Passion's Price

“Yes, ma’am.”

Half an hour later, the three of them sat down to a breakfast of fresh pineapple, pancakes and bacon. “These pancakes are delicious,” Mike said.

“Oh, yes. They’re real good,” Boyd said. “I hate not going out, but having company for breakfast and dinner is better than going out by myself.”

Mike glanced at Boyd in time to see Darlene stroke his arm in a gesture of comfort. He could use some of that himself.

A loud crash interrupted this thoughts. He pushed away from the table. “Get under the table, both of you,” he said. He grabbed his revolver and ran to the hallway that led to the rear of the house. The sound came from the direction of the back of the house. The shattered windowpane told him that he’d guessed right. He unlocked the door and stepped outside just as a man attempted to scale the high fence and escape.

“Drop or I’ll shoot! I said drop!” The man fell to the ground. “And don’t move an inch.”

“My leg hurts.”

“Too bad. Get up, face that wall and don’t turn around unless you want a bullet.” He dialed the detective’s squad room. “This is Raines. I caught a guy scaling the wall after he tried to break in the back door at Boyd’s place.” He dialed Boyd’s number.

“Hello.”

“Boyd, this is Mike. I’m holding a guy out back here. If two policemen come to the door, let them in and show them the way to the back of the house.”

“Okay, but you be careful.”

“I’ve got it covered, Boyd.”

Within ten minutes, Cody Johnson and another officer arrived. “Good work, Mike,” Cody said. “We’ll take him off your hands.”

“But I have to file my report, so—”

“You’ve been up all night, man. It can wait until tomorrow. Breaking and entering will get him a nice rest, so one extra day won’t matter,” Cody said. “By the way, please give my regards to Miss Hellraiser.”

Although he winced at the dig about Darlene, Mike forced a grin. “I’ll do that. Thanks, buddy.”

Darlene held Boyd’s hand. “Don’t worry,” she said. “Whatever it is, I know Mike can take care of it.”

“You’re right,” Boyd said. “Ever since I met him, I wished I’d had a son like him.” He cleared his throat. “Darlene, I think I ought to tell you something. You’ve been so nice to me that I feel badly for not having been straight with you. I haven’t been straight with Mike, either.”

“What is it?” she asked cautiously.

“I’m under house arrest until I testify in a big case. That’s why I appreciate Detective Raines,” he said. “But after I testify I’m on my own or it’s the witness protection program.”

“What will you do?”

“I don’t know. I think that’s what’s behind these attempted break-ins. Pretty soon, Mike’s going to release you, but I want you to stay in touch and come visit me. I never married, so I don’t have any children. You’ll always be welcome here.” He was quiet for a moment. “You and Mike, work things out. He’s a good man, and you won’t find one like him every day. Do you hear me?”

“Yes, I hear you, and I’m sure that you’re going to be all right. Thank you for everything, Boyd.”

“Something serious seems to be developing between you two. Don’t ignore it.”

They both walked to the front of the house. Darlene followed Boyd to the front door. “Detective Johnson, what’s happened? Is Mike…Detective Raines all right?”

“You bet. We came to arrest the intruder.”

She let out a long sigh. “Thank God.” Cody regarded her suspiciously, wondering if anything was going on between his partner and her. Even so, it could have been that she was relieved nothing serious had happened to Mike.

“Come with me,” Boyd said. At that, Cody’s eyebrows shot up, and he looked around as if assuring himself that he was in the right place. Boyd was not behaving like a man who was under house arrest.

Darlene followed them down the hall to the door that led to the rock garden, stepped outside and satisfied herself that Mike was indeed safe. Later, after Cody and his partner left with the assailant, Mike sat down with Darlene and Boyd.

“The officers at the station will be arraigning the suspect, Darlene, and if they can detain him, you’ll be free to leave. Until then, I’m still on duty here. However, if you or Boyd would like to get some fresh air in the garden back here, I’ll be glad to go with you. I think he’s the guy I’ve seen driving past here, but I want to wait for the police report.”

“Let’s order some lunch,” Boyd said. “By the time it gets here, I’ll be hungry.” Once it was delivered, the three of them sat on benches in the rock garden enjoying the fountains and the birds that came to use the birdbath. After a while, Boyd decided to go into the house to get some bird feed.

“I guess this the end for us, Darlene. I was hoping that somehow you’d stay a little longer. I want a chance to know you and to show you who I am. Though since I’ve met you, I’m no longer certain that I know myself.”

She stroked the back of his hand. “I guess the biggest surprise has been my reaction to you, Mike.”

He took both of her hands. “Don’t you want to get to know me?”

“Yes, but you scare me, because I don’t know what you’ll do.”

“If you’re talking about the Mike who kissed you last night, trust me, the better you get to know him, the happier you’ll be…that is, if I’m the guy who teaches you.”

“But what about the distance between Maryland and Memphis?”

“If the planes don’t fly, I can always drive. If you tell me I can see you, believe me, I’ll be there.”

“Why, Mike? We hardly know each other.”

“Darlene, this is something you should know about a man and a woman—it only takes a moment. For me, that moment was when I opened that door as you were about to leave.” He stared hard at her.

Chapter 3

Darlene had hoped that Mike would not receive the call from the police station for at least another day. But shortly after lunch—about three hours after Mike had apprehended the suspect—Mike got the news that the man would be arraigned and that he no longer needed to detain Darlene.

“You’re free to leave here whenever you like, Darlene,” Mike told her. She sat still, looking at him, unaware of the disheartened expression on her face. “You don’t seem happy about the prospect of leaving,” Mike said. “If you’d like, I’ll drive you to the Peabody Hotel.” There was an officer outside who would continue to watch Boyd.

“I’ve been in another world for two days,” she said, “and I realize now that it’s been pleasant and I…I feel as if I’m leaving friends.”

Mike narrowed his eyes, spread his knees and clasped them with the palms of his hands. “Friends, eh?”

Neither of them was prepared for Boyd’s laughter. “That’s what I was thinking,” he said.

Darlene got up and walked toward Boyd, who stood as she approached. “I don’t have anything to pack,” she said to no one in particular. She smiled and hugged the older man. “I’m glad I met you. I wouldn’t have missed knowing you for anything.” She kissed his cheek. “Before I leave Memphis, I’ll be in touch.” Then she picked up her handbag and turned to Mike. “I’m ready.”

Once they were settled, he started the car, turned on the air-conditioning and pulled away from the curb. “I don’t feel like driving you to the hotel and leaving you there,” he said.

She hadn’t thought that Mike would feel anxious about her leaving, or that he would feel as uneasy as she felt. I’ve learned more about myself in the past two days than in the past ten years, she thought to herself. “I told you that I’ll stay in touch, Mike. If it’s at all humanly possible, I keep my word,” she said. She could almost feel him relax.

“When are you returning to Maryland, and what will you do for the remainder of your stay?”