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“Officer Sam Lewis.”
The man wasn’t dressed in the uniform I remembered, and there were more lines etched into his otherwise baby-like face. But he was the same man I remembered from over a decade ago—there was no doubt about that. But why he was standing at my door now, I couldn’t begin to imagine.
“You remember me,” he stated with a reluctant curl to one side of his mouth.
“I could never forget the guy who slapped the cuffs on right before he stuffed me into the back of his squad car.”
Officer Sam chuckled, a hint of sadness in the sound. “No, I guess not.”
My eyes left him to survey the man standing beside him. A little younger, a little thinner. Not nearly as friendly-looking as Officer Sam.
“What can I do for you guys?”
Officer Sam tipped his head, casting his gaze behind me, then offered a small smile to Ray … or maybe it was Noah.
“Um, this is my partner, Detective Miller,” he said, addressing the man beside him. “I was hoping we could maybe come in and chat for a few minutes.”
I glanced at Detective Miller, who was already staring right back at me with a glare I was sure he thought was menacing. “Sure … as long as you don’t mind watching me eat my breakfast.”
“Not at all,” Officer Sam said.
“Great.”
I opened the door fully, allowing the two men inside. They wiped their feet respectfully against the mat, then followed me to the table, where Ray was suspiciously watching as she laid the full plates on the table.
“Soldier?” Her eyes volleyed from me to the officers behind me. “What’s going on?”
“Ray, this is my old friend, Officer Sam Lewis—”
“Actually, it’s, uh … it’s Detective Sam Lewis now,” he quietly interjected with a smile, one I returned.
“Hey, good for you, man. Congratulations.”
He laughed easily, concealing the unmistakable glint of dread in his eyes. “Thanks.”
I sat down as I said to both her and Noah—who, I noticed, hadn’t spoken a word since I’d opened the door—”DetectiveLewis and his partner, Detective Miller, came by to chat while we eat.” I tried not to let it show that my nerves were warning me against eating altogether. “Detectives, this is my girlfriend, Ray, and her son, Noah.”
“Ma’am,” Detective Miller greeted, speaking for the first time since they’d arrived and nodding his chin toward Ray.
“Nice to meet you, Ray,” Detective Sam said before offering his hand to Noah. “How’re you doing, pal?”
Noah glanced at me, his eyes full of suspicion and uncertainty, but I nodded my assurance. Letting him know that he could trust these guys. That, no matter why they were here, they meant him and his mother no harm.
Noah accepted his hand, and they shook.
“I’m okay,” he replied in the small voice he used when he was worried. Scared.
“Good,” Detective Sam said as his partner left the table to wander around the living room.
I watched him as he surveyedthe space. What was he looking for? Or better yet, why the hell were they here in the first place?
Detective Sam cleared his throat and moved his hands to his waist, hooking his thumbs into his pants pockets. “I’m sorry to disturb you all,” he said, and I knew this was it.
This was the moment when he was going to announce why they were paying me a visit, and I pushed myself toward a heavier air of nonchalance as I reached for the pepper shaker.
“And I’m sorry I didn’t make enough for you guys to have some,” I said, shoveling a forkful of scrambled eggs into my mouth, only stopping to add, “But I can’t say I was expecting you, so …”
Detective Sam stood there over the table, no less of a black cloud in the moment than Seth and his friend Levi, while Detective Miller over there made himself comfortable. Sitting on the couch, petting my damn cat.
