“How’d you. . .” It puzzled me. Clooney never knew about my problems, if he did he wouldn’t let me experience everything I have. Only Johnson and-gulp-Laney know or knew.
“My roommate is your partner.” He smiled.
“Johnson told you? Wait, Johnson had a roommate? So, you have dirt on Johnson when he was in college? He told you though. About my. . . problem?” I said. I didn’t like that Johnson had told someone about it. I didn’t even like that he knew.
“Yeah. Are you alright though? You rushed pretty fast out of the room after you were done.” He came closer and I took a better look at him. He had jet black hair that was styled, and a prominent jaw and cheek line. He was strikingly handsome. He had baby blue eyes that went well with his pale complexion. I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. I was glad he cared or rather someone cared.
“Yes, I’m alright. It’s just hard, you know.” I walked over to the steps and sat down on the had concrete. “Sure I’ve seen it a lot but to know that someone did this. Someone you know is dead. It just. . . I don’t know.” I put my head in my hands. I was getting cold. The Maine coldness is not what I had prepared for when I went out. Plus the case just about chilled me to the bone. I shuddered.
“Are you cold? I have a hoodie in the car. You can use it. I’ll go get it now.” He turned away when Larry Stimson opened the back door.
“Alexandria, how about you start your work early? I need you back at the station. I would suggest you go with me but I already have the ME with me. If you can get a ride over there, I’ll make sure you get through security.” I nodded. He returned inside as I ran to catch up with the younger cop.
He was holding the hoodie when I approached him from behind. “Hey, are you headed to the station. . . I’m sorry I don’t know your name.” I stuck out my hand and introduced myself. “Alexandria Hamilton, I’m working with the police this summer.” I felt pretty stupid. “And obviously you already know that.” I looked down.
He took my hand and said, “Derek Young. We’ve been expecting you.” His smile was short lived.
“More like he’s been expecting you. Didn’t even go on patrol today. Your partner called saying that you were coming in today as soon as you got in. “ He casually draped his arm over Derek’s shoulders. “He even-” Derek gave him a nudge in the ribs. Larry laughed and then mumbled “I’m getting too old for your shit.”
I laughed a real good laugh. Derek’s face was bright red. I felt a pang of pity for him. He was the new cop. I could relate.
People still won’t let me forget that I was the youngest.
“Relax.” I said to Derek. “I’m glad that someone is excited for me to be here. I sure as hell didn’t think my summer with my family was going to be much fun so,” I stepped toward him and put my hand on his arm, “I’m going to spend every possible second away from them.”
His pale eyes glowed and I smiled. “Here,” he handed me the hoodie. I held it up. It was big. There was a blond hair on it that surely wasn’t Derek’s.
“Alexandria!” someone yelled. I turned to see Stephan running, still carrying my bag. “Alexandria, what is going on?”
“Um, I’m going to the station, so I can work this case with Derek.” I introduced them, and they shook their hands. “I’ll take my bag and phone. I’ll be at the station a while so you can go back to the house.” I dug into the pockets of my skinny’s to reveal the keys to the Porsche. “I can get a ride home from someone at the station.” I said.
We switched off. “Wait,” he said. “What do I tell your mom? She’ll be pissed if you don’t come home with me.”
I thought about that for a second. Chewing over the idea of saying something that would cause her ice cold heart ache. “Tell her I found a body. And make sure you say it in excruciating detail of what the body looked like.” I turned to talk to Derek, then thought of something else to add. “And make sure it’s at dinner.” I turned back to Derek. “That will make my dad happy.” I mumbled as I put on the sweatshirt. “So,” I said, “can you give me a ride to the station?”
“I can do one better. I can give you a ride home too.” I smiled and he smiled from the other side of the car.
Once we were in the car and had our seatbelts on, I asked Derek the most important question: “So Derek who’s your girlfriend with the long blond hair?” I watched his expression of shock register on his face.
“Ex-girlfriend. We broke up three months ago.” He gripped the steering wheel tighter.
“And you still haven’t bothered to wash this hoodie from the time she wore it? And now you lent it to me. I feel honored.” I said. I laughed a bit and in a minute he was laughing too.
“Okay, okay. It’s my turn. Who’s Stephan? Is he your boyfriend?” He smiled a goober smile and I fake punched him in the arm.
“Hardly.” I launched into how this vacation was set up so that I found myself a boyfriend. He was laughing by the end.
“It’s not funny.” I was smiling, though.
“I know how you feel.” He said.
“Oh really? Explain yourself.” I turned in my seat and looked at him.
“My mom, she has this crazy idea that I need to get a girlfriend. So each Saturday at dinner she invites a girl I went to high school with, expecting us to find some sort of connection. She thinks that I need a smart nice girl. Kind of like you actually.” He took a sidelong glance at me.
“I know exactly how you feel. Once my aunt tried to set me up with this football jock from Dartmouth.” Derek’s jaw dropped right open. “We went to the local diner, I wanted to go there and not some fancy-schmancy restaurant. He was really boring. All he wanted to do is talk about himself, sports, and both himself and sports. So when he went to the bathroom I took off.”
His jaw hit the ground. “No way. You left him hanging there?”
“Yeah, but not before writing on my plate: You’re more boring than the dead.” He started laughing really hard. “But that’s not all. He goes and calls my aunt, and, get this, he starts crying.” I started laughing even harder.
He was still laughing when we almost hit another car. I grabbed the wheel and we swerved to a stop in front of the station. We just kind of sat there for a while, in silence. Then I ventured a look over at him and he was looking at me.
Then we just burst out laughing.
“You know what I think?” I said.
“No, what?” He sounded intrigued.
“I think that your mom and my aunt should get together and share their matchmaking tactics.” I started laughing again and so did Derek.
“I have a surprise for you.” He said.
“What is it? Our hour anniversary?” He chuckled as he led me inside. I let him take my hand and he said, “Close your eyes.” So I did. He led me through the front, only pausing to check in with security. We took an elevator.
A guy on it asked if I was a murderer. “If I was a murderer and you weren’t wearing that awful rustic cedar perfume, you’d be dead.” I replied. “I’m Alexandria Hamilton.”
The elevator dinged and we were off. “Who was that?” I asked, curious about Cedar.
“That was the sketch artist. He’s mean to everyone. Always thinking he’s better. Until now.” He led me around a desk. It must be the receptionists desk, I decided.
“Was I right?” I asked, still having my eyes closed.
“Yes. He’s 62.” He replied in a husky voice.
We went through what I thought were doors, and a sudden smell hit me like drugs to a canine. “Uh, are we headed into a garden because it smells strangely like lavender, and” I breathed in the smell once more, “roses?” I asked.
“Okay, open them!” I opened my eyes to see a care package. It was a wicker basket filled with home baked goodies. There were chocolate chip cookies and banana nut bread and some other things as well. There was a card in front of the basket. My name was written in excellent handwriting. It was a female’s handwriting. She was left handed. It read:
Alexandria,
Welcome to Maine! I hear great things about you. I want you to accept this basket as a welcoming gift.
Sincerely,
Celia YoungI laughed at the message. It was wonderful to be accepted here.
