The Officer’s Promise
K. Langston
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The Officer’s Promise
Excerpt
She didn’t come in the following week.
Or the next.
I found myself constantly worried about her. It was driving me crazy, and I needed to know she was okay. Today was my day off, but I went to the West Side Deli for lunch anyway. I’d been here every single day since, hoping like hell she’d show up.
I’d almost given up for the day, after sitting here for the last four hours, when she finally walked in. Rain pelted the sidewalk outside but she was wearing those damn sunglasses again.
Anger simmered in my blood as I slid from the booth, halting her before she could even place her order.
She kept her chin tucked to her chest, eyes trained on the floor as she tried to sidestep me.
“Whoa, MaryAnn, are you all right?”
Her gaze lifted to mine, and I could see the dark shadow beneath the tinted shades. “I’m fine.”
“Are you? Because you don’t look fine. Come sit with me for a minute. Let’s talk.”
“I can’t, I’m in a hurry.”
“Listen, I just want to be your friend. Remember when we were friends and we could talk and trust each other?”
Her lip trembled. “Please, I just need to get my order and get home. If I’m gone too long he’ll—”
She snapped her mouth closed, realizing her mistake.
“He’ll what?”
“Nothing, never mind.” She shoved me aside and made her way to the counter to place her order. Once she had her cup in hand, I met her over by the fountain.
“Listen, I appreciate your concern, but like I told you before, I’m fine,” she tossed out, refusing to look in my direction.
She continued to shift her face away from me, and I was growing more and more irritated by the second. “I don’t believe you.”
“Excuse me?”
“I said I don’t believe you. I think you’re far from fine. I think you’re in danger and need help.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I’m not stupid, MaryAnn. I’m a fucking cop for Christ’s sake.”
She recoiled, and I instantly regretted the anger in my tone. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Then why are you wearing sunglasses when it’s raining outside?”
“My contacts were giving me problems this morning and—”
I reached up, gently pulling them down her nose, revealing her eyes, the right one damn near swollen shut.
“Jesus,” I gritted. She quickly shoved them back in place, spinning away from me. “Who did that to you?”
“No one.”
“MaryAnn—”
“God, why are you doing this? Why can’t you mind your own business and leave me the hell alone?”
I stepped in front of her, gently cupping her elbow. “I just want to help you.”
“I don’t need your help.”
“Your husband did that, didn’t he? And the bruise I saw a couple of weeks ago, he did that, too.”
“You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Then call me a liar.”
Silence hung heavy between us.
“Why stay? Why not leave him?” I asked, desperate to know why someone as strong and beautiful as her would put up with a piece of shit like that.
“Because I’m more afraid to leave than stay.”
“Ticket number 298!”
She jerked from my grasp, snatched her order off the counter, and stormed out without a second glance.
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