Inseparable

"Yes, Officer." I remained calm. This would not be footage played on an episode of COPS where the police arrive and the lady of the house starts screaming about her "common-law" husband who she has a restraining order against even though his name is on the lease.

“No, Officer. I live here alone. I rent this house by myself.”

“Well, we got a very different story from Mr. Prine.”

“Oh, I’ll bet you did.” I folded my arms across my chest.

“Were you at Felix’s restaurant tonight?” The officer suddenly seemed very concerned about where I was and what I was doing earlier tonight.

"Yes, I was. Mr. Prine first approached me there. Then he found out where I lived and….

"Were you there with someone?"

"Yes," I answered quietly. "I was supposed to have a date. It didn't turn out too well so I left."

“What made you leave the restaurant?”

"It was the first date and he showed up drunk. I was uncomfortable. So I snuck out before things could get out of hand."

“Mr. Prine knew this man?”

“Not that I’m aware of. But I don’t know what he’s telling you.” I felt my blood boiling and my eyes starting to sting with tears. “Because if he’d told you the truth he would have told you that when I ran into him I said I never wanted to see him again. Well, maybe not those exact words but that was the gist of it.”

Here I was defending myself to this big, burly member of the Fraternal Order of Police and Lucas was probably out there in the yard making jokes about me. Guys like him always had connections to the police. There was probably a guy in Chicago who was buddies with Lucas’s father. Just one phone call was all he’d need to make to have these guys drive away. If he says anything about the backseat of a squad car I’ll kill him with my bare hands.

“Miss Grant?” The officer snapped me out of my daydream.

“I’m sorry, what?”

“Mr. Prine said he spoke with the fellow you left at the restaurant. He felt the man might be a threat to you.”

"That's absurd," I replied. "Why would he even suggest that? I don't understand where he's coming from. I'm telling you this is just a ruse to come over here and try and talk with me."

“He told my partner that the man you stood up was angry and told Mr. Prine he was considering coming to your home.”

I held my breath. I wasn’t sure if I should believe anything Lucas says but one thing he never did was he never lied to me. He may not have communicated his feelings very well but I can’t recall him lying to me.

“Karl was a joke.” I squinted my eyes and looked at the officer. “He was drunk and you don’t take a guy like that very seriously. I can’t imagine he’d say something like that.”

“But you did say this was your first date. You don’t know much about him.”

I shook my head no.

“Okay, Miss Grant, if you’d have a seat here on the porch. I’ll be right back.” The officer closed the little notepad he’d been scribbling in and slipped his flashlight back into the loop on the side of his huge utility belt. I sat down on the swing and looked around. The neighbors had come out to gawk. That was embarrassing.

Like a guilty child who knew they were busted Spike came slithering up the front porch steps sticking closely to the shadows.

“I don’t know what you did but you look guilty. Get in the house.” I ordered. Spike did as he was told and snuck in the front door.

I looked everywhere but at the police and the squad car and Lucas. I didn’t want any more excitement. I just wanted them all to leave.

Finally, I peeked up and saw Lucas stomp to his car, get in and drive away. My whole body sagged with relief.

But the police weren’t done with me.

“Miss Grant, we’re going to have a squad car circle around here a couple times tonight. We don’t want you to be alarmed if you see one. From what Mr. Prine told us we believe he was telling the truth.”

“Telling the truth about what? That he showed up here all stealthy-like and tried to…”