Chapter Four

"Does everyone come here after work?" Lynn said to Garrett, loudly. The place was packed.

"Just about," he replied, taking her hand and leading her over to the corner where Woody, Nigel, Stevie, Bug, and Lily were. "It's sort of like a pressure valve release."

Lynn nodded. "I guess every morgue needs a Crawdad's."

Garrett grinned at her. He had always known Lynn was small. That was one of the things that Kathy had pointed out about her that made her such a successful diver. But he hadn't realized she was this small. The top of her head barely came to the top of his shoulder, and his hand swallowed hers. She was more than short...she was petite everywhere. But you'd never know it by her attitude. She'd stand up to anybody. He'd never met anyone with more of a backbone. She made you think she was seven feet tall.

"Hey, Lynn," Jordan said, from behind the bar. "Guinness?"

"Yeah, hit me up, Jo. How's it going, Woody?"

The detective turned his attention away from Jordan for a moment. "Hi. Nice to finally meet you. Stevie says you're another North Carolina transplant."

"For right now...."

"And that you're an experienced UBR?"

"Uh-huh."

"How many retrievals?"

"Upwards of about 68. I've really lost count."

"Make that 115," said Garrett.

Lynn gave him a puzzled look, "How do you know?"

"I read your record. Kept a tally."

"Nothing slides by Garrett," joined in Stevie. "He guessed I was pregnant this time before I knew."

"Gee, Mom, I hope you're not drinking tonight," Lynn teased Stevie.

"Just virgin screwdrivers," replied Nigel.

And so the evening went. Lynn began to feel right at home with the good natured banter between the detectives and the morgue workers...so much like Crawdad's in Wilmington that she felt like she had never left North Carolina. Around midnight the place began to clear out and Jordan rang the bell, signaling it was time for everyone to go home. Lynn made to get her purse and coat, but Garrett stopped her. "That's for everyone else, not us," he explained. "After Jordan closes for the public, we have our own little Friday night tradition."

As soon as everyone else had paid their tab and filed out, Lynn soon found out what the tradition was. Jordan lowered the lights and selections were made on the jukebox. The coins tumbled in the machine and the music began to play. She eagerly scanned the choices...picking out James Tayor's In My Mind I'm Going to Carolina. As the familiar song came over the speakers, Garrett held out his hand. "Dance?"

She took his hand and let him lead her out to the floor. Of course Woody and Jordan were dancing, as well as Bug and Lily. Nigel and Stevie were trying. The lanky Brit was having to steer around his wife's expectant belly. Lynn silently pointed that out to Garrett as they made their way around the floor. Garrett chuckled. "I have a feeling their son is going to be big."

"Maybe....maybe not. You always tend to be a little bigger with your second baby," Lynn replied.

Garrett nodded. He really didn't know. Details like that about women escaped him. But he was noticing the details about Lynn...her perfume, the scent of her hair. Almost reflexively, he drew her a little closer. It had been a long time since he had joined the other couples on the dance floor. It felt nice. Oh hell, who was he kidding? Lynn felt nice. Almost reluctantly he let her go at the end of the songs. Everyone said goodnight, and Lynn noticed that Jordan and Woody left together. She let Garrett drive her back to the morgue where she could get her car.

"Which one is it?" he asked, trying to locate her vehicle.

"The one at the far left....at the very end...by itself."

He was about to ask her why did she park so far away from everyone else when he noticed her car...a pristine, 1964 red Mustang convertible. "Dang," was all he could say.

"Meet my midlife crisis. Her name is Myrtle, after the beach. She's cheaper than a man and doesn't give me as many problems," she said, grinning at him.

"That is a great car."

"Thanks. If you're good to me...and let me go out with Jordan next week, and get out of the morgue, I might let you drive it."

"You will definitely be with Jordan next week...and I will take you up on the drive."

He walked her to the car. Suddenly, they were like two awkward teenagers not know exactly how to end a date. Only it wasn't a date ... was it?

"Be careful going home," Garrett said.

"You, too. And thanks for inviting me to come with you. I had a great time."

"I'm glad. It's good to have you here, Lynn."

Lynn thanked him again and got in her car, driving out into the cold Boston night. It wasn't North Carolina, but it was beginning to feel like home.

"You know, I was really afraid you were going to try to be a mom to everyone," Jordan told Lynn as they got in the morgue van Monday morning to do a pick up.

"Why on earth would anyone think that?" Lynn replied, brushing the blonde bangs out of her eyes. "I am nowhere near old enough to be your mom. My son is 20. Maybe your older sister, but not your mom."

"So you have a son? And does he have a name?"

"Mark. Mark Andrew Howerton. He's a student at Elon University. Accounting major," Lynn replied.

"Oh," said Jordan, as she pulled the van up at the pick up site. "There's Woody."

"Figures," Lynn replied.

Jordan gave her a pointed look.

"He's warm for your form, girl. Everyone knows it. Just give up and go with it. It's not going to do you any good fighting it any longer. Besides, from what Stevie told me about what happened in North Carolina last year, I figured you'd already be living together, married, or something."

"Yeah, well. Easier said than done."

"Sure. Fine. Whatever," Lynn replied. She looked over the body while Jordan quizzed Woody about the crime scene. Lividity was set and liver temp told her that the person had been dead between eight and ten hours. After the cursory field exam, the body was loaded up and driven back to the morgue. Lynn assisted Jordan on the autopsy and trace. She had snapped off her gloves and changed out of her scrubs when Garrett came by her desk.

"Good work, Lynn," he said, leaning over her to look in her eyes.

"Thanks."

"Feel like going out on your own from now on?"

Lynn smiled. "Oh, you sweet talker you. The very words I have been waiting to hear coming out of your mouth..."

Garrett smiled back at her. "Feel like dinner?'

Lynn blinked. "Dinner?"

"Yeah. Great little seafood place a couple of miles from here. Figured you'd be homesick for some chowder by now. Want to go with me?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I would. Let me get my purse." She disappeared into the locker room. Garrett watched her walk away. Lynn had only been there three months, but in some ways it seemed much longer. And now, he wasn't sure what he would do if she decided to go back to North Carolina. She seemed to be adjusting well. If Boston wasn't Wilmington, maybe it could at least be a good backup plan for the lady for some years to come.