“You okay?” he leaned forward.
“Yeah, I’m just thinking you’re really nice.” I smirked
“I’m not always nice, you just happen to be cute.” He winked and nodded to the clipboard.
“It’s the bell bottoms isn’t it?” I asked as I twisted my leg for him to see and as he laughed so did I… finally.
MALACHI
How long did it take to file a damn report?
It was a minute after five in the afternoon and she still hadn’t called for me to come get her.
Was she lost again?
Should I go...why should I?
The sun was still up but knowing her she’d most—
Knowing her? How did I know her? I’d only just met her. Whatever! She was big girl…who managed to catch a ride with a thief, get lost, and fall down a flight of stairs in less than twenty-four hours.
Alfred, you better not die and leave me with this girl! I groaned as I dropped the paintbrush, rose from the floor and snatched my leather jacket from the bed while rushing down the stairs. I opened the front door just as the red and blue lights of the squad car pulled up in front of my house.
Great, what had she done now?
“Hi, you’re here!” She waved at me like we hadn’t seen each other in four decades and not four hours.
“Of course I’m here, I live here,” I reminded her once I reached the bottom.
Ignoring me, she and the blond-haired officer pulled out bags of… of God knows what out of his car. “This town is amazing! I love it!” She declared.
Coming up the steps he stood eye to eye with me. “Ah, so you’re Esther’s top secret client. Nice to meet you, I’m Officer David Richards.”
He stretched out his hand but I reached for the bags instead and took them from him.
“Thank you for driving her back, Officer.”
“And for the tour. If you see Mr. Baker before I do don’t you dare help him cheat.” She pointed her finger at him while struggling to hold her other bags.
“Me? Never.” He nodded as he glanced down at the bags in her hands. Before he could take them from her I reached down and pick them up as well. His brown eyes shifted to me. “It was nice meeting you, though I’d love to get a name other than ‘the author?’”
“Am I required by law to give you my name—?” I bit my tongue as she jabbed her elbow into my ribs.
“Told you authors are a bit crabby sometimes. Thank you again, David, and please tell the sheriff that I’m deeply sorry for the backwater comment on behalf of my grandfather. Let her know I’ll surely have a word with my grandpa about it.”
“You apologize too much.”
“Yep. I’m part Canadian, don’t you know?”
Was I not here? Was that what was happening? Had I become invisible?
“Mr. Author.” He nodded to me and I nodded back as he got back into his squad car and pulled away. Esther was giving him the same goodbye wave she’d given me.
“Wow, you really can’t help yourself can you?” She turned to me, daring to cross her arms. “He was being nice.”
“The last nice guy you met here robbed you, remember? Sorry if I don’t trust your intuition.”
“I never said the taxi driver was nice!”