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“Did he have a name or an address?” I’ve got my phone out, and it feels like the best lead we’ve had since Britt turned up all her clues.
“He said it was something easy like The Kiawah Clinic. He couldn’t exactly remember, but he said it was by the discount casket place.”
I can’t help a grimace. “Discount caskets?”
“I know.” She laughs. “It might not be in the best part of town. He said it was on a street with a funny name, like Manlove Street or Sangster Street.”
“I’ve heard of Manlove Street.” Doug perks up. “I don’t know about discount caskets, but it’s near the tracks. That’s way before you get into Kiawah.”
I look at the clock. It’s about an hour and a half drive to Kiawah, but I’m not sure where I’m going or who I’m trying to find.
“I found it!” Doug calls out from his desk. “Kiawah Veteran’s Care. Run by Dr. Sy Needleman.”
I’m tapping on my phone as his fingers click on the keys. “He’s dead,” we both say at the same time, and my shoulders fall. “What now?”
An idea filters through my mind. We might not be able to access his records—not that we ever could without a search warrant, and we don’t have enough evidence to get one. “If he is a veteran, we could possibly find him by his location and his injury. He would’ve received a purple heart if it was service related.”
“On it!” Doug’s fingers fly over the keys, and he accesses the government databases. “Shew, this is going to take a minute.”
I look at his screen, filled with line after line of names. A dark realization passes over us all. A lot of young men died or were seriously injured in that war so long ago. It tore our nation apart and changed a lot of people’s attitudes towards the military.
Thankfully, a lot of that bad blood had gone away when it came my time to serve. I was proud to be a Marine. Now I’m proud to be in law enforcement, even if we’re struggling with a similar climate of suspicion.
I pick up my phone, sliding my finger over the screen. “Just see what you can find, Doug. I’m going to grab some lunch, but I’ll be back.”
I know it’s her day off—and all the other things that kept me from texting earlier… Still, she’d want to know about this, and I want to see her face.
You awake?I tap out quickly.
Gray dots float and disappear, then they reappear and disappear. My chest tightens with every near-response, until finally, she answers,Yes!
I exhale a short laugh.Took a long time for one word.
This time I get a little more.I’m trying to do better with not over-sharing.
I don’t like the sound of that.You can over share with me.
Again, the gray dots float and disappear, before,What’s up?
So many responses float through my mind:I want to see you; I can’t stop thinking about last night; Maybe it’s a terrible idea, but how bad can it be?
Instead, I keep it neutral.Need a ride to get groceries? I’ll pick you up.
Her reply is equally safe.Sure, meet you out front.
When I get to the Star Parlor, she’s standing on the sidewalk looking adorable in another thin dress with some kind of blue design on it and a blue cardigan on top. I put the truck in park and hop out to let her in, but she’s already got the door open.
“Hang on.” I catch her arm, and standing on the step-side puts her face even with mine.
Heat flashes between us. Her body is so close; her lips are right there. Our eyes meet, and my impulse is to pull her to me and kiss her.
Instead, I take a half-step back. “I was going to help you.”
“I didn’t think…” She glances towards the building. “We’re just getting groceries.”
“Right.” My hand is on the door, and once she’s inside, I close it.
Get a grip, Aiden.I jog around to my side and get in, pulling away from the curb.
