Gary said, “Don’t get testy, the Sheriff’s only trying to help.”
Hunter said, “What about the other days?”
Danny said, “Wear what you normally wear.”
Gary whispered, “That doesn’t mean an old tee shirt and cutoff jeans.” She lightly elbowed him.
The three sat there in silence sipping coffee, and when they finished, Danny said, “I don’t have anything else for you.”
Gary stood and after a couple of seconds Hunter also rose from her chair. “I’m going, but I’m not happy about it.”
Gary said as they left the office, “I’m glad it’s you and not me.”
“Sure. You’d look funny in a dress.”
Gary said, “What’s got you so cranky today?”
“Nothing.”
“Huh.”
Hunter sighed, “Mom called last night. She’s depressed, drinking, and needed to talk. For an hour and a half.”
“You’re a good daughter.”
“After we talked, I couldn’t go back to sleep.”
“Been there
.”
“Now I have to hurry to the house, pack, drive to El Paso, and meet strangers.”
“You’ll be fine.”
“Thanks.”
Gary couldn’t resist, “Don’t wear your pistol with the dress, it’ll ruin the line.”
Hunter laughed.
~*~
Hunter drove home and stood in her walk-in closet for ten minutes deciding what dress to wear. She fretted as she pulled first one down, then another, and another, finally returning all three on the rod. Biting a nail, she went to the rear of the closet and retrieved another dress still wrapped in clear plastic from the store. It was a form-fitting, little black dress. She’d bought it on a whim but never wore it. She sighed and said, “Why not?”
Footwear was next. She made a fast choice, then went to her jewelry box and took out a single strand pearl necklace, a gift last Christmas from her brother. The rest was easy. She packed in half the time it took her to decide what to wear and was out the door and driving to El Paso well before the sun went down.
Her room was at the Radisson on Airways, near both the International Airport and Fort Bliss. She checked in and rode the elevator to the private access floor, opening her door and stepping into a roomy, one-bedroom suite with two large-screen televisions, a bar, and a couch, no less. A fireplace augmented the bedroom. A small smile lit her face, “This might not be so bad after all.”
Hunter put up her clothes and was about to leave and find a restaurant when someone knocked on the door. She thought, This is a private access floor as she looked through the peephole.
A handsome Hispanic man in his mid-thirties stood in front of her door. He smiled and winked at the peephole. He said through the door, “Lincoln sent me over. He thought you might be hungry.”
She opened the door, “You’re a friend of Lincoln Jones.”
“What would you like to eat? I’m buying.”
“That’s okay. I’m going to order room service.”