SHELTER - CHAPTER ONE
Standard disclaimer - I own none of the characters from "In The Heat of The Night" nor am I making any monies from this work of fiction.
Isn't it annoying when a story just keeps niggling away at your brain, interrupting thoughts of other stories and plots? My muse is cruel that way and would not let me put this story aside.
For my purposes, Sparta, Mississippi is located south of Jackson and just north of Hattiesburg (home of the USM Golden Eagles), which puts it a good 80 miles or so from the Gulfport/Biloxi area. The timeline of this story starts in August of 1994. A few of the episodes from the series are referred to, but may not be in the exact order they occurred. Some real world occurrences are referenced; the dates are accurate as are the basic facts - only some of the characters are fictional.
Interpol - in the real world - does not actually have agents directly working for it (officially), but agents chosen by member countries work with them. My premise is that we may never know all the layers of international law enforcement or exactly what many agencies actually do.
And, finally to the story summary: Agent Adair Urquhart and Captain Bubba Skinner have no idea that the fates have conspired to bring two lonely people together. What will happen after they are done working together and she returns to Europe?
ITHOTN
It had been a quiet weekend in Sparta, Mississippi. Nothing more than a few squabbles between couples and a little joyriding after the high school football game. Now with his Sunday shift nearly done, Captain Skinner was looking forward to leftovers from his mother's Sunday lunch, a long shower and a deep sleep. He was coming off of ten days straight work and needed the next few days off to relax. Ten minutes left. He wondered if anyone would notice him missing. It must have been fate that kicked his sense of duty into high gear, making him lock his truck - with leftovers secured inside - and walk back across the street to the police station.
The first thing Bubba noticed about the woman going up the stairs was her legs. Athletic legs with good muscle definition - at least below the knees, as that was all her modest dress showed. The rest of her figure was very appealing too. He raced up behind her to hold the door open and caught a whiff of vanilla. At least she did not wear a perfume that was artificial or overpowering.
"Thank you, sir," she said quietly, going through and pulling open the second door herself.
His tall frame allowed him to easily reach around her to prop the second door open and motion her inside. "After you please, ma'am," he prompted in his deep southern drawl.
The woman walked to the counter as Bubba stood at the door and watched. Officers Corbin and Sweets exchanged a knowing look after seeing their Captain's attention on the newcomer.
"May I help you, ma'am?" Luanne asked.
"Yes, thank you officer." The woman produced a badge case out of her pocket and laid it on the counter. "I need to speak to the senior officer on duty, please."
Luanne leaned over and studied the unusual badge and identification. She had never seen credentials from Interpol before. "That would be Captain Skinner - the gentleman who held the door open for you," she informed the woman, nodding behind her.
"Captain Skinner," the woman turned and held out her right hand, surprising him with her strong grip. "May we speak in private a moment?"
"Right this way," he held open the swinging door and directed her to the Chief's office. After she settled in one chair in front of the desk, he sat in the other. "How can I help you ma'am?"
She handed him the badge case. "My name is Agent Adair Urquhart. I work for Interpol."
Bubba had studied the contents of the case and handed it back. "And what brings you to our little burg, Agent?"
"I am here to guard a witness who will be flying in on Wednesday. He is going to testify before a grand jury on the coast on Friday, and then fly out from there that afternoon. Your chief should be receiving notification of this tomorrow, but I prefer to make first contact with local law enforcement myself," she informed him.
"We appreciate bein' kept in the loop," he confirmed. "Where you stayin'?"
"Johnson's Bed & Breakfast - are you familiar with it? We were told it was a quiet and secure location," Adair answered.
The Captain nodded his head. He was very familiar with the place, seeing as it was across the street from his mother's house and on a dead end street. "Oh, yes ma'am. It's real quiet. Secure too, seein' as three officers live within a block or two."
"Well, that is comforting to know. Hopefully there will be no need for that kind of backup. Two other agents are due to arrive tomorrow. We have rented the entirety of rooms for the week. What can you tell me about the owner?" The unspoken question of discretion was not lost on him.
"Keeps to herself an don't talk about her guests 'cept other places they been. She'll be tickled havin' someone like you to talk to," he teased lightly.
Adair studied the man in the chair beside hers. Pity he was not the one wanting to pump* her - verbally or physically. She stood up and he followed suit. "I shall regale her with tales from the Continent when not on duty. If you would be so kind as to direct me to Miss Johnson's, I will be out of your way."
Bubba glanced up as the doors into the station were thrown open by Parker Williams, heralding the end of his shift. "My shift's just endin'," he commented while waving at his relief, "and 'stead of leavin' you in hands of Officer Williams, I'd be happy to show you where it's at."
Her hand came up and grasped his bicep as she stepped closer to him. "Captain, I do not want to inconvenience you - a map of your city will suffice." She said in a quiet voice.
He smiled and leaned down. "It ain't a problem ma'am. We're gonna leave the station and you can follow me. Miss Johnson's house is two doors down from my own." Bubba stood up straight and offered the pretty woman his arm.
"Oh, fine then. Thank you, kind sir," Adair smiled up at him, placing her hand around his strong forearm.
The couple walked silently through the office and to the door. As he held the door open, Captain Skinner turned to the officers and waved. "Have a safe night, y'all. See you in a few days."
The outside door had barely swung shut when Parker turned to Luanne. "Who was that with Bubba?"
"I don't know," Officer Corbin lied smoothly, "some lady who came in asking to talk to a ranking officer. Captain took her straight into the Chief's office. Have a good night, Parker." With that, she and Sweets hustled out of the station as quickly as possible after hearing Jamison come in the back door, leaving Williams to fret over the mystery woman alone.
A squeal of tires caught their attention as they went down the stairs. A glance down the street revealed the source of the sound - Bubba's bright yellow, striped Dodge Power Wagon was sliding around a corner, closely followed by a lime green Barracuda.
"A match made in Mopar heaven," Sweets quipped as they crossed the street to their vehicles.
ITHOTN
And we are off. Let us see how many chapters this little niggle runs, shall we?
ITHOTN
Pump is British slang for questioning someone.
Captain Skinner's power wagon:
. /2012/05/30/hemmings-find-of-the-day-1978-dodge-power-wagon-top-hand/
Agent Urquhart's rental car:
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Adair's sundress:
Jessica-London-Womens-Print-Sundress/dp/B00BV66PZ6/ref=pd_sim_sbs_a_1/175-6292654-2869540