By nine o’clock, Main Street began to fill up as shoppers arrived and stores opened. Luke greeted the people he met as he walked. He stopped and went into the feedstore, where he visited for a few minutes with the owner, Ben Jackson.
He always tried to stop in some of the stores and speak with the owners or whoever was working. It was part of Daniel’s plan to keep relations good between the police department and the business owners.
As he stepped out of the store, he ran into Nola Fontenot. “Good morning, Officer Madison,” she greeted him cheerfully.
“Morning, Nola. How are you doing on this fine day?”
“Oh, I’m doing okay. Of course, I’m just waiting for you all to do your job and get that murderer Pierre Guidry under arrest.”
“We’re doing the best we can,” Luke replied.
She cast him a sly smile. “I understand you’ve been spending a lot of time with Dominique.”
Luke’s heart squeezed tight. “Yeah, I was helping her out with an issue, but now that issue is resolved and so I won’t be seeing that much of her.”
“Oh, that’s too bad, I know how much she was enjoying spending time with you,” Nola replied. “You know, I’ve known the Santori women since they were babies. They are a fine bunch and now that Mystique is gone, I think of those girls as my very own.”
“I know how close you were—are—to all of them,” Luke said.
“Well, I’d better be on my way. I have a few errands to run and I always like to be back in my shanty during the heat of the day.”
“I’ll see you later, Nola.” He watched as the plump woman headed on down the sidewalk. He was glad she’d moved on, for talking to her only reminded him of Dominique.
The morning passed uneventfully and at eleven thirty, he returned to the police station. It was difficult for him to think that tonight he wouldn’t cross Dominique’s bridge with the sweet anticipation of seeing her again.
He met Daniel and Clay in the break room. “How about we all head to the café for lunch?” Daniel suggested, as if reading Luke’s mind.
“Sounds good to me,” Clay said agreeably.
“Me too.”
“So, did either of you encounter any trouble on your morning patrols?” Daniel asked once they were in his car and headed down the street to the café.
“I spoke to Nola, who once again berated us for not doing our job and getting Pierre under arrest,” Luke said.
“And I wrote out a speeding ticket to Alex Whitmeyer. I clocked him going seventy miles an hour on Magnolia Drive, where the speed limit is fifty-five,” Clay said. “The little snot told me his parents would speak to the prosecuting attorney and he wouldn’t have to pay the fine and wouldn’t be in any trouble.”
Daniel snorted. “That kid thinks just because his parents have money, no rules apply to him.”
“That’s all I’ve got to report,” Clay said.
“That’s it for me, too,” Luke added.
By that time, they’d reached the café. Luke saw her the moment they walked in. As always, she looked stunning in the pink T-shirt and jeans that was her uniform when at work. She was waiting on an older couple Luke didn’t know.
Daniel chose a booth in her section and they all settled in. Luke didn’t know why anxiety filled him at the prospect of just ordering his lunch from her. After all, he had just seen her the night before.
Then she was there, smiling at them all and his heart expanded with his love for her. “Hi, Luke,” she said, her beautiful chocolate eyes lingering on him for a long moment.
“Hey, Dominique,” he replied.
She took their orders and then left their booth. She returned with their drinks and then a few minutes later with their food.
As they ate, the discussion was about things going on in town. A fall festival was planned in another month. It was a day when the streets filled with people. Not only did the stores run sidewalk sales, but local artists and craftsmen would sell their wares as well.
While they talked and ate, Luke couldn’t help but look at Dominique again and again. In spite of his personal feelings for her, she was a joy to watch as she smiled or laughed with the customers she served.
Was the person who had written her the notes and tried to kidnap her in the café right now? Luke’s stomach muscles tightened as he did a slow glance around the room. There was only one of the regulars she’d named there.
