Perfect Night

by Laine, Terri E.

  “Miss Hattie. Miss Hazel,” I said when we all stopped, and Hazel had rolled the window down.

  “Emma Hawkins, what are you doing way out here?” Hazel asked.

  “Enjoying the view,” I said, hoping they’d leave it at that.

  Their blue and cherry red hair, respectively, shinned in the bright morning light.

  “Did you know Aiden lives there?” Hattie asked.

  They pointed to his house. I was grateful I hadn’t parked my car right out front.

  “Nice old house,” I said, not committing to a firm answer.

  They weren’t buying it. “You know Aiden worked for the LAPD.”

  Crap. I was wearing his clothes. “Oh, this is my Love All People Dearly shirt. It’s a PSA for kindness,” I managed to say with a straight face.

  “Lovely message. We have to go. We have a morning meeting at the church,” Hazel said before driving off, but slowly.

  I stopped at my car and pretended to stretch because I didn’t have my keys. I waited until they rounded the corner before running into Aiden’s house and grabbing my purse. I couldn’t take the chance of them coming back to see my car still parked there.

  Before I left, I had a moment of disappointment. I’d enjoyed my time with Aiden. Even if we were only friends, it had felt nice not to feel sad for a few hours.

  I drove home in time to catch Miley who’d been at my door with a bouquet. She worked at Sadie’s mom’s flower shop, Blossom’s Florist.

  We met halfway up the walk. “These are for you.” She handed me an expensive vase with two dozen long stem roses. “They sure are something.”

  They were and could have only come from one person as I didn’t think Aiden could have arranged flowers to be delivered so fast. He’d been sleeping when I’d left.

  “Do I need to sign for them?”

  Miley blinked. “Yeah, sorry. I was just thinking how nice it would be to get flowers like this.”

  “Not always I muttered.”

  As I scribbled my name on the paper she’d pulled out of a pocket while holding the ostentatious bouquet, she said, “Nice shirt.”

  I wanted to cry out because this would be news by the end of breakfast. “It’s a PSA,” I said. “It stands for Love All People Dutifully.”

  It was too late to take it back. I think I’d told the sisters dearly not dutifully.

  I quickly traded her for the bundle and went to my door. I needed to get out of the shirt before my nosy next-door neighbor came out. But it was too late.

  “Morning, Emma,” Ms. Watson called from her porch. “Late night? I didn’t see your car come home last night.”

  “Busy at the bar,” I said and pushed through my front door.

  I dumped the flowers on the island. Then I thought about damage control as I whipped Aiden’s shirt off. I also had the other one he’d given me. I put both in the washer and went upstairs to grab my laundry. I would need to return this to him. However, going to his house wasn’t an option. Not if I wanted rumors of us to die down.

  The question was how to break the news to Aiden that I’d been spotted in his shirt, not once but three times, and it would likely be all over town by midday.

  Chapter 14

  Aiden

  Emma wasn’t in my bed when I awoke and maybe that was a good thing. As long as that engagement ring was on her finger, she was off limits. I’d given her enough hints. I spent the weekend at home avoiding town, painting, and planning the next task to tackle in my renovation.

  Monday morning I got dressed in my uniform shirt and jeans. I put my shield on my belt clip and my hat on my head. Then, I thought of Emma. She preferred my baseball cap. I had to admit, as I gazed in the mirror, I looked more and more like my father when I wore the Stetson.

  I left and stopped at Java Jitters for coffee.

  There was a line, as it seemed everyone in town wanted coffee right now.

  “Aiden,” a redhead called out. She looked vaguely familiar when she faced me, holding a travel mug.

  “Janet?” I guessed.

  “Yes! You remember me.”

  “Volleyball team?”

  She bobbed her head. “Yeah. It’s great to see you back.”

  “Thanks.”

  I turned away, but she stepped into my line of sight. “Would you like to grab coffee sometime?” I looked around and we both laughed. “Right. We’re getting coffee now. But you look like you’re going to work. Maybe another time when you’re not busy.”

  “Aiden.” I glanced up to see Jessie waving me over to the counter.

  “Excuse me. Looks like it’s my turn.” I tipped my hat to Janet and walked to the counter. “Jessie,” I said.

  “Hey Aiden. It looked like you needed saving.” She had one of those I know something you don’t know twinkles in her eyes.

  “Ah, yeah. Thanks. Can I get some of your java? I think I’ve got the jitters.”

  She laughed. “Funny guy. Did your late night cause your jitters?” She bit back a grin.

  Had Emma talked to her about last night? “You tell me.”

  She didn’t. Instead, she asked, “Any special flavor in mind?”

  “Coffee-flavored coffee is good,” I said, with grin and a shrug.

  She laughed. “House brand then. Size?”

  “Big.”

  She shook her head. “You’ve got jokes this morning.”

  “I haven’t had coffee yet,” I said, deadpan.

  Her giggle made me chuckle. “Black or with cream?”

  “Black will work.”

  “Okay. I’ve got you.” She winked and I stepped to the side. Janet was gone.

  Or it least I thought she was. When I left the building, Janet was talking to someone outside and rushed over to talk to me.

  “Aiden, I’m so sorry.” I stopped and didn’t mask my confusion. “I didn’t know you and Emma were a thing. I’m so embarrassed. Anyway, we can still have coffee of course. Emma could come too,” she said in a rush. “I should go.” She hooked a thumb over her shoulder. “It was nice seeing you again.”

  She left me standing there wondering what the heck had just happened. I would have called Emma right then, but I didn’t want to do it on the sidewalk in the middle of town. I got in my truck and drove a few blocks over to the station.

  “Morning, Aiden,” Bess said.

  “Morning Bess.”

  “Sheriff wants to see you,” she said.

  I nodded. My call to Emma would have to wait.

  “Sheriff,” I said when I walked in my boss’s office.

  He sat behind the desk wearing a constipated look. “Close the door.”

  I did as he asked and stood there more certain now what he was about to say.

  “I got a call from my wife this morning. Can you guess what she wanted to talk to me about?”

  Even though I could, I waited for him to tell me.

  “My wife wanted to know if Emma’s broken her engagement and was now seeing you. According to her, there is a story in MC Scoop about Hattie and Hazel seeing Emma jogging over the weekend near your house wearing an LAPD shirt. Emma claimed the shirt stood for Love All People something or other.” I couldn’t help but chuckle. She’d thought quickly on her feet. The laugh earned me a glare. “Am I really to believe that’s a coincidence?”

  I folded my arms over my chest. “With all due respect Sheriff, the answer has nothing to do with my job.”

  “We talked about this—” he began.

  “We have, and my friendship with Emma isn’t really anyone’s business. I won’t apologize for it or change it because some people in this town have nothing better to do than gossip.”

  “Emma is engaged. I might not like the guy, but she is engaged. I bet your parents wouldn’t appreciate word that you’re having an improper relationship to be talked about during Sunday church service.”

  “My parents trust I wouldn’t do anything to embarrass them. I hope in time you’ll trust me enough to give me that benefi
t of the doubt as well.”

  He sighed. “The other thing my wife called me about is a vacation. She seems to believe now that I have you here, I could take much needed time off.”

  “What about—” I was about to mention Stanley, the chief deputy sheriff who retired.

  “He was a good cop, but not a good leader.”

  “But he was the chief deputy sheriff not just a deputy.”

  He shook his head. “Sometimes I wonder if you grew up here. Politics. He would have been Sheriff but even he knew his limitations. When the mayor approached me about running for Sheriff, he suggested that Stanley be promoted to chief deputy sheriff so he wouldn’t run against me.”

  I was surprised he’d admitted that when he was so annoyed with me moments before.

  “So I need to know if I can trust you to handle things if I take, let’s say, a week off. The misses wants to go to her sister’s cabin up on Lake McDonald for a little fishing and relaxing.”

  “Relaxing for her. Fishing for you?” I asked with an arch of my brow.

  “Fishing is relaxing. Can I trust you?”

  “You hired me.”

  He eyed me but I said nothing else. “Don’t make me regret it. You can go.”

  I left and went to my office. My call to Emma went to voicemail. I didn’t leave a message. After I checked the log of the previous night’s events, I headed out.

  My first stop was Mason Creek Dental. I passed by Twisted Sister Ice Cream Shack on the way. Hattie and Hazel were there like I always remembered growing up. They waved and I waved back despite being annoyed they did what they always did; spread rumors faster than social media.

  I took a left on Laurel Lane and parked at the dentist’s office. Tim was busy, so I spoke to the office manager to see if they had external security cameras. It was a long shot considering the type of business. But their location on Highland Place made a good vantage point to see anyone in town heading to the bar. I hadn’t spotted any cameras as I walked in, but I asked anyway. They didn’t. I lucked out that I wasn’t asked any probing questions about why I was looking for cameras. So I left.

  My next stop was the jewelry store. When I entered, I recognized Ryder. He was a few years older than me.

  “Ryder,” I said in greeting.

  “Aiden Faulkner. I didn’t think you’d be back,” he said, as we traded hand slaps.

  “Any more than I expected to see you. I thought I would be talking to your parents.”

  “They retired.”

  I nodded. “I noticed you have external security.”

  “We do.”

  “You wouldn’t happen to have access to footage going back over a week ago?”

  “We might. Why?”

  Though I knew Ryder, my investigation was secret. But I didn’t have to completely lie to him. “There is a county BOLO on a missing girl. I thought I would check footage to see if I spotted any unusual activity in town.”

  “Is it someone from town?”

  I shook my head. “But a family is in desperate need of leads. I’m just checking around.”

  “Well, I’m sure I can get you a copy. Can I email it to you?”

  “Sure.” I pulled out my official card and handed it to him. “It was good to see you. We should grab a beer sometime.”

  “Yeah. I need it.”

  I left and didn’t bother driving to my next stop. I crossed Highland Place to the bar and crossed Mueller Lane to the entrance of Bumps and Dents Body Shop. I didn’t recognize the man in the lobby wearing coveralls. He was polishing something in his hand with an oily towel.

  “Hey,” I said, and startled him. He’d been deep in thought.

  “Can I help you?” His eyes took in my uniform shirt. “Deputy.” He had one of those distinctive voices you wouldn’t forgot.

  “Are you the owner?” Last I knew, Jessie’s dad owned the place. However, I didn’t want to insult the guy if he owned it now.

  He shook his head. “That would be Henry Phillips.”

  “Is he around?”

  “He should be in back. I’ll get him.”

  “Thanks. I’m Aiden by the way.” I held out a hand.

  He held up his to show they were grimy with the work he’d been doing. “I’m Tucker.”

  “Oh, you sing at the pub?”

  “I do,” he said, nodding.

  “My mom heard you at the festival and couldn’t say enough good things.”

  “Tell her thanks.”

  “I will.”

  He ducked down a hall and shortly after Henry Phillips appeared.

  “Aiden Faulkner,” he said, with an outstretched hand. “I heard you were back in town.”

  “I am.”

  “What brings you by?”

  “You have external surveillance cameras around your property, right?”

  “We do.”

  “I’m hoping you might still have footage for the last week or so,” I said.

  “Actually, you are in luck. It’s a cloud-based system, so it could go back further than that. Can I ask you what it’s for?”

  I gave him the same line I’d given Ryder. “It would be a help to her family if I could rule out that she’d been in the area.”

  “Her parents must be a wreck.”

  “No doubt they are. Any help you can offer would be great.”

  He promised to get me a link to the files if he couldn’t email them. I thanked him and left.

  I was walking out when Emma’s dark blue MINI Cooper came around the corner. She slowed to a stop and rolled down her window.

  “Hey stranger,” she said.

  It had turned into a running joke between us. “Yeah, do I know you? Only a stranger would sneak out of the house in the morning without a goodbye.”

  “Sorry about that. I went for a run and ran into the ice cream and gossip sisters.”

  “I heard.”

  She sighed. “I’m sorry. If I had any clue I’d be seen, I wouldn’t have gone out in your shirt.”

  “Don’t worry about it.” I didn’t tell her about what the sheriff said because it was my problem not hers.

  “I hope you haven’t caught grief over it.”

  I laughed. “It worked in my favor when I ran into Janet.” I paused. “You know Janet, right?”

  “Redhead and single?”

  “Yeah. She asked me out. Jessie saved me by the way. But on the way out, she apologized thinking that we were together.”

  Her brow shot up. “Did you correct her?”

  “Didn’t have a chance. She did all the talking, so I didn’t have to turn her down.”

  Emma’s grin was filled with amusement. “Why would you have turned her down? She’s cute.”

  I eyed her for a second, managing not to show my disappointment that she’d asked me that. “No reason. Maybe I’m waiting. I’m a patient man. Mom always told me not to compromise, especially when it comes to someone I want to call wife.”

  Her jaw dropped.

  I tapped the hood of her car. “Anyway. I need to get back to the station before the sheriff puts an APB out on me. You’re here early.”

  “Yeah. I have a lot to do before we open.”

  “I’ll let you go.”

  She didn’t have to go far. She turned right into the pub’s parking lot which was directly across the street from where I stood. I crossed back over Highland Place where my department-issued SUV was parked.

  Emma still had the ring on. Was I being a fool for hoping for something between us?

  Chapter 15

  Emma

  No man should look that good, I thought as I turned into the bar’s parking lot. Stupid me had suggested he date Janet. Had he scowled when I said it or was I imagining it?

  I parked and sat there for a moment. Did I really think Aiden would stay single for long with all the thirsty, single women in town? The tall glass of water he was, wouldn’t last long.

  Finally, I let go of the steering wheel and went inside. I wanted to get
the weekend’s bookkeeping done before Jack arrived in case we needed to talk.

  After using my new passcode to enter the building and once again to get into the office, I smiled to myself for all my handiwork. “Thanks, Dad,” I said out loud. I could never be more grateful that he’d raised me to be independent and not depend on anyone when I didn’t have to.

  I’d finished up the weekend tally which all tied out to the cash deposit for the bank waiting in the safe. I’d finished a paper I needed to turn in for one of my classes and was in the middle of reviewing the security footage when someone said, “I figured you’d be here early,” scaring the mess out of me.

  “Jack!” I flinched, putting my hand to my chest as if that could slow my racing heart. I glanced up to find him standing in the doorway. I hadn’t heard the tinkling bells chimes from my motion detector app to alert me of movement outside the side door to the parking lot. I’d been so engrossed with what I was doing.

  “We need to talk,” he said. Not waiting for me to invite him in, he sat in the chair on the other side of the desk facing me. He hadn’t closed the office door. No one else was at the bar but us.

  “Yes. I do have time to talk. Thanks for asking,” I said sardonically.

  “Emma, I’m not your enemy unless I have to be.”

  I lifted an eyebrow. “Oh, thanks for that. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.”

  He clucked his tongue. “I love this bar as much as your father did. That’s why he asked me to take it over from him when the time came.”

  “You act like I wasn’t here longer than you. I spent my days after school in this very office doing homework after my mother died. I don’t even think you were working here back then.”

  “Doing homework is a far cry from running the bar. You always had one foot in and one foot out. That’s why your father asked me and not you to run the place after him.” His resentment rolled off him like waves.

  “You want things to go back to the way they were before?” I accused.

  “Yes.”

  “You want to run things while I pop in and out like when Dad was around?”