Lost in Stormy Visions
Chapter 7
Monica walked outside the Doggett household, her cell phone still pressed against her ear. "This sort of isn't a good time right now, Brad."
"So your partner Cay led me to believe when I called your office and you weren't there. He was less than specific about the details, and since he doesn't like me any way, I thought I would call. Is everything all right?"
Monica let out a small sigh. Sometimes the weight of the world, or the life of one little innocent boy, was on your shoulders. "I'm on a case right now. I'm sorry I'm going to have to cancel our plans for tonight. In fact I'm not quite sure how long it's going to take. We've got a missing eight-year old boy. I can't really talk about the case too much but I'm in charge."
"I understand," said Brad sympathetically. "And hey don't even worry about me. You just do what you need to do. There's um...some things I need to take care of anyway and this will give me the time to do that."
Monica couldn't resist teasing him a bit. "What, you've got another girl on the side?" It felt good for a moment to escape the tragedy that surrounded her and speak with someone who wasn't depending on her for life and death decisions.
Brad laughed uncomfortably. It didn't take Monica's sensitive nature to pick up that something was wrong. The thought of Brad cheating on her was ridiculous she knew. When she wasn't with him, she knew he was too busy climbing the FBI ladder to have the time. She thought of her partner Cay's warning about his ambition. She wished Cay were here to help her on this case. Hell, she wished she had found Luke already and could reunite him with his Mom and Dad. But wishing for a thing did not make it so as her adoptive father had taught her at their home in Mexico. It seemed like a millennium since she had been home. Home.
Monica turned back and looked at the house. She could see John looking out the door at her. She could see his hopeful look, wondering if maybe she had some news about his son. Her heart was breaking for this man.
Brad's voice startled her out of her thoughts. "Monica? Monica are you still there?"
"Yeah, Brad," said Monica absently as she continued to look at John. "I'm still here, but I'd better go."
"Of course. If I can do anything, help in any way, just let me know."
Monica smiled sadly. "Thanks."
"I love you."
"I love you, too."
Monica hit the end button. She started walking toward the door, walking toward John. She realized as she was walking that it was the first time Brad had told her that he loved her and it was the first time she had spoken the same words to him. It concerned her that Brad's words had been heartfelt and her response had been automatic. But this was neither the time nor the place to analyze her relationship with Brad. There'd be plenty of time for that later. He was a good man, as was Detective Doggett, in a world full of evil. She cared about him and he cared about her. That's all that seemed to matter right now.
Monica opened the door into the Doggett home. "Sorry, personal call."
John's face kept the same expression, but Monica could see the disappointment in his eyes. Another piece of her heart shattered and broke. She hated to disappoint him. He was looking to her to find his son and that's all she wanted to be able to do. But there was nothing to go on, no leads. It was as if Luke had just vanished from this Earth.
End of Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Monica walked outside the Doggett household, her cell phone still pressed against her ear. "This sort of isn't a good time right now, Brad."
"So your partner Cay led me to believe when I called your office and you weren't there. He was less than specific about the details, and since he doesn't like me any way, I thought I would call. Is everything all right?"
Monica let out a small sigh. Sometimes the weight of the world, or the life of one little innocent boy, was on your shoulders. "I'm on a case right now. I'm sorry I'm going to have to cancel our plans for tonight. In fact I'm not quite sure how long it's going to take. We've got a missing eight-year old boy. I can't really talk about the case too much but I'm in charge."
"I understand," said Brad sympathetically. "And hey don't even worry about me. You just do what you need to do. There's um...some things I need to take care of anyway and this will give me the time to do that."
Monica couldn't resist teasing him a bit. "What, you've got another girl on the side?" It felt good for a moment to escape the tragedy that surrounded her and speak with someone who wasn't depending on her for life and death decisions.
Brad laughed uncomfortably. It didn't take Monica's sensitive nature to pick up that something was wrong. The thought of Brad cheating on her was ridiculous she knew. When she wasn't with him, she knew he was too busy climbing the FBI ladder to have the time. She thought of her partner Cay's warning about his ambition. She wished Cay were here to help her on this case. Hell, she wished she had found Luke already and could reunite him with his Mom and Dad. But wishing for a thing did not make it so as her adoptive father had taught her at their home in Mexico. It seemed like a millennium since she had been home. Home.
Monica turned back and looked at the house. She could see John looking out the door at her. She could see his hopeful look, wondering if maybe she had some news about his son. Her heart was breaking for this man.
Brad's voice startled her out of her thoughts. "Monica? Monica are you still there?"
"Yeah, Brad," said Monica absently as she continued to look at John. "I'm still here, but I'd better go."
"Of course. If I can do anything, help in any way, just let me know."
Monica smiled sadly. "Thanks."
"I love you."
"I love you, too."
Monica hit the end button. She started walking toward the door, walking toward John. She realized as she was walking that it was the first time Brad had told her that he loved her and it was the first time she had spoken the same words to him. It concerned her that Brad's words had been heartfelt and her response had been automatic. But this was neither the time nor the place to analyze her relationship with Brad. There'd be plenty of time for that later. He was a good man, as was Detective Doggett, in a world full of evil. She cared about him and he cared about her. That's all that seemed to matter right now.
Monica opened the door into the Doggett home. "Sorry, personal call."
John's face kept the same expression, but Monica could see the disappointment in his eyes. Another piece of her heart shattered and broke. She hated to disappoint him. He was looking to her to find his son and that's all she wanted to be able to do. But there was nothing to go on, no leads. It was as if Luke had just vanished from this Earth.
End of Chapter 7