Page 3 of SEAL the Deal
“Well done, a great effort by everyone. Let’s run through some stretches and wrap it up.”
She’d been instructing the small class at a dance studio in Jacksonville for the past six months. In that time it had grown from a few friends to classes of up to twenty women. Word had spread fast. If it continued she was going to need a bigger premises.
Once the warm down was complete Jenny pulled on a pair of track pants and a hoodie.
“Another fantastic session,” gushed Darlene as she made to leave.
“You’ve really progressed,” she replied, tying her laces.
“Like I said, getting a pole at home was a smart move.”
“Jenny, when are you getting more portable poles?” asked another of the women.
“Yeah, I want one too,” added another.
Grinning she grabbed her gear bag. “They should arrive later in the week. I’ll update my Facebook page as soon as they’re in.”
She left the dance studio and crossed the parking lot to where she’d left her car. On her way she spotted a massive truck parked alongside her Chrysler. A tall figure leaned against the door of a shiny new Ford F-150 Raptor.
She recognized Lieutenant Carter Brown by his trademark Stetson hat and square stubble covered jaw. Dressed in jeans, boots and a check shirt he wore a pistol on his belt. He was the senior officer at the Oakridge Sheriff’s station and a former classmate of Jenny’s.
He tipped his hat as she approached. “Miss Reynolds, how are you this evening?”
She managed a tight-lipped smile as she took out her keys. “I’m good thanks, Carter.”
He stepped away from his truck. “Jenny, look, I dropped by because I wanted to apologize for the way my men acted today. Old man Douglass rang my office and gave me a heads up.”
Jenny turned to the handsome police officer and shrugged. “It was nothing. Boys will be boys.”
He laughed. “True, but I would like to make it up to you by taking you out to dinner.”
“That’s a lovely gesture, Carter, but totally unnecessary. I appreciate the courtesy of a face-to-face apology. Thank you, from one professional to another.”
He took a step closer and placed his hand on the car door. “Look, all I’m asking for is dinner. We’ll grab a steak, my treat. It’ll be good for intra-agency relations.”
Jenny put her key in the lock. “In that case, you should drop by the ranger station and catch up with Sam and the rest of the crew. Bring Ed and Harold, we’ll put on coffee and donuts.”
A scowl split his granite features. “I’m not someone you want to make an enemy of.”
“No one’s trying to make an enemy of you, Carter. I’m just declining your invitation to dinner. As far as I’m aware, that’s not a declaration of hostile intent.”
“You threatened one of my officers today. I could bring you in for that.”
She turned to face him with hands on her hips. “Really? You’re going to arrest me based on a flippant comment that was made in jest.” She held her wrists out. “Take me in, big shot. I’ll take great pleasure in destroying your fantasy in court.”
“Just watch yourself, Jenny.”
She smiled. “I will.”
He turned, opened the door of his pickup and climbed in. The rig rumbled to life and he backed clear before roaring off down the road.
Jenny frowned as she watched the Ford disappear. The Raptor was an expensive truck. Not something a police wage would easily buy. Pushing the thought from her head she climbed into her sedan. She needed to get home, feed her cat, put dinner on and get to bed. The team had an early start in the morning.
* * *
A dozen miles out of Oakridge a battered pickup with a bloodhound in the bed was parked beneath a tree on a dirt track. Two men sat inside. Hank, the older of the two, wore jeans, a denim shirt, battered cowboy boots and a ten gallon hat. Carl wore woodland camouflage pants and a stained USMC T-shirt.
Hank held a cell phone to his ear. “Yeah, no worries we’ll get it done.” He ended the call and slid the phone into his shirt pocket. Pulling a revolver from his belt he popped the chamber and checked it was loaded.
