Amber was standing in front of the mirror, doing her make-up. She shared the story with the other girl working at the diner downstairs. It was small and directly under the roof. At this time of the year it was unbearable inside without an AC.

The diner was north of Lafayette near a tiny brown lake. Her apartment, she likes to call it that, but it was just a small room and a bathroom but both of the girl were allowed to use the kitchen and the supplies of the diner so there was no need for an own kitchen. The owner, Carl, was a nice guy with a soft heart and as soon as Amber started to cry in the job interview as he asked her for her family she had the job without giving an ID.

A few months back, Carl took her to the side and told her "Amber, you're doing a fine job. I've never regretted employing you." And as long as she keeps the good work up, her job was safe, she assumed. A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. "Amber, are you ready?" Amy had to work until noon today and Amber was working from noon until the diner closed in the early morning for an hour for cleaning up.

"I'm coming!" she yelled back, put her necklace around her neck and hurried downstairs. "Hey Larry!" she greeted the cook. "Hey Amber, where have you been? Amy was on tenterhooks down here. Didn't she mentioned, that she is leaving an half hour early today?"

Amber put on her apron with her name embroidered in cursive on the left side. "She did, she did! I was almost ready when she came upstairs, must have been lost in my thoughts." Amber went to the service hatch were two plates were standing already. "Table 2 and the tall man on the counter." She spun around with her "Today I'm getting tips!" smile on her face and swept to the tall man on the counter before she went to the second booth.

Rust came out of the interrogation room with his sleeved rolled up, his tattoo only half visible. "You can have him, Marty." He addressed his partner who was standing outside.

Martin knew that interrogations were the strong point of Rust and usually let him handle the suspects. He never failed him. Martin was half way through the door as he called out for Rust. "Hey, Maggie asks if you were coming over tonight. It has been far too long and she still feels awful about what she said to you earlier this year." He was referring to the incident right before he went undercover again at the tiny diner outside of Lafayette.

"No more set ups?" he rolled his eyes "You know Maggie, Rust! You have to tell her that yourself, but at least tonight won't be a date, I promise." He sighed and shrugged with the file still in his right hand. "I'll bring flowers."

"So, Rust, how have you been, now that you're a local hero? I guess the women must chase you?" Maggie started the conversation after Marty left the room to tuck the two girls into bed. Rust was drinking ice tea, his hand around the glass, the other hand dangled from the table, the elbow resting on the surface.

"Nah, it's nothing like that." He took a sip, hoping the conversation would take a turn. "How so? You're a handsome guy in the right age. I can't imagine why there shouldn't be a woman in your life." She teased him while she cleared the table.

"I've got this friend at the Hospital. She's a doctor. I think you two could be a good match." She set the casserole dish under water to let it soak. "Maybe she can even get you the good drugs, remember?" Maggie joked while Rust was just staring in his ice tea. "I think, you need to stop setting me up." He interrupted her rambling.

Maggie was still standing at the sink, her back facing Rust as she tilted her head backwards. "Rust, I'm sorry what I said that day, how often do I need to apologize until you can forgive me?" He did not answer and took another sip. Maggie returned to the table and sat down next to him; she reached for his hand and held it. "Look, I was hurt, angry and raging out of jealousy. I did not mean to hurt you and I really regret it. Please, it can't always be so awkward between us. You will continue working with my husband and I will invite you to dinner every now and then. So, could you at least tell me if you can forgive me eventually?"

"I'm not mad at you Maggie. I" he sighed and leaned back in his chairs, folding his hands in his lap to avoid anymore skin contact with the woman. "I just don't wanna see someone. So, just don't set me up with anyone anymore, okay?" Maggie eyed him up. "Alright. I will stop." She shuffled closer to him with her chair. "Is everything okay, Rust?" Martin came in with a bright smile on his face and Rust did not answer Maggie's question.

"They're in bed" Maggie smiled at him while he sat down. "So, what have you two been talking about?" Rust stood up, "Nothing in particular. I told her how my dad used to make tuna casserole and she promised me to cook it for me the next time I'll come over. Do you mind if I go take a smoke?" Maggie just nodded and Martin stood up. "I'm coming with you there is this case I need to discuss with you."

They were sitting at the back porch, Martin with a glass of ice tea in his hand; he was trying to cut back on liquor and Rust smoked his second cigarette. "So, you and Maggie talked it out?" he nodded while the smoke swirled out of his nose.

"We did." Martin leaned back, arms on the backrest. "Good, good. That is good." Martin sighed with pleasure. Everything seemed to turn out good. He's back together with Maggie, they rescued the kids, the board believed their story, Rust loosened up a little. Well kind off, Marty realizes.

He went just quiet since the shooting. "Thanks for the dinner. I'll go inside and say goodbye to Maggie on my way out. See you tomorrow." He sat straight. "Rust. Wait. You heard about the man, found at the coast? Major wants us to investigate it; he told me when you left. So, no need to go to the HQ tomorrow morning. How about, I get to you around 9?" "Yah." He agreed and went inside.