
Justin paid the clerk for the plastic cup of worms, then raised his eyebrow and grinned while he pocketed his change. The smelly bait in one hand, he wrapped my shoulder with the
Justin reached out, pulling me into the chair next to him. He took my hands in his and looked pleadingly into my eyes. “Denise,” he said. “Look at yourself. Your hands are shaking. You’re scared to death. Can’t you see now why I don’t want you going into police work? It’s dangerous, and I care about you.”
I sprang from the chair, feeling as though I’d been slapped. “I never said I wouldn’t be scared, Justin. Do you really think the men and women who risk their lives everyday aren’t sometimes scared? Of course they are. Confidence will come with experience. But I could make a difference.” I slammed my fist on the table. “I will make a good investigator, Justin, with or without the approval of you or my parents!”
Justin shrank back and the room grew ominously quiet. Only the hum of the refrigerator penetrated the dismal silence.
I put my head in my hands and combed my hair back with my fingers. Why couldn’t I make him understand? I wondered. Did all law enforcement officials go through the same disharmony, or is it just the women who have to put up with the constant opposition?
A lengthy silence followed before Justin finally broke the silence. “When will your parents be home?” he asked softly.
I leaned against the kitchen sink, peering out the window, seeing nothing. “In a few days,” I mumbled. “Mom called this morning before you got here. Apparently Uncle Bob has been trying to reach me on my cell and became worried when he couldn’t get me. They called to make sure I was okay.”
Justin sighed deeply and shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “I know you’re not going to like this idea,” he said. “But maybe you should consider staying with your uncle Bob until they get back. After all, he is a private investigator. He might even have some thoughts on how we should handle this situation.”
I spun around. “We?” I asked with surprise.
He turned to face me, his expression grim. He stood and crossed the room to stand next to me, taking my hands in his. “And your uncle Bob,” he added, pointedly.
I started to protest, but I knew Justin might be right. Uncle Bob had the experience to deal with the situation. But right now, the thought of spending time with the man who was responsible for me bussing tables at Winslow’s Diner was not an appealing thought. And if I hadn’t been working at the diner, I wouldn’t have been asked to return the wallet to Mr. Black’s house in the first place, and the name, Angelica Belmont, would mean nothing to me.
Instead of a committal, I hedged a bit. “I’ll think about it,” I said. “And only on the condition that we don’t tell him everything right away.”
Justin started to protest, but I stopped him with a raised hand.
“Now wait,” I said. “We don’t know how he’ll react. He might want to go to the police, and that’s not what I want. Let’s find out what we can before it comes to that.”
He pursed his lips and seemed to consider the proposition. “All right,” he finally agreed. “For now we’ll keep it our little secret. But if anything else out of the ordinary happens, we go straight to your uncle!”
I smiled and kissed him on the cheek. “Just one more thing,” I added. “Before we jump to any hasty decisions, let’s just spend the rest of the day together alone. Far away from Michael Black, the diner, and Uncle Bob.”
Justin put his arms around me in a tight embrace. “I’m all for that,” he said. “But you’re not getting off that easy. If any more red Toyotas start following you, the deal is off.”
Chapter Five
“This isn’t exactly what I had in mind when I suggested we spend a quiet day alone.”
Justin paid the clerk for the plastic cup of worms, then raised his eyebrow and grinned while he pocketed his change. The smelly bait in one hand, he wrapped my shoulder with the
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