Chapter 20: A Night Out With Pauline Duke

Kira spent the evening in as planned and had avoided the fate of being set up on a blind date. By the end of the night, it became clear that if she continued her crime-plotting, she'd need a much bigger map. Townsend had been connected to crimes in nearly every county in Georgia, including all three in the Tri-county area.

Over in Hatchapee, Townsend had been suspected of running a drug ring. In Chickasaw, it had been human trafficking. The man was made of rubber though; no charges could ever stick.

Evidence would get lost, witnesses attacked, move away, or just disappear. Some had even been found dead just before going before the grand jury. Those had been the ones who couldn't be intimidated. They knew the risks and took them. They had hoped to be the one that would help end the terror that Townsend seemed to rule over. They hadn't been successful, and they had paid for it with their lives.

Kira had just finished for the night and turned in as she heard everyone return to the farm one by one. Daisy had been the last to come home. Kira knew as well as anyone else that no one would actually sleep until the last Duke made it home. Drifting off to sleep, Kira began to wonder when it was that she had started to refer to the farm as home.

The next morning, Kira and Judd packed all their stuff up to prepare for the long drive back to Atlanta. Judd had promised to see Luke when he came back through in a few months for his upcoming fight. It was rougher for him to stay in contact than it was for Kira, and she felt bad for him. She couldn't imagine how it would have been to find out that she had a family but then have to go so long in between visits. Heck, thanks to their link, she and Bo talked nearly on a daily basis.

She wasn't sure how Judd and Luke managed with just a few letters and the occasional phone call and even sparser visits; especially Luke. He wasn't the type to just trust that everyone was doing alright without him there to see it for himself. In fact, Luke seemed to be wrestling with that even now as he was helping Judd load his things up.

The closer it got to time for her and Judd to head out, the quieter Luke got. Bo, however, seemed to be both waiting for Kira to leave and wanted her to stay at the same time. If she didn't know better, she'd swear that he was up to something.

Much too soon, it was time to head back to Atlanta. Judd had a flight out that evening so they really couldn't wait any longer. As the four Dukes that remained behind watched the green pick-up drive away, Bo walked over and slung his arm across Luke's shoulders. It was always hard on him to watch his baby brother drive off. Bo supposed now he finally understood that better than he used to.

"Come on, Cuz. You've got a phone call to make."

Luke glanced sideways at Bo, casting a questioning look his way.

Several weeks later, Kira was in her office chatting with Officer Brent Baxter. They had been friends since before she became a Public Defender. First, they had been in the same cancer support group that she was in as a teen. Then, they met once more when at college. Finally, they once more came across one another once Kira had returned to Atlanta when she took her job at the Public Defender's Office. He had helped her get used to the whole cop-jargon and was one of the few officers that didn't seem to despise defense attorneys on site. Kira had more than once sought his advice for the practical aspects of a case and had developed a fast friendship with him almost instantly.

In fact, they would have dinner and talk shop about once a week when Brent's significant other worked late. They kept a standing Thursday night reservation at one of her favorite restaurants in town. Sometimes Brent's other half would come along. More times than not, it ended up being just the two of them. This gave Kira a chance to go out to a nice restaurant without having to sit by herself. She had always felt that doing that just looked sad. And she didn't have to go out with the losers that asked her out either.

Kira had just finished going over the latest cases that she had added to her color-coded chart, (she had gotten a larger map, two actually since she had a duplicate one at her apartment) and had asked if Brent thought he saw any kind of pattern when the phone rang.

"Kyle here."

"Kira, Jebb. I ain't got much time. I just got home from some errands that I had been sent out to do. When I got back, Mom was gone. I finally got it out of Emma and Emily that she's coming to see you. Not sure why, but they said that she's been plannin' this for a while. Ever since she talked to Luke on New Year's. I figured I should warn ya so you can get out of Dodge."

"Thanks. I better pack up then and head out. Wait! She doesn't have my home address, does she? I know I'm a sitting duck here at work and all, but-"

"Nah, I think you'll be safe there. At least you can keep that door closed. Gotta run. Good luck."

Kira hung up the phone and looked over at Brent. "I think we'd better get out of here while the gettin's good. My Aunt Pauline is on her way to see me. I have the feeling that she got the idea from my brother and cousin that I need her matchmaking skills. We were joking about it over the holidays, but I didn't think that they'd actually do it."

Brent laughed as he watched Kira pack her stuff up to leave. "What's this aunt like? Must be bad for you to be running."

"Imagine your Aunt Mary. Worse than her!"

Brent's brows went up, "You're kidding. No one is worse than Mary."

"Pauline is. How I've been able to avoid her since Thanksgiving, I can only say I must have found favor with the big man upstairs somehow. "Now those two," Kira pointed toward a picture frame on her desk holding a picture of the family at Christmas before continuing, "they've done decided to sic her on me. I thought they were up to something the last time I was in Hazzard. Come on, let's go."

Kira opened the door to her office to find none other than the afore mentioned aunt standing in the lobby asking one of her co-workers which office was hers.

"Kira! There you are. I was just coming to see you," Pauline said as she noticed Kira's door open.

"Pauline, what a surprise to find you here. What are you doing in Atlanta?"

"Well, the boys were worried so I promised that I would keep an eye on you. They were very relieved when I told them I'd come and spend a couple of days here with you."

"They were, were they? And just why did they say that they were worried about me?" Kira asked as she crossed her arms in front of her.

"Well, according to them, you work far too hard. They doubt that you've been eating good; claim that you get so wrapped up in your work that you lose all track of time. Plus, those frozen dinners that Bo claims that you live on, well they just ain't all that good for you. But since you're here in the city with no family and no man to take care of you, I figured I might as well come up and see what I can do. Now I can only stay the weekend, though I might be able to work something out later for a longer visit."

When Pauline stopped for air, Brent felt he better do something to help Kira out. She really did look like she came prepared to take over. It was Aunt Mary all over again.

"We were just heading out to dinner; perhaps you'd like to join us." Brent walked up behind Kira and put his arm around her. Kira gave him a side-long glance to which he gave her a wink.

Pauline stopped her rambling when a tall, dark-haired man joined her niece. She had to admit, the man was certainly handsome and had to have been several inches taller than even Bo (the tallest of the Duke Clan) would have stood. In fact, Pauline would say that a man that good-looking belonged in the movies. Taking in the rest of the man, she noticed that he was wearing a police officer's uniform; and he filled it out right nicely, too.

Pauline wished more cops wore their uniforms as nicely as this one did. The fact that he had his arm around Kira, and she hadn't moved away like she'd seen her do over Thanksgiving anytime most of the family touched her hadn't gone unnoticed.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't see you there. I'm Pauline Duke, Kira's aunt. You are?" Pauline offered her hand and Brent readily took it.

"Brent Baxter. Nice to meet you," Brent said accepting Pauline's hand.

"So, the two of you were heading out...Together?"

"Yes ma'am. Same as every Thursday night. If you'd like to join us, I can just call the restaurant to change the reservation from two to three." Kira glanced back at Brent while trying to figure out just what he was up to. "Ain't that right, Babe?"

"Uh, yeh. Pauline? Would you like to join us?"

"Why, I'd love to. It'll do my heart good to see you two together. And here I thought that you weren't seeing anyone, Kira. Why didn't you tell me? How long have ya'll been going out?"

"Let's see, we've had a standing date for what is it now?" Brent cocked his brow at Kira as she figured out just what he was planning.

"I think it's been close to two years now. Pauline, would you excuse us. Brent can make that call in my office and I think I left a file behind. We'll be right back." Kira pushed Brent back into her office and shut the door behind her. "What are you doing?"

"The same thing you did for me when Mary came to visit me back at college for the first time. With a little luck, we'll have her on her way back home by the end of dinner. Especially if the only reason she is here is because she thinks you need help finding someone to take care of you. And she won't be planning that extended stay."

"Brent, I'd marry you for this if you weren't gay," Kira grinned at Brent.

"What can I say? I owe you. By the time my Aunt Mary left after meeting you and thinking that we were serious, she was relieved when she found out the truth about me and Kevin." Brent let out a hearty laugh at the memory.

"What can I say? I aim to please. Well, I guess we're having a dinner guest tonight then."

With that, they headed out to treat Pauline to a night out at Kira's favorite restaurant.

Somehow, sitting at the table, Kira was reminded of the fact that she really did need to make that dentist appointment. With any luck she just might need to have a cavity filled. It would be less painful going through that without medication than this dinner.

At least Pauline was being charmed by Brent, as Kira knew she would be, of course. The fact that the host knew them by name and took them to their usual table helped their shuck and jive on Pauline. She seemed thoroughly convinced that Kira and Brent were an item. Maybe Kira will be able to see to it that Pauline doesn't try her match-making magic on her after all. And of course, get her out of Atlanta without too much collateral damage.

Right frankly, she'd welcome Sherman and his army back any day if it meant that Pauline would be staying in Placid.

"Well, I'm sure that Bo and Luke will be just thrilled to know that you're so well taken care of here. I quite frankly was surprised when they called and asked me to check in on you. But I was glad to hear that they trusted you to me."

"About that Pauline, maybe we can just keep this our little secret for now. I mean, I'm not exactly used to the whole having a brother thing, and with Luke, I might as well have two older brothers. You remember how it was when you were single don't you? I'm sure you didn't tell your brothers about everyone you dated. Did you?"

"No, I suppose I didn't. Alright, I won't say nothing, for now. Now, about this weekend-" Pauline started.

"That reminds me; I better go and cancel. Hopefully we can still get our deposit back." Kira grabbed her glass as Brent spoke (as was her habit while trying to keep a straight face). He turned toward Pauline as he continued. "We had planned on going to the mountains this weekend. If you're gonna be here a couple of days, I'd better go call the lodge." Brent stood as if to leave. "Excuse me, Pauline. I'll be right back."

"Oh, no! Don't do that. If you've already got plans, I understand. I don't want you to have to change them on my account. I should have known to call before I came but Luke said that it would ruin the surprise."

"Speaking of Luke, how come he's so concerned with me being taken care of? He's always so busy looking after everyone else, he ain't ever got around to taking care of himself. Shoot, if I was Luke's age and still unmarried with no real prospects, I'd be called an old maid. Seems to me that he's the one you should be worried about, Pauline. Not me."

"Oh. I do. It's high time that boy got himself around to gettin' settled down. But I really don't see that happening. Him and Bo are content to just carry on like they're still youngens. And anytime I suggest anyone to either one of them, well the other always offers excuses. And Daisy ain't likely to get married off as long as them fellas are still home, neither. She'll make sure that the house is in order and all; a role that a wife should do, not a cousin who is practically their sister."

"Now, Pauline; as intelligent as you are, I'd figured that you would have found a way to divide and conquer by now."

Brent had a hard time keeping a straight face as Kira began to set the stage for turning her brother's and cousin's prank around on them.

"Oh, I've thought about it, believe me. But during plantin' and harvestin' season Jesse needs them both of them at home. During the summer, they are always off racin' just like Jebb so if I claimed we needed extra help for that; well again, Jesse needs them for that, too. I've racked my brain on them two. I tell you I have."

"Pauline, it only takes ONE to drive that stock car of theirs in them races they are always entering."

Kira smiled an evil grin as Pauline's face lit up. She would have felt bad for the boys if they hadn't started this little war themselves.

"Of course, if you'd rather leave them alone... But you know as well as I do that the others follow Luke's lead everywhere. If you expect them to get married off, Luke will have to be first."

Pauline nodded her agreement and actually became silent for the rest of the main course as she became lost in deep thought. That blissful silence was short lived, however, when it came time to order dessert. When Kira ordered an éclair, Pauline had to pipe back up.

"Kira, do you really think you need that sugary dessert? Men really don't like it when women overindulge in sweets."

Brent choked down some water as Kira set her shoulder.

Okay, she'd had enough. She had been the polite hostess so far, but she'd only take so much.

"Pauline, dessert is never something anyone NEEDS. It's a want. And right now, I want the éclair. But if you're suggesting for someone to skip dessert, I'd look in the mirror first."

"Besides, Kira usually burns the calories off runnin' around working on cases anyway. And if you knew your niece at all, you'd know she only indulges in desserts about once a week," Brent added in his friend's defense.

"I didn't mean anything by it." Pauline held her hands up in surrender. "If you don't mind her stuffing her face, I suppose I don't either. I was just trying to help. You know, I think I will skip the dessert. Since I won't be staying the weekend, I might as well head back to Placid. I'm sure the house is totally wrecked since no one is expecting me back until Sunday. I'll call to work out a time to come back. Since you can't cook, I think I'd better plan a cooking lesson for you. I think that it's high time that you learn. That way you'll be ready to feed your husband when you get married."

With that, Pauline stood and headed out to her car. Kira could barely hold her laughter in as her aunt left the restaurant with her feathers a bit ruffled.

"So much for her not planning that second stay in town. Think if I take that job offer I was given today, that I can get transferred before she comes back?" Kira groaned.

"You could hope. And you were right, she is worse than Mary."

"Well, you were great. I think she was ready to marry you, right up until the last. Those fellas back in Hazzard are really in for it now. When I get through with them, they will never pull this kind of stunt on me again."

"Trust me, you're the only woman that I'd want in my life." Brent winked at her as he referred to an old running joke of theirs. "No one else could come close to tempting me. And, it looks like your cousin will be having an interesting summer at least."

"What, that? Nah. They'll be expecting that. Brent, you think you could help me pull a prank on my brother and cousin?"

"Honey, I'll pull anything on them two that you want me to." His brows bounced up and down a couple of times as the two began to laugh at the guys' expense.

Both Brent and Kira spent dessert figuring out just how Kira would take her revenge out on the Duke Boys for siccing Pauline on her. At the end of the meal, Kira was right pleased with her plan. Of course, the timing would have to be perfect; at a time when their guard would be down. That meant buying time for a while.

She couldn't carry it out this weekend anyway since her accomplice would be out on a trip this weekend anyway. Brent really did have plans to go to the mountains this weekend, just not with Kira. But the wait would well be worth it.