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He shrugged. “It’s second nature. Even if our dad was an ass, Mom taught us how men were supposed to be.”
Dani thought about her own family when she was growing up as she reached for a piece of toast.
“My parents were good people, and good to each other,” she said, and began buttering her toast.
Aaron frowned. “Were?”
“They died right after I began teaching in Monroe. Car wreck,” she said.
“I’m sorry,” Aaron said.
“Me, too,” Dani said. “My only other relatives live in Oregon. They’re from Dad’s side of the family and I don’t really know them.”
Aaron saw the sadness in her eyes and changed the subject.
“You’re a good cook. You put something in the eggs besides salt and pepper, and I like it.”
Dani smiled. “I’m from Louisiana, remember?”
“Hot sauce!” Aaron guessed.
She nodded. “I like everything hot and spicy.”
“So do I,” he said, gave her another long look, and then finished his food. “I’ll be on duty until five unless something comes up, and then it could be later. There are no certainties in my job. But you can call me anytime. If something doesn’t seem right, pick up the phone, okay?”
“Yes, okay,” she said, and started to get up when he stopped her with a touch.
“Take your time. Finish your food. I’ll let myself out,” then he carried his dishes to the sink. “See you this evening, Dani. Have a good day.”
She stood. “Be safe,” she said as he came back to the table to pick up his keys.
He palmed the keys, then lightly stroked the side of her cheek with the back of his hand.
Dani shivered at the touch.
“Thank you for the blessing,” he said softly, and then he was gone.
She was standing by the table when she heard the garage door go up and then down after he backed his car out and drove away. She could still feel his touch as she began her day.
Aaron got to the station, headed for the locker room to get into uniform, then appeared for roll call, only to getorders to return to the station at 10:00 a.m. to sit in on the meeting with the Pope family. They were coming in to see the journal, and he had a knot in his gut just thinking about it. They were all going to want to know how it turned up, and what the police knew about the man who shot Charlie, and why he didn’t share any of this with them before. This was the hard part about being a cop. Knowing things that you couldn’t talk about to people you knew and loved.
As ordered, Aaron was back at the station a few minutes before 10:00.
The chief was waiting for him.
“Aaron, I need you in the lobby to meet the Popes. As soon as they’ve all arrived, bring them back to the conference room. Sheriff Woodley and I will be waiting.”
“Yes, sir,” Aaron said, and headed up front, then didn’t have long to wait.
They came in a caravan of cars and pickup trucks, and began parking anywhere they could near the station. Sonny had requested the elders, but some had long since given up driving, and it was the younger generations who’d brought them.
They filed into the station and kept piling in until the front lobby was packed.
“Is this everybody?” Aaron asked after the door finally shut behind the last one.
“No. Cameron and Rusty went after Miss Ella. She’s the oldest Pope left on the mountain. Never married. Never learned to drive a car, and they had to do some fast talking to even get her to come off the mountain,” Annie Cauley said.
“I’ve never met her, but I’ve heard Mom talk about her,” Aaron said.
