The Bridge (Para-Earth Series) (6 page)

             
“You’re not the only one,” he murmured. “It was practically brown trouser time back there.”

             
“Change your pants before getting into bed,” she told him, “I just did the sheets.”

             
“I said practically,” he replied, not missing a beat.

             
She laughed at that and then became serious again. “I mean it, Alex.  I’m worried.  I want you to promise me you’ll stay put and just rest this afternoon.”

             
“I thought you were going to stay with me.”

             
She nodded regretfully, “I was but between what happened to you, and the condition of the bodies, I need to take another look at the scene of the accident.  There’s something bothering me.  I didn’t tell you this earlier, but that vehicle flew past me moments before it crashed.  And I saw only two people in the front seat.  Since then we’ve been told that both driver and passenger had drowned sometime last night.  And there isn’t a body of water within a several miles of where they crashed.”

             
“Bloody hell,” he breathed.

             
“Yeah,” she nodded.

             
“Were they moving when they drove by you?”

             
She looked at him with admiration, “You think like a cop.”

             
“I’ve had plenty of time to watch one in action,” he replied with a smile that quickly vanished.  “So were they moving or not?”

             
Ronnie looked away and said, “For the life of me I can’t say for sure.”

             
They both fell silent and remained that way until they reached their driveway and pulled in.  Killing the engine Ronnie turned to him and asked, “Are you going to be all right by yourself?  I can tell you’re still shaken up.”

             
He nodded.

             
“You’ll stay put and rest?”

             
“What do I get, if do as I’m told?” he asked playfully.

             
“I’m still not going to marry you,” she told him.

             
He snapped his fingers and gave her sad puppy eyes.

             
She laughed and said, “I’ll bring Julie home with me and we can do some nude oil wrestling for you.”

             
His eyes went wide at that, “You are worried about me.”

             
Veronica nodded and added quietly, “And when I’m ready I’ll ask you to marry me.  Okay?”

             
Alex smiled warmly, “I can live with that.”

             
“Even if it takes a while?” she asked hesitantly.

             
He leaned closer whispered, “Even if it takes ten or fifteen years.”

              After a full two minutes of kissing in the front seat, Ronnie reminded herself she needed to get Alex out of the car and into the house.  And he was doing quite well until they were inside and halfway to the bedroom, then he stumbled and nearly fell.  Luckily she had been ready and caught him.  He’d managed the rest of the way with her help.  Once there, she realized the bed was still a mess from earlier. 

             
Sitting him down in a chair, she proceeded to change the sheets and made things nice and comfortable for her patient.  Looking over at him she saw Alex was trying to get undressed with difficulty.  He had managed to take off his shoes and socks, but was now fighting with his shirt.

             
Finishing with the bed she went over to help him.  Within minutes they’d gotten him out of his clothes and under the sheets were he immediately fell asleep.

             
Veronica watched him for a few minutes and shook her head.  “You didn’t make any jokes when I started taking off your pants,” she murmured.  “I’d been expecting at least, ‘Ooo… getting friendly now are we?’  But you were quiet the whole time.”

             
She reached a decision and pulled out her cellphone.

the policewoman ponders

             
An hour later at the New Swindon Police Station, Veronica threw down the report in her hand.  Nothing was making sense. The vehicle had been seen driving erratically along four miles of curving roads before reaching her.  And all of the witnesses reported seeing only two people in the vehicle.  

             
“How the hell did they drive all that way, when they were already dead?” she snapped out loud. 

             
“And where did they drown in the first place?” asked a clean cut young officer, standing in the doorway.

             
Veronica looked up and smiled.  Ryan O’connor had been with them for about a year now and was currently her partner.  Tall, broad-shouldered, with short red-blond hair he not only had the look of a cop, but asked excellent questions like one.  “And what are your thoughts on this mystery?” she asked. 

             
The young officer held up a finger and said, “One, we should have someone check over the vehicle for signs of a third party who must’ve been doing the driving.”

             
“Already got Chase over at the Impound yard doing that,” she nodded approvingly,  “Go on.”

             
“Two, find anyone who saw last saw those kids alive last night.  Where were they?  Was there a body of water nearby where they might have drowned?”

             
“Chief’s already set up a tip line and is talking with the editors over at the newspaper as we speak,” Ronnie smiled, he was doing good.

             
“Three, go back to the scene of the accident and try to retrace their path using eyewitness accounts,” he finished.

             
She beamed at him.  “I hadn’t thought of that.  Okay, partner let’s roll.  You take the patrol car, and I’ll take my motorcycle in case we need to split up.” She knew without looking that he would have a disappointed expression his face.  What was it with her and younger men?  Alex was not the first to be interested in her.  She’d had a number of suitors during the last seven years.

             
Some had backed off when they learned her age, but not all of them.  She had names for the ones who hadn’t.  “The Oedipus Boys” were the ones who longed for a mother figure.  The “MILF’s” considered any mature woman with looks desperate and fuckable. 

             
Alex had not fallen into any of those categories.  He was unique.

             
“How’s your… friend?” Ryan asked with ill-disguised indifference. 

             
Veronica groaned inwardly.  None of her male co-workers seemed to think much of her boyfriend.  With the exception of their boss who enjoyed Alex’s sense of humor. 

             
“He’s resting at home.  Came down with that bug that’s going around,” she answered casually.

             
“Must be why he collapsed at the Morgue.”

             
Ronnie stopped and glared, “How did you hear about that?”

             
Stepping back, her partner began speaking in that professional voice they used for dealing with a dangerous individual.  “Easy Sarge, my brother Charlie works there.  He told me you showed up with a guy who fainted.”

             
Ronnie laughed.  She’d forgotten just how intimidating her manner could be at times. “Sorry, I’m just worried about him.  Nothing like that has ever happened before.”

             
Ryan waved a hand dismissively, “I’d feel the same way if it had happened to Charlie.  We’re trained to deal with other people’s situations.  But when something happens to someone you care about, it’s another matter.”

             
“True,” she nodded.

             
“Mind you, I still don’t know what you see in Mr. Scrawny,” Ryan added, ducking into the nearest patrol car and out of reach.

             
“He’s got goooood moves,” Veronica replied, mounting her patrol cycle. “Stay close, I don’t want to lose you,” she added, putting on her helmet.

             
“Don’t worry, I’ll be sticking close behind you,” her partner replied with a smirk.

             
Rolling her eyes Veronica started the engine and took off.  Inwardly she was chuckling.  It wasn’t just the men at the station, even a few of her female co-workers wondered what she saw in Alex.  They all made the mistake of judging her ‘Boy-Toy’ by his slender frame.  But, Alex had developed long lean muscles from years on the dance floor.  She’d found that out when they first met in New York City four years earlier...

              She and Roy had been partners in the ‘Big Apple’ when she was still a rookie.  After five years together, he’d left to become Chief of Police for the town of New Swindon.  He asked her to join him, but she’d refused.  Then four years later, he offered again when he needed a new second-in-command.  This time she accepted.  Her time in the city had become one long frustration, thanks to office politics and misogyny.  Now, twelve years later, they had returned to attend the opening of the new building that had replaced their old stationhouse. 

             
A number of old friends and colleagues were on hand, as well as many new faces.  In the station’s gymnasium a small band was playing, and a good portion of the floor had been set aside for dancing. A Foxtrot was under way, and she had been watching Roy’s wife dancing with a young blonde-haired man.  He was leading her through a series of flashy steps that showed her off to great advantage. 

             
As she admired the footwork Roy came up to her and shook his head, “Good God that Youngster can move.  I better get in there before my wife forgets who she came with.”

             
He waited for the couple to draw near before reaching out and tapped his wife’s partner saying, “May I cut in?”

             
The younger man thought about it and replied, “I don’t know. I was planning on making off with her.”

             
“Kidnapping?” Roy asked curiously.

             
“I was thinking more of subtle persuasion,” the young man replied.

             
“Any licentious behavior planned?”

             
“Only if she starts it.”

             
Veronica suppressed a giggle as Roy pulled out a pencil and paper, and started making notes. “So we have attempting to make off with a police chief’s wife, with the intention of committing acts of depravity…”

             
The young man’s expression suddenly became very serious.  Turning to his dance partner he said, “I’m sorry Luv, but I have principles.  I cannot come between a man and his wife, especially when it’s a man who has faced many dangers and has risen through the ranks of the proud and the blue.  A man I respect and admire.  A man who I’m desperately hoping is buying all this and doesn’t toss me in the nick.”

             
Alice Peterson patted his hand, “Don’t worry.  I’ll keep him busy while you make a break for it.”

             
“Aiding and abetting eh!” her husband cried, taking her into his arms.                “Ma’am I’m going to have to take you in for questioning.”

             
“You’ll have to make me talk,” she replied, as the two of them danced off into the crowd.

             
Veronica couldn’t help herself and burst out laughing.  The young man looked at her and asked, “You’re not his daughter by chance are you?”

             
“No,” she replied.

             
“Married? Attached?”

             
She shook her head.

             
“Good!” Then, without asking he took her hand and whisked her out onto the dance floor.

             
She had taken some ballroom classes a couple of years earlier and was able to do a passable Waltz.  But with him, it felt like she was on Dancing with the Stars.  His ability to lead was incredible. “You are good,” she told him as he put her into a 3/8’s combination turn.

             
He bowed his head slightly, “Fourteen years of training.  You’re rather impressive yourself.”

             
She smiled prettily.

             
“And so is you’re Waltz,” he added innocently.

             
She’d groaned inwardly and muttered, “I can’t believe I didn’t see that coming.” Looking closer at her partner she noticed the dark eyes that never wandered from hers. And his face, while not handsome in the rugged sense, was more than pleasing.  But he was also younger than her, a lot younger.  Best not to lead him on, she thought. “You’re very nice Mr.….”

             
“Hill,” he supplied, “Alexander Hill.  And now protocol says you have to tell me your name.”

             
“Why?

             
“Cause I thought you’d prefer it, to me calling you my Waltzing Redhead,” he said, putting her in a dip as the music came to an end.

             
“Fair enough,” she agreed, “You can call me Veronica”

             
“Lovely name,” he smiled, still holding her in the pose.

             
‘Sigh… young, cute and about to be disappointed,’ she’d thought sadly.  “Sergeant Veronica Ross,” she said aloud.

             
Much to her surprise he broke into a grin as he brought back into a vertical position. “I thought so.  The shoulders…”

             
“My shoulders?” she frowned.

             
“Broad and muscular, so obviously you keep fit for a reason.  And you’re at the dedication of the new police station, so I figured you must be an officer,” he smiled.

             
“Very good,” she applauded, “and what else are you besides a ballroom wizard Mr. Hill?”

             
“Realtor, pastel artist,” he shrugged. “Nothing amazing, not like you.”

             
“Are we talking about my looks again or my profession?” she asked, hoping to get ahead of him this time.

             
“Killjoy,” he laughed. “No seriously, a police sergeant?  You must be bloody good to get through the ranks that fast.”

             
‘Cute but slow,’ she thought. “Twenty years on the force isn’t exactly ‘shooting’ through the ranks,” she told him.

             
“What they let you join up when you’re like 10 years old over here?” he asked innocently.

             
She rolled her eyes, “I joined the police when I was 18 and I’ve been on the force for twenty-two years.  I’m forty years old.”

             
“Brains, beauty and a career woman,” he beamed. “By-the-by, how’s your Tango?”

             
Veronica was so floored that she didn’t know what to say.  Finally, her brain managed an, “Uh… okay I guess.”

             
“Good, they’re about start one now,” he replied, taking her in position. “We can talk more while we dance.  Afterwards we can maybe go for some tea and coffee.”

             
She shook her head, “I don’t believe you.”

             
He looked like a naughty boy caught with his hand in the cookie jar.  “All right tea, coffee and some pie.  I’ve got a thing for pastries.”

             
Alex had been full of surprises that evening.  She had found out that in addition to being a fantastic ballroom dancer, he was well read, and was a commercial real estate broker.

             
She also learned that he was a really good listener who asked intelligent questions.  Even when she tried to catch him off guard by changing her attitude on a matter they had discussed, he asked about her apparent change of heart.  This delighted her immensely.  It wasn’t often she met anyone who was willing to challenge a police sergeant. 

             
But, the thing that surprised her the most was when he escorted her back to the hotel.  She did not invite him up, and he didn’t try to finagle an invitation out of her.  He merely asked if he could see her again.  She left him with a firm… maybe.

             
As she headed for her room, two thoughts kept running through her mind, ‘He’s fifteen years younger than me, so what is he thinking?  And why am I getting so worked up about him?’

             
The next morning the front desk called to inform her that a table, at an expensive restaurant across the street, had been reserved for the entire morning.  A gentleman was hoping she would join him for breakfast.  “Okay, this is too much,” she’d muttered and invited Roy and Alice to join her. Perhaps meeting her boss, who was 12 years older than her, might persuade her admirer that things just wouldn’t work out between them.