"Seriously, Andy, you don't have to walk me to the door. I'm safe," yelled Sharon in a wide grin from the window of her white Chevrolet.
With an equally boyish grin Andy waved from inside his dark Sedan. "Are you sure, Captain? I'm waiting for my goodnight kiss," he replied in jest, his eyes twinkling like the stars on the evening sky. He felt excited and giddy just like the night of his first date with his first girlfriend in high school.
"I already gave you one," she yelled back in blatant flirtation.
Andy laughed before driving off. "See you tomorrow, Captain!"
She was about to turn into the basement parking of her condominium when she received a text message from Andy telling he would like to go down and walk her to the door. She couldn't believe all the attention he was giving her tonight. She had never been seen off safely to her door since junior prom. Jack was never the gentleman. Always the funny guy, the popular guy, but never the gentleman, she thought forlornly. But she didn't want to think about that she was happy.
She was still smiling as she walked to the elevator from the parking lot. It sure felt great to be cared for and protected for a change. She developed a very independent nature because when she married at an impressionable age she discovered the hard way she had no one to turn to but herself.
As the elevator door was closing behind her, a man over six feet tall with broad shoulders and muscular arms suddenly pushed the door wide apart, and let himself in the lift with Sharon.
Sharon was in her comfort zone and she was too happy and too exhausted to realize the danger the man imposed. She hit the button of the eighth floor but before she could draw back her hand, the man grabbed it firmly.
"You double-crossing bi*&h! Hand me the diamonds and nobody gets hurt." the man demanded.
Sharon was caught unawares but was not fazed. "I don't know what diamonds are you talking about. Perhaps if you could tell me more about them I could help you find them," she answered calmly looking into the man's blue eyes.
"This is not a game…" he drew Sharon closer to him.
She was about to yank his ponytail and push him face down on the floor when an old couple entered the lift from the ground floor.
"Good morning! We just came from Vegas" greeted the old lady. "I just love the lights and the slot machines."
The old lady had a bad eyesight that it took her a moment to hit the button of their floor.
"Did you have fun?" replied Sharon nonchalantly.
The man glared at Sharon and before the lift continued up, he hit the door open button and ran out.
Sharon was quick on her wits and hit the open button again before the elevator shut close. She took out her gun from her purse and ran after the man who rushed out the front entrance of the condominium. After chasing him a block down the street she realized it was futile to catch him in her stilletos and long gown. She hobbled back to the condominium, her face wincing in discomfort.
As she quietly tiptoed to the living room upon opening the front door, Sharon had been preoccupied with the mess she and Lt. Flynn had been caught in that the switched on lamp by the sofa and the empty cans of Dr, Pepper on the table should have warned her that Rusty was still up.
She threw her car keys and her purse on the living room table before lazily taking off her Valentino stilletos.
"Sharon..I.."
She let out a little shriek before letting her guard down after realized it was only Rusty.
"My, aren't we a bit jumpy" commented Rusty as he sat beside her on the couch.
"Must be a rough night," he continued inquiringly, "you look busted."
Sharon refused to share anything to her adoptive son but gave him a wry smile and nodded in acknowledgement.
"Why are you still up? It's past midnight, Rusty. It's gonna take a bulldozer again to get you out of bed for school tomorrow," said Sharon as she ruffled Rusty's hair in affection.
Rusty leaned his head on Sharon's shoulder.
"You know why I'm still up…Look, Sharon, I'm sorry I missed an assignment the other day because of playing too much video games and I have willingly accepted my 1 week punishment for that but please, please let me go to the boy scout camp tomorrow…"
"Okay. You may go," replied Sharon without any protest.
Rusty looked at her in disbelief. He didn't expect her to just give-in when she gets home, especially since they have been arguing about it for days.
A huge smile lit up Rusty's face. "Really! You mean that Sharon? That's great… I promise.."
Cynicism kicked in a moment. "Hey wait a minute. What's the catch?" he asked suspiciously.
Sharon brushed his hair away from his face. "There is no catch," she simply said.
"I…I..I don't know what to say. Thank you, Sharon. This means so much to me," said Rusty, still a look of disbelief but nonetheless joy, reflected on his face.
"Just promise me one thing Rusty. Control that addiction to video games. Be responsible. School work first before playing…"
Rusty gave her a tight excited hug. "Yes, yes, I promise. Not too much video games and no more forgetting my homework."
Sharon flew him a kiss. "okay, now go to bed young man."
Sharon sat in daze for quite some time long after Rusty has gone to bed.
Who was that man and how is he connected to the murder victim? Why did he think I have his diamonds? It's the best thing for Rusty to be away for a couple of days. Dear God keep him safe.MC3