Pretty Broken Dolls by Jennifer Chase
Chapter Seven
Monday 1945 hours
“This is nice,” said Katie as she took another sip of wine and relaxed.
“I know we haven’t spent that much time together recently,” said Chad as he returned to the couch with a glass. He snuggled in close.
“We both have jobs that require more than the nine to five routine. And that’s okay. We can make it work.”
Chad squeezed her hand.
“Okay, I’ve known you most of your life. And I know something is bothering you.” Katie studied Chad with a sinking feeling.
“Just things going on at work,” he said, trying to avoid her gaze. “You know what I mean.”
Katie turned her body to face him. “You can tell me anything. There isn’t anything that we can’t overcome and work out.”
Cisco sensed Katie’s change of mood and came over to her, lying down at her feet.
“What is bothering you?” she said gently. “I’ve sensed it ever since you arrived tonight.”
“Nothing that can’t be discussed later.”
“Oh no,” she said playfully. “You don’t get away that easily.”
“What are you going to do—interrogate me?”
“I can… and I’ll win.” She took another sip of the wine, savoring the flavor and the quiet alone moments with the person that she loved more than anyone.
Chad looked down at his hands, hesitating. “I didn’t want to ruin tonight.”
“Ruin?” Katie was now concerned.
“Maybe that’s not the right word. I have something I want to talk to you about.”
“Okay,” she said and set her glass on the coffee table.
“I went to that conference and met a lot of people.”
“Yeah, the Firefighters’ Association conference.” Katie knew about it, but she was on edge now, seeing how much he was struggling with something.
“Well, I met with the Commander for the Los Angeles County Fire Department. His name is Ron Fairfield. We actually talked quite a bit.”
Katie listened intently, trying to figure out his body language as he struggled to tell her something that was clearly extremely important because it was difficult for him to say.
“Well, to make a long story short… We talked about the job of fire investigator and it’s been something that I’ve been interested in for a while.”
Katie nodded. “Yeah, even when we were kids. Ever since the McClellan family house burned down, you wanted to do something important and investigate arson.”
“Well, there’s a training program that’s very difficult to get into. You have to be invited.”
“And you got an invitation?” she said.
“Yep.”
“Oh, that’s great! I’m so happy for you.” She leaned in and kissed him, relieved that it was something positive.
“Wait a minute.”
“What?”
“I start my training in a few days.”
“Okay?” she said, surprised he hadn’t told her anything about it before signing up.
“And it’s for six months in Los Angeles.”
“Oh,” she said as her heart sank. “What about…?”
“Our wedding?” he said. “We will have to postpone it for a while longer. But we haven’t set a date yet…”
“Okay,” she said slowly.
“Katie, I’ve been waiting for something like this my entire life. And now I get the chance to train.”
“I know,” she said, forcing a smile. Inside, she felt abandoned. “You so deserve this.”
“I’ve loved you my entire life, even when I was five years old. Every time I have good news or bad, you’re the first person I want to talk to. I want you to be the first person I see in the morning and the last at night.”
“We’ve been through a lot. Your mom’s cancer and the death of my parents. We can get through anything.” She made herself comfortable next to Chad. Not wanting to talk about it anymore, they passed the evening with the usual conversation. There was a subtle tension between them, but it wasn’t about Chad going to LA. It was about a huge change coming, affecting their relationship. Katie wasn’t completely convinced if they could survive the distance issue.
* * *
Katie’s mood was downcast, which was unusual for her. She didn’t feel like doing anything but going to bed after Chad left. She couldn’t shake the strange feeling that her life was going to be turned upside-down. These unorthodox cold cases and Chad leaving for six months made her uneasy.
The evening turned colder and she snuggled in bed with Cisco at her feet. Katie slowly fell into a sound sleep for once, without killers, suspects, and flashbacks of her time in Afghanistan running throughout her dreams.
Her cell phone interrupted her peaceful slumber.
Katie jerked awake and automatically checked the time: the clock read 2:35 in the morning.
Picking up the cell, she said, “Hello?” her voice groggy.
“Katie?”
“Uncle Wayne? What’s wrong? You okay?”
“I’m fine. You need to come to the fairgrounds through the west gate,” he stated simply. It wasn’t a request.
Katie sat up, fighting her sleepiness. “What? Why?”
“McGaven is on his way, as well as Special Agent Campbell. I expect you to be here in fifteen minutes.”
“What is it?” she managed to say, bracing for the worst.
“Homicide. Another woman has been found. Signs indicate the same MO as Jeanine Trenton’s killer.”
“I’m on my way,” she said, getting out of bed.
“See you in fourteen minutes.”
The call disconnected.