Once I finish my coffee, I close the folder, stacking the various pictures and things back into it. I know there’s an answer just outside of my reach and the frustration I feel nearly kills me.
I put the case out of my head for a minute and think about the fact that I have a son…
I’m going to have to talk to Luna about that and she’s not going to be easy to approach, especially after the way I fucked things up this morning. Still, it has to be done. I don’t know how to approach this shit. I’ve never been in this situation before. But I do know that I need her permission before I approach Joshua. He hates me, it won’t be easy and maybe if Luna will give her approval it will help….
If I can even get that from her…
Luna
“This is a surprise,” Ben says when I walk through the door. His smile and the way he walks to me, taking me in his arms makes the tension from my body just ease away. This is what I need. This is healthy. It’s good for me and for Joshua…
It’s safe.
“I needed to see you,” I tell him hugging him tightly.
“What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” I kind of lie, but we’re in the middle of the office and there are several deputies standing around and the dispatch—definitely not the place for heart to heart talks. “I was just hoping I could talk you into coming over for dinner tonight.”
“You’re cooking?”
“Well, if that sweetens the deal, I can. I was thinking of just ordering pizza though.”
“Either way I’m in, sweetheart.”
“That was easy,” I respond, smiling because I like this. There’s no tension, no anger, resentment, just… goodness.
“Where you’re concerned, I’m always easy, haven’t you got that yet, Luna?” he asks, and I could almost blush. Instead, I lay my head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat thinking how lucky I am to have him in my life. I’m not going to let Gavin ruin this. It would be crazy. “You sure you’re okay?” he asks.
“It’s been a really rough morning,” I tell him and at least that’s honest.
“I’m sorry, is there anything I can do?”
“I was hoping that we—”
“Sheriff, we just got a call that you might want to take charge of.”
“What’s up, Amber?” he asks the lady that usually runs dispatch through the day.
“Moses Flanigan found a body at Elaine’s bar.”
“Fuck. Who was it, do they know?”
“Elaine.”
“No,” I gasp. My mind thinking back through the morning. I walk with Ben to the desk as he looks over the notes that Amber had written down.
“Fuck, I’ll take a few cars with me. Anderson is already on patrol in that area, you get him out there and tell him to lock the scene down. No one goes inside until I get there,” Ben orders.
“What about the FBI agents? Do I call them? That Dern left his—”
“No,” Ben says, surprising me. “I want to see what is going on there first and do some initial canvas before they come in and ride roughshod over my investigation.”
“Ben, I—”
“Luna, I got to go.”
“But maybe you should talk to Gav—”
“I’m not discussing this case with you or my decisions. I’m doing what’s best for the citizens of Stone Lake,” he says, but he softens his words with a kiss on my forehead. “I’ll see you this evening.”
“I’ll meet you out at the bar,” I tell him, following as he walks outside.
“No. I don’t want anyone out there, I need to lock this down tight,” he says, already halfway to his patrol car.
“But, if you would just listen,” I start, but it’s too late. He’s shut the door and barreling out of the parking area and onto the road. I walk to my vehicle, trembling as I think about just seeing Elaine hours earlier.
Was the murderer around even then? Was he close to me? Was he stalking Elaine then? Could I have done something to save her? Was she dead when I dropped Gavin off to collect his rental?
My hands are shaking when I open the door and get inside. I push the button to start my car, my finger trembling so hard it takes concentration to make it press down. I have to run by the school and drop off Joshua’s clothes for practice this evening and then regardless of what Ben said, I will head to the bar. I will leave calling Gavin up to Ben, but I’m brave enough to admit that I’m only waiting because I don’t want to talk to Gavin right now.
Luna
Being a single mother is never easy. When I got to the school, I found out that Joshua was in the principal’s office for fighting. That meant a quick trip to the school was a lot more involved. Joshua wouldn’t tell me what the fight was about, but he’s not the kind of kid to do this sort of thing. He’s been upset since seeing Gavin, and I have a sneaking suspicion that his anger toward Gavin is the root of the problem in general. I didn’t get to go by the bar. I brought Joshua home because the principal thought it’d be best to let him take the day off and cool his temper. Bringing your son to a murder scene didn’t sound like something that would win me Mother of Year.