Chapter 5
Hidden Secrets
Leona Palmer Haag
Chapter 5
Matthew Jensen watched his beautiful wife, Monica, comb
her shiny blond hair. Sparkling water droplets dripped from the ends and beaded
on her shoulders. He smiled. Marriage had been good for both of them in his
opinion. She seemed to smile more. He knew he did.
"Did you read that last e-mail from the Mitchell before
you left the office today?" Monica said, catching his reflection in the
mirror and pulling his thoughts away from how great it was to be near the
eighteen-month anniversary mark, and how he'd surprise her some way to
celebrate.
Matt shrugged as he tried to remember it. Work
certainly wasn't on his mind at the moment. Diamonds were closer.
"Yeah," he finally said. "Is there ever a quiet place on earth
not invaded by death or carnage?"
"Are you thinking you want to investigate?"
Matt shrugged again, wishing they could talk about
diamonds, but that would tip her off. As for work, he wanted the night off,
besides, there wasn't much chance he'd be allowed to get involved even if he
wanted to. "I'd have to brush up on my accent. I haven't been out of the
states in nearly three years," he said.
His wife turned and faced him. "Sweetheart, you
need to start taking field assignments again. Don't let your skills get rusty.
It's deadly."
He grumbled incoherently for a moment, then perked up
and grinned. "Maybe I should go to Maryland with Jenn next week. I'd
probably learn something new. It could be useful."
Monica set her comb down and crossed the room and
threw her arms around his neck. "That will be baby stuff with candy
coating—except maybe for Natalie's little lesson. She won't be tame or easy on them. Everything
else you could learn in a comic book. Come with me to Panama. We'll make an
awesome team. You've got plenty of vacation time stored up. Use some! Tell
Mitchell it's our second honeymoon. Even though I'll be working we'll find a way
to turn it into something fun. Maybe our boss man will even give you an
assignment and pay you."
Matt chuckled. For half a second her hasty scheme
sounded possible. He shook his head. "Who will take care of things back
home? Who will cover my partner's back?"
Monica pushed him away and pouted. "It's time you
and me were partners. Full time partners in every way. My gun is your gun. You cover me and I'll
cover you. We'll be the best team the department has ever known. We’ll land in
history books."
Matt pulled his wife back into his arms. "We're already
the best team the department has ever had. I'll send Mitchell an email. If I can
clear it with him, I'll pack my bags."
Monica smiled mischievously at him for a moment.
"First, take those little FYI courses with Jenn in Maryland so I know you
can still aim a gun. I want to make sure you're up to speed."
"Naughty, naughty girl," Matt scolded her
for teasing. "I don't need brushing up and you know it. I'm Dead-Eye-Matt!"
He gave her a long kiss as she began protesting.
His cell phone began vibrating on his nightstand.
"Don't answer it," Monica whispered when he broke away. "Pretend
we can't hear. We're not home."
"And get my partner killed and myself fired? What
kind of partner would tell me to do that?" He picked it up.
Matt read the text message Nick had sent. He quickly
forwarded the question to Kevin who was at the office, then hurried with a
reply of his own: "Whereabouts of NH unknown."
Matt turned to Monica. "No one has heard from
Natalie for three days now. Nick may have found her. We should know within an
hour, but I thought she was in Peru."
Monica shrugged. "Yeah, I think so. Where's Nick?"
She got up and a moment later was once more combing her wet hair. "If he
found her, make sure she's not returned home in bubble wrap this time. I really
don't think she's that fragile."
They laughed together, then Matt sent Nick another
text message: B safe. He set his phone aside and crawled into bed and pulled it
closer to keep it handy. It could be a long night that took him into the office
if Nick or Kevin needed help. A moment later another message came in. This time
from Kevin, informing him he would be leaving in a few minutes because he had
the rest of the night off. Nick was on his own.
"I'm the night watchman," Matt called to
Monica. She turned off her hair dryer and he repeated himself. She nodded and
flipped it back on.
Matt closed his eyes and scenarios of what Nick
Washington might be doing played through his mind. A little surge of envy
washed over him. He could do it just as well. Better even.
For a moment his thoughts traveled to Jenn Washington.
He folded his arms behind his head and watched Monica as he wondered what it
would be like to let Jenn take care of herself once in a while, too. Before he
finished the thought he chastised himself for being selfish.
End Chapter 5
I thought about making an oatmeal cake a few days ago. Believe me, it's a bite of heaven and the best tasting way to eat oatmeal. But it's also a great way to add inches to my hips. Sometimes the good things in life at the same time aren't good.
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