20 - SHADOW OF DOUBTS
1669 Words
“YOU got a minute?”
From the monitor of the computer, Mia raised her head when she heard Jenny’s voice.
She nodded.
Her friend showed her printed pictures.
While perusing the images, Jenny stood by her side waiting for her reaction.
“You don’t have a dog or a cat. Unless you have one that you haven’t told me. I didn’t find any furs in your house either.” Her colleague mattered when her eyes remained on a particular picture. “Or the previous owner of your unit has pets. However, I noticed that those claw marks were fresh. No longer than a few months.”
Her eyes went to Jenny, who was chewing the candy she found on her table.
The woman grinned. “Thanks.”
“Can I have these?”
“It’s yours. I’ll update you more when I find something.”
“Thanks. Your lunch on me.”
“Great. I’m free now.”
Mia looked at the time on her watch. It was ten minutes past noon.
“I’m craving for burgers. The juicy one that you can find.”
She made a face.
Jenny knew that the burger that she was craving was halfway between the precinct and the apartment where she lived.
She grabbed the jacket behind the chair she had just vacated.
“I like milkshake with that burger.”
“Stop talking.”
Laughing, Jenny trailed behind her as they left the office. They met fellow officers along the way.
“Did you know that Hobbard has been very focused on your case. He’s very thorough. I mean, I haven’t worked with him in the past, but I didn’t know that he’s like that when it comes to work.” Jenny commented the moment Mia started driving.
“I have worked with him in the past. He hovered when he had to. I learned a lot from him.”
“He’s weird.”
“What do you mean?”
“He became stiff when we arrived at your place. A bit anxious, you know. He started sniffing like he smelled something.” Jenny shrugged. “I smelled nothing in the air. Your place doesn’t smell, by the way.
A naughty smile formed on the other woman’s lips.
“I went to your place before. I haven’t seen it sparkly clean like that.” Jenny laughed like a hyena. “Are you seeing someone?”
For years that she and Jenny worked together, the latter has been to her place a few times. Those times, her place was a mess. Like something was on top of something.
In her defense, she was working all the time. Cleaning and organizing her place was not her top priority.
However, when Violet visited often, the doctor made it a habit to clean up. Even her laundry bin emptied in no time.
Her eating habits changed, too.
She eats healthier meals whenever they are together. The female doctor knows her way around the kitchen.
“So, you are seeing someone?”
“Get out. Get me a burger and a Coke.”
“Double patty?”
“No. TLC.”
“Got it.”
The parking space she got was far from the entrance of the diner.
At this time of the day, the place was often packed from the nearby workplaces.
The price was cheap for good food.
Her left brow raised when she saw a blue sports car near the entrance.
A tourist must have owned it.
The people from St. Vincent rarely flaunt their wealth, much less buy a very expensive and eye-catching car like that.
“At least, it’s not red.” She uttered with a shrug.
When she entered the diner, the smell of appetizing food, especially the super juicy burger, assaulted her nose.
Her stomach growled in hunger.
This will be her first meal for the day.
She only had coffee this morning and a piece of candy.
She saw Jenny waving her hand at her. It was a corner both.
“I got lucky. The customers here just left.” The woman disclosed when she neared.
“What can I get you, ladies? Fancy seeing you again, Detective.” A middle-aged waitress asked.
“I will have your double patty burger and a TLC for the detective. A milkshake and a Coke, too. Thank you, Mel.”
“Would that be all?”
“Yes. Thank you, Mel.” Mia said when the older woman glanced at her.
After getting their order, their table was wiped clean.
“Holy cow. Saint Vincent got a pretty tourist today.”
Like a slow motion, she turned to look where Jenny was looking.
Her heart pounded when she saw the familiar woman.
Her tall frame made her immediately spotted from the crowd, but her presence alone demanded attention.
After their not-so-good conversation in her unit, she left Violet in the bedroom. A few minutes later, the tall woman left the apartment without a word.
Jenny whistled. “ I take it back. Two very good-looking women, I say.”
A frown immediately appeared on her face when the blasted woman approached another woman sitting at another corner table.
To her chagrin, Violet kissed the woman’s cheeks before occupying the chair opposite the other. Smiles were painted on both their lips.
“They are one hell of a gene. A goddess personified.”
It was clear from Jenny’s tone that she adored the two women’s physical attributes. And she was straight.
Jenny was not the only one who noticed the two gorgeous women in the diner. They were glancing at the corner table with admiration. x
Annoyed, Mia pulled out a few bills from her pocket. She placed it on the table near Jenny.
“Can you pay for the food? Tell Mel it’s to-go.”
She did not wait for her to respond. Mia stood up and left.
As she marched towards the car, the anger she felt accelerated.
Her hands were inside the pockets of the jacket. They were in tight fists.
She has this urge to punch someone.
When she reached the driver’s side of the car, a hand grabbed her wrist. Startled, she turned in an instant.
In anger, her right arm extended when she recognized who had touched her. Before it could hit its target, her fist was enclosed in a palm.
“You don’t play fair. I asked you.” She expressed. Contained displeasure was laced on her tone.
“You did.”
“Is this a confirmation? You parading another woman in public?”
“I never said we’re over, Mia.”
“Then who the f*ck is that woman?”
“I am meeting a friend. I asked a favor.”
“Do you always greet your friend like that, Doc? It’s a red flag in my book.”
“She’s married. To my friend.”
Violet was still calm. Contrary to what Mia was feeling at the moment.
The palm that enclosed her fist slowly unclasped but never let go.
“I told you, you’re like a drug to me. The only one I ever want.”
Mia blinked.
The tall woman’s eyes were in deep purple. It only darkened like that when they---
She cleared her throat to remove the mist of their intimacy from her head.
“We’re okay?” She nodded. “I’ll let you meet her.”
“W-what?”
“She’s my friend. Her family sort of adopted me when I ran away.”
“Oh?”
She could feel the heat on her cheeks in embarrassment.
Violet pulled her gently.
Mia was enclosed in a warm hug. After pressing a kiss on her head, it was followed by a quick peck on her forehead.
“OMG! You just left for five minutes and you got yourself a supermodel.”
They both turned to Jenny, who was hugging two brown bags in her arms. Her eyes were wide.
“Hello, pretty woman. I’m Jenny. If she hasn’t told you yet, I’m her friend from work.”
The usual smile on Violet’s lips appeared before she shook hands with her. However, her other arm was still around Mia’s waist.
“A pleasure to meet you, Jenny. I’m Violet.”
“You have very beautiful eyes. Are those contacts?”
“No.”
Jenny turned to Mia. “Are you together?”
“Yes.”
The arm on Mia’s waist tightened when she admitted their relationship.
“Put her in a bag, Detective. You’re going to have many competition. In fact, the lady she’s with owns that blue sports car.”
To Mia’s chagrin, the woman holding her close chuckled.
“I’m flattered, Jenny.”
“But hey, I’m really hungry. If you two wanted to talk, can I eat in the car?”
Jenny did not wait for consent.
She gave the other brown bag to Mia, then grabbed the car key from her hand.
“Bye. Nice to meet you, pretty eyes.”
“I like her,” Violet muttered when her colleague left.
The tall woman opened the bag left by Jenny. She picked up the burger and opened it.
She grabbed the bag and gave the food to Mia.
“Eat.”
Unable to find her voice, she only bit on the burger and stared at her girlfriend.
“I love you, and I will not let anything happen to you, Mia. I will catch the mutt who trespassed on your home.”
Her words were stated like a promise. Its sincerity was pulling her heartstrings.
Violet wiped the smeared sauce from the side of her lips. Mia has always been a messy eater.
“I just want you to trust me.”
“Can I have a Coke?”
The can of Coke was pulled from the paper bag.
“Your words make me wet.”
The opened can of soda was suspended in the air. Shock was plastered on the tall woman’s pretty face.
- Writer
