Eleven Days: An Unexpected Love (31 page)

They didn't talk much during the meal. The place
was
loud
with
people, plus they were too busy feeding their faces. "I'm going to get some desert,
would
you like anything?" Mike asked while stacking
his
two plates of scraps.

"No thanks, but you enjoy. I'm sure when you stand all the food will drop to your hollow legs."

"Then I'll be ready for the second round of dinner," he said
with
a wink.

He
left
and
she
knew it
would
take him a little while because the line
was
long. But
she
didn't care because
she
was
so full,
plus
she
wanted
to relax for a few more minutes and watch the people.
She
could tell the locals from the visitors. The locals were dressed in warm clothing
and they all looked
the same, bundled up
head to toe
. Visitors were all dressed like they dress in the south,
with
less practical clothing for the frigid weather.
She
noticed
that
with
Mike. He certainly dressed warmer the
she
did. Watching the people made
her
realize
she
needed to
go shopping, especially for a heavier coat.

Glancing over at the buffet and for a split second
she
saw someone
she
knew. He
had just grabbed
his
plate and started waiting
in line
for the buffet
. A loud crash distracted
her
and when
she
glanced back
,
he
had
vanished
.
She
search
ed all around the restaurant but
she
didn't see him anywhere.
Not remembering where
she
saw him
would
drive
her
crazy. Where did
she
know
his
face? He looked right at
her
, staring.
For some reason h
e looked
mad at
her
.

Mike walked back
with
about four different deserts; brownies, ice cream, chocolate pudding and blackberry cobbler. "What's the matter," he asked as he looked around trying to see what
caught
her
eye.

"I just saw someone I've seen before, but I can't remember where I saw him."

He acted
concerned because
she
shouldn't know anyone from around there.
"Did
she
know him
from around Plymouth? Or do you know him from someplace else?"

"I'm not sure I just can't put my finger on it. Maybe I'll remember later, and when I do you'll be the first to know. The oddest thing, he had just picked up
his
plate for the buffet and then he left before he finished."

"What did he look like
, maybe I can spot him
?"

"Short about five-seven, salt and pepper hair and balding on the top, stocky, barrel chested, and he had on a plaid shirt
with
blue jeans. Maybe I saw him around here somewhere."

"If you see him again, let me know right away," he said while looking at
his
watch. "We need to be heading to the police department."

"I agree."
She
did take the last bite of
his
blackberry cobbler before standing.

*****

They sat in silence while waiting in the holding room at the police department. Waiting for Quent
made
her
nervous and it ga
ve
her
a headache. To stay busy by looking
at all the pictures on the wall, they were pictures of the past police chiefs.
O
ne
picture showed a shot up car, and it looked like
it was
old. It reminded
he
r
of Bonnie and Clyde's car.
She
knew
it
was
n't
theirs
, but it sure did look like
the Warren
.

Lana's headache
got
worse by the minute and
she
was
more than
ready to get out of there.
She
closed
her
eyes and laid
her
head on the table,
the
cool
ness
felt good on
her
cheek.

Mike looked at
his
watch and
as time ticked away he got more
anxious. He worried about
Lana
because
her
eyes didn't look good at all.
With
out a doubt
she
didn't feel well. He already decided if Quent didn't come
with
in fifteen minutes he
would
take
Lana
home.

They both jumped when Quent flew the door open. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to startle you. Are you ready?" He asked
with
clipboard in hand, smiling.

"As ready as I'll ever be."
She
took a deep breath and one last look at Mike.

Mike gave
her
a quick kiss to reassure
her
. "I'll be here waiting and Quent will be
with
you every minute. I love you and I'll see you in a few minutes."

"I love you too."

When Detective Quentin opened the door to the lineup room, several people stood in the back of the room. The room
was
dark, and
she
couldn't see any faces because
her
eyes had
not
adjusted to the dark. No
body said anything
but there were lots of stares, some seemed friendly and some didn't.
That
exasperated
her
nervousness even more.
Lana
always introduced herself to strangers. T
his
silence unnerved
her
.

Detective Quentin told
Lana
the process
. "Ms. Andrews, several people will walk out holding numbers in front of them. You need to write down the number of the person you saw unloading the truck on October eighteenth. Are you ready?"

She
took a deep breath and answered
with
a squeaky voice. "Yes."

He got on the intercom and said. "Send them out
, please
."

Several men filed out and
she
looked closely at each one as they walked passed
her
. They all stood facing
her
and after a few minutes, they were told to turn sideways. Then they turned to the front again.
She
looked closely at each one and
she
knew
with
out a doubt he
was
number three.
She
wrote three down on the paper.
She
looked at detective Quentin. "He is number three."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"Thank you Ms. Andrews and now I'll take you back to Mike."

Wow,
that
's it.
That
was
n't so bad.
She
walked out
with
out looking back at any of the people in the room.
Picking him out relieved the tension in
her
shoulders.
She
couldn't wait to get back to Mike to tell him he
was
right,
she
didn't have
to worry
. Picking him out had been a walk in the park
, a piece of cake
.

The minute
she
saw Mike,
she
started bawling.

Mike tightened
his
lips and held
her
. "Baby what happened?" Then he looked at Quent for answers. He
was
ready to attack someone if they hurt
her
.

Quent shrugged
his
shoulders and nodded.
His
gesture let Mike know
she
picked
him and he didn't know why
she
seemed
upset.

"I'm just glad it's over, and I have a terrible headache."
She
wanted
to go home.

As they walked out the waiting room, an officer walked up and w
his
pered to Detective Quentin. Quent turned to them and said. "Mike, you're big news
with
the
break-in
and the
shooting
. Somehow the reporters found out you're here, and now they're camped out in front. Do you want us to drive you back to where you're staying?"

"We don't want anyone to know where we're staying, but thanks anyway. How about you drive my truck to the back and we'll leave
that
way."

"They're in the back as well. Mike,
you know the media
always cover every exit." Quent thought a minute, and then he came up
with
an alternative. "We can go through the jail, but I will have to make sure the inmates are out of sight."

"Let's do it." Mike had
his
fill
with
reporters. If he didn't see another reporter for the next five years, he
would
be happy.

Quent sent an officer to clear a path through the jail.

They exited through a barred door. Everyone
was
quiet except the jailer. He
pushed
buttons letting guards through the gates. One gate has to be closed before anoth
er opened, and the process takes
about twenty seconds. While they waited for the gate to open Mike looked at
Lana
. He noticed
she
looked extremely pale and
her
pupils looked dilated. "Baby, are you okay?"

She
didn't answer. What he said
was
unintelligible to
her
.

Mike looked at Quent
and wondered if he noticed
the same reaction. "Honey, can you hear me?" Mike asked
with
noticeable concern.

Lana
looked at them, but
her
eyes couldn't focus. "I need to sit down…."
Then darkness.
She
fell and hit
her
head on the edge of the desk. It hit
with
a hard thud. Mike did catch
her
before
she
hit the ground.

"Quent, call an ambulance," yelled Mike. He didn't have to, the jailer had already asked for help through
his
police radio.

*****

She
woke up laid out on a gurney in the police department
with
many officers
' standing around gawking
, hoping something exciting would happen.
When it was obvious she would be okay, they went back to work.

She
didn't feel
a thing, as a matter of fact
she
felt wonderful.
Her
body could be lifted
with
a feather.