Chapter 28: Alaina

He loves me! Despite the train wreck that my life feels like right now, I can’t seem to stop smiling. Some people might think I’m crazy, but I think I’ve been in love with Lucas for a while, but thought it was too soon to tell him, especially with everything else going on.

After our shower together, he tells me that he needs to catch up on a bit of work, so I take the time to call Carley and my Dad.

Dad’s phone goes straight to voicemail, so I assume that he’s on shift. I leave a message to let him know that I’m OK and I’ll call him later. Then I dial Carley, knowing she’ll have finished with work by now.

‘Hey, why haven’t you called me before now?’ she demands as soon as she answers.

‘Hey, I’m fine thanks, how about you?’ I retort, sarcastically.

‘Don’t get cute with me, Alaina, I’ve been worried sick about you!’ she all but screeches down the phone, and I need to hold the phone about a foot away from my ear to protect my eardrums.

‘All right, all right, I’m sorry I haven’t called. It’s been a pretty insane few days,’ I sigh.

‘OK, start at the top and tell me everything,’ she demands. So I tell her everything that’s happened in the last few days, the flowers, the police and the email, finishing up with Lucas saying the ‘L’ word. When I eventually finish, there is silence at the end of the phone.

‘Erm, Carley, are you still there?’

‘Yeh, honey, I’m still here, but, honestly, I have no idea what to say to all that. That’s a shitty few days,’ she says, sighing. ‘They really have no idea who it is?’ she asks.

‘Yeh, it’s been interesting; and no, they haven’t found out who’s behind it yet.’

‘Don’t worry, honey, they’ll find whoever is behind it. They have to be completely insane though. You’re one of the nicest people I know; you wouldn’t hurt anyone,’ she says emphatically making me laugh.

‘You’re a bit biased you know, but thanks’ I tell her, giggling.

‘Anyway, on to better subjects. Lucas told you he loves you; that’s huge,’ she says, and I feel myself smiling.

‘Yeh, it is huge, we haven’t known each other that long.’

‘So, what did you say?’ she asks eagerly.

‘I told him that I love him too,’ I tell her and she squeals.

‘Really, you do?’

‘Yeh, I do,’ I tell her honestly. ‘I know that we haven’t known each other very long but all I know is that I always want to be with him. I don’t like it when we’re apart and he would do anything for me,’ I tell her truthfully, still slightly shocked with how sincere the words are when I say them out loud.

‘I’m so happy for you, honey, I mean, really. I’m glad he makes you this happy,’ she says sincerely.

‘He really does; now if we can just find out who the asshole is that’s pissed with me, that would be awesome,’ I grumble to her.

‘Think positively, honey, it’s all going to be fine, OK? Just let the police do their jobs.’

‘Yeh, your right,’ I tell her. ‘I just feel frustrated that’s all.’

‘I understand, honey, just sit tight, OK? This will be over soon. Then we are overdue for cocktails,’ she says making me laugh.

‘You’re right; I’ll call you later in the week OK?’

‘Sure thing, honey. Be safe,’ she says seriously.

‘You too,’ I reply, then hang up.

Lucas is still in his office. I can hear him on the phone, so I head to the kitchen to make myself coffee. While I wait for the coffee, my mobile goes again. It’s Detective Edwards.

‘Hi, Detective Edwards,’ I say answering the phone.

‘Hello, Miss Winters, sorry to disturb you. We may have a lead on your case. Would you mind if I came to see you; I need to show you some pictures?’

‘Of course, no problem. I’m still at Lucas’s.’

‘I’ll be with you shortly, Miss Winters,’ he says formally, then hangs up the phone.

I head to Lucas’s office and knock gently on the door.

‘Come in,’ I hear him call and I go inside.

‘Are you OK, sweetheart?’ he asks, as I walk around his desk and kiss him softly on the mouth. As soon as our lips meet, it spreads fire through my body, and I want to melt in his arms. Reluctantly I pull away as unfortunately this can’t wait.

‘I’m fine, baby, but Detective Edwards just called. He’s coming over; he says they may have a lead and he wants to show me photos,’ I tell him, feeling suddenly anxious. ‘I told him to come here, I hope that’s OK?’ I ask, and he smiles, kissing my forehead.

‘Of course it’s OK. Let’s go downstairs and wait for him. The sooner this is dealt with the better,’ he says, and I nod my agreement.

We make coffee in the large kitchen and are sitting at the kitchen island when the door goes. Lucas heads into the foyer to answer it and returns a minute later with the Detective in tow.

As he reaches me, the detective extends his hand which I take in a hand shake.

‘Miss Winters, good to see you again,’ he says politely and takes a seat next to me.

‘Would you like some coffee?’ I offer.

‘That would be great thanks,’ he says gratefully but Lucas puts a hand on my shoulder indicating that he will get it.

‘Miss Winters, I have some pictures to show you if that’s alright? We believe these are photos of the man who has been harassing you,’ he tells me as he begins to open a brown folder.

Lucas sets down the Detective’s coffee and comes to stand next to me, putting a comforting arm around my shoulder and giving it a gentle squeeze.

‘Yes, that’s fine,’ I tell him, and he gives me a nod.

He lays out several images onto the counter top. They are all of the club; me dancing; sitting on the arms of chairs chatting with customers. I feel my cheeks burn, having Lucas and the detective looking at the images.

The detective then lays out the last image from his folder. It’s a closer image of me sitting at one of the tables in the club.

‘Do you recognise where this is and who is in this picture, Miss Winters,’ the detective asks, and I nod immediately.

‘Yes, that’s the club that I used to work at; that’s me and that’s one of our regulars, Brian.’

‘What do you know about Brian, Miss Winters?’ the detective asks, and I shrug.

‘Nothing, other than his name. He was so shy, he could barely speak to me. He used to stammer out a few words and tuck a twenty into my underwear,’ I say, and I feel Lucas stiffen slightly next to me. Great.

‘The email that was sent to your work came from an internet café in the Bronx. We looked at their camera footage from the time that the email was sent, and this was what we found,’ he tells me, pulling out another photograph, laying it on the counter, and my eyes widen in shock.