CHAPTER 5: TROUBLE AT EL SOL
Dutch tossed and turned in his bed, staring at the ceiling. His mind was racing with thoughts of the night's events and the tangled web of secrets that seemed to be closing in around him. The case had taken an unexpected turn, and now he couldn't help but worry about Melvina. Dating her was against policy, and if anyone found out, she could get fired. They were both witnesses to the bizarre incident at El Sol Wraps, and the thought of her getting caught up in this mess made his stomach churn.
Meanwhile, across town, Edwina was also wide awake. Her mind was consumed with thoughts of Dutch and the baby she was carrying. She knew she had to tell him soon. The secrets she was keeping felt like a heavy weight on her chest, and she feared what would happen when the truth came out.
As the first light of dawn broke through his window, Dutch decided he couldn't lie in bed any longer. He got dressed and headed to El Sol Wraps, hoping a familiar setting might help him clear his head. The restaurant was quiet, with only a few early customers. Dutch walked up to the counter, where a young server with cat pins on her hat greeted him with a smile.
"Morning, Detective. What can I get for you?" she asked cheerfully.
Dutch couldn't help but notice the cat pins. He wondered if everyone in Farmington had some kind of cat fetish he wasn't in on. And after last night, he couldn't help but wonder if this somehow connected to the diaper fetish he had stumbled upon.
"Just a coffee, please," Dutch said, trying to sound casual. "Hey, that guy who was harassing you the other night—he might be a killer."
The server's eyes widened slightly. "Seriously? Well, thanks for getting rid of him. He was crazy."
Dutch nodded, feeling a bit uneasy. "Yeah, just... be careful, alright?"
Just then, Vic Mackey walked in, his usual confident swagger in full display. He spotted Dutch at the counter and grinned.
"Hey, Dutchboy, you flirting with the server?" Vic teased, his voice loud enough for everyone to hear. "Or is this part of an official investigation? Where's your partner if you're working a case?"
Dutch felt his face flush. "I'm just getting coffee, Vic," he muttered.
Vic chuckled, slapping Dutch on the back. "Relax, man. I get wraps from this place all the time. Best in town."
Dutch's heart skipped a beat. Had Vic seen him here with Melvina? The thought sent a wave of panic through him. He needed to get out of there before Vic started asking more questions.
"Uh, I gotta go," Dutch said abruptly, grabbing his coffee and heading for the door.
Vic watched him leave, a knowing smirk on his face. "See you around, Dutch."
Dutch practically ran back to the Barn, his mind racing with thoughts of Vic, Melvina, and the case. He couldn't shake the feeling that everything was spiraling out of control. The walls were closing in, and he was running out of places to hide.