however, been years since that had occurred. Gio and I were upstanding citizens now.
Introductions were made as my mother retrieved another.
plate and dished out the pie. I guessed that Richmond didn't have much choice but to eat it even if it choked him. She poured fresh perked coffee and placed a cup next to his plate.
A grin twitched the corners of his mouth and he settled at the table like an old family friend. I stared and wondered what this man was about. He popped up whenever I least expected and set my nerves atingle, not to mention other body parts. Dang. It took major control to resist a man like this.
My father still hadn't uttered a sound and waited for me to explain. This waiting game went on for a bit between the two of us, but my mother didn't pay any attention. She chatted with Trooper Richmond in her most mannerly way. If nothing else, my mom had the manners of a queen.
I smiled at her and Richmond, and asked, “What do ya want, Richmond?” So much for good manners, huh?
Unperturbed, he answered me.
"I happened to be in the neighborhood and saw your car. I stopped by your house on my way through the village, but you were gone."
He savored the pie and drank coffee like he'd been invited to dinner. Real suave . With a glance at my mother, I knew he'd made her day.
It was a sure guess that he'd come to accept my wiseass attitude since he hadn't flinched at the delivery of my question. I gazed at the craggy features for a moment.
"So, what brings you in search of me?” I asked again.
My mother's eyes widened at my tone and the use of his name, but her smile remained in place. My father seemed aware of an undercurrent and sat silent as his eyes flicked between me and Marcus. Dad most certainly was interested to see if I'd be handcuffed and hauled away. He undoubtedly considered how much cash he'd have to cough up for a bail bond. Geez.
"Nothing of major importance, I wondered if you've had any further luck with that issue we last spoke of."
The measured words left the subject wide open. Anything could be made out of it, but I knew what he wanted to know.
"As a matter of fact, I did come across some new information for you earlier today. Why don't you stop by later or tomorrow?"
"Sure, I'd be glad to.” His attitude was polite and he knew he'd won my mother over in a heartbeat. She was a sucker for good manners. My father was another matter altogether.
In a gruff voice, my father addressed the trooper.
"Has my daughter been involved in something we should know about?"
Richmond scanned my face a moment with a glint of humor in those shrewd eyes and then smiled at my father. He shook his head and said, “Not at all, she's assisting us in an ongoing investigation. Lavinia is very qualified in the field of criminalistics. But I guess you know that."
"Mmm, she's good at her job. What investigation do you mean?"
"I'm not at liberty to say, sir. But Vinnie's been most helpful to us."
"Huh, I thought you guys didn't need anybody's help. But if you say so, I'm good with it."
By then I'd finished my pie and coffee. Both Marcus and I rose from the table. My mother stood and packed leftovers for me to take home. When she handed me the bag, I left on the heels of Richmond.
Outside, I bounded down the three steps to the driveway and tucked the goody bag in the car. I turned to Marcus, who leaned against the side of the car rear quarter panel with arms folded, waiting for me.
"What the hell are you doing here?” I whispered. “My parents are paranoid enough that I live alone, have a male tenant and work in the world of criminal justice. Criminy, you don't have to complicate my life further, Richmond."
"You have a male tenant? Last night you had no tenant. Things change fast around you, I see.” His smirk widened into a grin.
"Yuh, I have a male tenant and what's it to ya?"
"Nothing to me, but who is this new tenant? Have you checked him out?"
"Cripes, now you sound like my father.” My hand was
Introductions were made as my mother retrieved another.
plate and dished out the pie. I guessed that Richmond didn't have much choice but to eat it even if it choked him. She poured fresh perked coffee and placed a cup next to his plate.
A grin twitched the corners of his mouth and he settled at the table like an old family friend. I stared and wondered what this man was about. He popped up whenever I least expected and set my nerves atingle, not to mention other body parts. Dang. It took major control to resist a man like this.
My father still hadn't uttered a sound and waited for me to explain. This waiting game went on for a bit between the two of us, but my mother didn't pay any attention. She chatted with Trooper Richmond in her most mannerly way. If nothing else, my mom had the manners of a queen.
I smiled at her and Richmond, and asked, “What do ya want, Richmond?” So much for good manners, huh?
Unperturbed, he answered me.
"I happened to be in the neighborhood and saw your car. I stopped by your house on my way through the village, but you were gone."
He savored the pie and drank coffee like he'd been invited to dinner. Real suave . With a glance at my mother, I knew he'd made her day.
It was a sure guess that he'd come to accept my wiseass attitude since he hadn't flinched at the delivery of my question. I gazed at the craggy features for a moment.
"So, what brings you in search of me?” I asked again.
My mother's eyes widened at my tone and the use of his name, but her smile remained in place. My father seemed aware of an undercurrent and sat silent as his eyes flicked between me and Marcus. Dad most certainly was interested to see if I'd be handcuffed and hauled away. He undoubtedly considered how much cash he'd have to cough up for a bail bond. Geez.
"Nothing of major importance, I wondered if you've had any further luck with that issue we last spoke of."
The measured words left the subject wide open. Anything could be made out of it, but I knew what he wanted to know.
"As a matter of fact, I did come across some new information for you earlier today. Why don't you stop by later or tomorrow?"
"Sure, I'd be glad to.” His attitude was polite and he knew he'd won my mother over in a heartbeat. She was a sucker for good manners. My father was another matter altogether.
In a gruff voice, my father addressed the trooper.
"Has my daughter been involved in something we should know about?"
Richmond scanned my face a moment with a glint of humor in those shrewd eyes and then smiled at my father. He shook his head and said, “Not at all, she's assisting us in an ongoing investigation. Lavinia is very qualified in the field of criminalistics. But I guess you know that."
"Mmm, she's good at her job. What investigation do you mean?"
"I'm not at liberty to say, sir. But Vinnie's been most helpful to us."
"Huh, I thought you guys didn't need anybody's help. But if you say so, I'm good with it."
By then I'd finished my pie and coffee. Both Marcus and I rose from the table. My mother stood and packed leftovers for me to take home. When she handed me the bag, I left on the heels of Richmond.
Outside, I bounded down the three steps to the driveway and tucked the goody bag in the car. I turned to Marcus, who leaned against the side of the car rear quarter panel with arms folded, waiting for me.
"What the hell are you doing here?” I whispered. “My parents are paranoid enough that I live alone, have a male tenant and work in the world of criminal justice. Criminy, you don't have to complicate my life further, Richmond."
"You have a male tenant? Last night you had no tenant. Things change fast around you, I see.” His smirk widened into a grin.
"Yuh, I have a male tenant and what's it to ya?"
"Nothing to me, but who is this new tenant? Have you checked him out?"
"Cripes, now you sound like my father.” My hand was
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