Loved by the Plus Sign

“Well, I always thought I would go to school and be a Kindergarten Teacher.”

“That’s great. We should start looking at college this weekend.” I feel myself getting more excited.

“Thanks. But….”

“But what, Lily? You can tell me anything.” I assure her touching her hand.

“Well, now I am not so sure. First, ever since my mom died, my dad hasn’t worked, and he no longer has his union job that would have paid for school. So how will I afford it. Second....I mean...well...I don't know. Ever since Mark has been making himself...visible….” she giggles as she says it. “I have been thinking more about having a family. Is that stupid?” This girl is amazing.

“Why would that make you stupid? I mean for that matter, why couldn’t you do both? If Mark really cares about you, he would make it his business to give you any and everything you want. Decide what you want, Lily and don’t take anything less. Understand?” She nods her head and bites her lip clearly wanting to say something else. “What is it?”

“I was just wondering if you believed in love at first sight?”

“Do you?” I ask her not wanting to answer right now. It would force me to admit something I am not ready to say to myself.

“I didn’t. Until I met Mark. Is that crazy?” Her eyes glossy and filled with love. I envy her more than anything right now, being able to admit this.

“No, Lily. Not crazy at all.” As close to the truth as I can get right now. She smiles at me and leans over, wrapping her arms around me.

“Thank you, for everything, Vanessa. My only wish right now is that you take your own advice and know you are worth everything, too.” She says this, making me speechless before kissing my cheek and walking out the kitchen. The tears begin coming immediately, my emotions not able to handle the conflicting fears. Can I do this? Give my heart to someone, one more time, knowing that I could be destroyed? Do I even want to? As I ask myself this, I know what I am going to do. I am going to go out with Pedro, not only because he looks at me like a mountain lion looks at a human, but because I look at him the same way. I would be more than lying to myself if I don’t admit that man makes me squirm and drip for him every time I see him. Crap. I guess I am doing this. I just have to figure out how to guard my heart.4PedroFuck! I think rolling over in the bed. That damn dream I just had about my tulip was hot as fuck. Damn phone. “Hello!” I answer a bit more gruffly then I intend to.

“Get down here now. Portofino has a hostage at the port. Gamber and the guys found him last night at a strip club and he fled. He grabbed a woman off the pier and is holding her hostage. You are the only negotiator we can call.” Son of a bitch! We have been searching for this maniac for months. We first got alerted to his presence in our city when bodies of young high school girls started turning up all over the city, bound and gagged, underwear around their neck with obvious signs of rape. I went on high alert because after we caught Savorino who tortured and killed hookers, we haven’t had this. For months we searched, picked up anyone we thought guilty, nothing. Then, we got a DNA hit on CODAS after the second to the last girl and with that came a phone call from the FBI in Florida. Seems they too had been searching for this monster for over a year. Before them was the CIA. Apparently, he started in France.

“I’m on my way.” I grab my badge, some pants and a T. I grab my gun out of the safe, my phone and wallet and walk out the door. It isn’t until I am pulling up to the port that it hits me that I have a date with Vanessa tonight. Looking at my clock, it's only 10am. I could have this done and over with before then. Good.

“Thanks for coming so swiftly, Detective Cova. Everything has been setup in the mobile unit. The tech team has connected to the payphone located on the port. The perp doesn’t have a phone on him. Seems he left it behind when he ran.” Figures. No one ever said criminals were smart.

“No worries. Has the perimeter been secured?”

“Yes. We have eight blocks sealed. Snippers on the roof as well as the squad ready to breach. Just waiting on your ‘go’.”

“Well let’s hope it doesn’t have to come to that.” I walk into the mobile unit, pick up the headset and do what I do best. Let’s hope this is something swift. I have my woman to go pick up.