Rogue Alliance

SIXTEEN



Shyla waited at the glass door of the precinct and watched for Victor’s car. When he called he’d asked if she would like to have lunch with him. She didn’t, but she couldn’t very well have told him that, so she said yes.

When he pulled up in his Hummer, she walked out the door with a swing in her hips as she imagined a smitten, young girl would do.

Victor smiled and rounded the car to open her door.

“Hello, Gorgeous.”

She gave him a flirtatious grin and a light kiss on the mouth.

“Hello, Handsome. Where are you taking me?”

“I thought that place overlooking the river would be nice. I’ve never been there but I’ve heard they serve excellent halibut. How does that sound?”

“Sounds perfect,” she said and climbed into the vehicle. She was glad that it was somewhere she’d never been. The restaurant had only been built over the last few years. No memories there.

As she reached across and grabbed her seatbelt, she caught sight of Shawn staring out the window. His face was stern and his hands were jammed in his pockets. She couldn’t understand why he was always so irritable with her, but guessed it had a lot to do with her being female. Quite possibly, too, he knew about her history.

She looked away and enjoyed the ride. It was a sunny day without a cloud in the sky. Redding was known for its beautiful weather.

Once they sat down to lunch, Victor surprised her when he ordered for her. She’d never had anyone be so presumptuous before. It was insulting and infuriating. It was tempting to give him a piece of her mind. But she held her tongue and kept to her role.

“You left without saying goodbye last night. I woke up to only a note,” he said with a slight inflection of irritation.

“I didn’t want to wake you,” she said simply, “and I wasn’t ready to sleep over just yet. It seems too…”

“Too what?” he teased.

“I don’t know,” she shrugged, “I don’t sleep well away from home anyway, but maybe next time.”

They chatted and enjoyed their meal. Towards the end she excused herself and went to the restroom. On her way, she passed a middle-aged couple seated at the bar. The man glanced her way and then did a double take.

She didn’t recognize him, but she was sure he recognized her. Quickening her pace, she escaped into the ladies room. She ran through all possible scenarios and tried to place who he was, but nothing specific came to mind. He must have been a friend of her parents; he was the same age as they would have been. Would he try to talk to her? What would his reaction be? Anger, judgment, kindness? She had no idea, but she didn’t want to find out, at least not in front of Victor. She still hadn’t mentioned that she was originally from Redding. She’d only mentioned Seattle and she still wasn’t even sure if she was going to bring it up. She kind of liked the idea of him not knowing any more about her past than absolutely necessary.

When she couldn’t hide out in the bathroom any longer, she peeked out of the door and sighed a breath of relief when she saw the couple was no longer there.

Slowly, she emerged and hustled back to her table. She wanted to shoo Victor out of there quickly, before she saw them, or anyone else, again. She simply just didn’t want to face it.

They made it across the parking lot before Victor said anything.

“Where’s the fire?” he teased.

“Oh,” she laughed, “I just don’t want to take too long on my lunch break. Hal’s a pretty easy going boss, but I don’t want to push my luck. I’m still the new girl, remember.”

As he opened her door she saw movement out of the corner of her eye. It was the couple from the bar. They were walking on the opposite side of the lot. The woman was watching her feet. But the man’s eyes were glued on Shyla. Their eyes locked and she could see the fierce distaste which he projected. She definitely didn’t want to talk to him.

She whipped around, grabbed the handle of the inside door and hefted herself up into the car, slamming the door behind her.

Victor paused, glanced toward the couple and then rounded the front. He opened his door and slid in.

“Do you know those two?”

“Huh? Oh. No. I mean, for a second I thought I might, but no. I don’t.”

She glanced at her wristwatch.

Victor took the hint and started the vehicle.