Placing one arm around his wife’s slender shoulders, Deputy Braun assisted Chris as she waddled out of the truck’s passenger seat and stood on the icy asphalt in front of the Darrington IGA. The parking lot was quiet, still far too early for the evening rush when the locals stopped in for groceries on their way home from working down-below. Taking a sharp breath, Chris placed both hands over the swell of her belly.
“Is the baby kicking?” John asked, bright-eyed from the excitement of pending fatherhood. I can’t believe I finally get to be a daddy. Life’s gonna change soon.
“I think he’s turning,” Chris said with a smile.
“Sure you won’t stay in the truck while I grab the groceries?”
“No, I want to get out while I can. I won’t be able to in a few more weeks, ‘specially once the snows set in.”
“Okay, but take my hand. I don’t want anything happening to our baby.”
Smiling, she gripped his hand and they began crossing the lot when a burgundy Taurus pulled into a parking space between them and the store’s entrance. John’s eyes narrowed and his chest tightened as he watched Lina snap shut a cell phone and toss it onto the dash of the car. Stepping out of the passenger side, she leaned in to say something to the driver. Straightening, she slammed the door and turned with a wide grin to stare directly at John. She looks like she won the candy bar bingo at the Mansford Grange.
Scowling, John cautioned Lina by raising his eyebrows and tilting his head toward his wife. Despite the warning—or cuz of it—Lina strolled over and stood in the couple’s path, forcing them to halt.
“Happy New Year’s Eve, Johnny. I been looking all over the county for ya.”
“You remember my wife, Chris,” he said in a curt tone full of apprehension. What the hell’s she up to?
Looking at Lina, Chris smiled with cheeks flushed from the glow of motherhood.
“How’s y’all’s baby?” Lina asked, stepping next to Chris and taking her free arm. “Wonder if your brat’ll be anything like mine.”
When John’s wife turned to him with a confused expression, the color drained from his usual tanned complexion and took on an ashen tone. Why is Lina doing this? We had a bargain. Didn’t I keep her and her kin out a trouble with the law like I promised? I done my part—so she better do hers.
“Honey, I gotta talk to Lina. She has information about a case of mine. It’ll only take a second,” he said stiffly. “Why don’t I get you inside where it’s warm. You start shopping and I’ll catch up in a sec.”
Taking his wife’s arm, John sidestepped Lina and continued toward the store.
“You always was so smart.” Walking backward, Lina remained in front of the couple. “Remember the good times, ‘fore Luke’s fire? Course you and Chris was just dating back then. Good thing you ain’t a liar like them others. Ever think about when we first met, John?”
“Uh, no… that was a long time ago,” he said, marching his wife toward the door.
“Yup, a long time for some ain’t so long for others. Your wife might like hearing the story I gots to tell.”
“What do you want?” Chris asked, beginning to sound upset.
“Like John says, this is official police stuff. I’s just calling in a favor….”