Loves Redemption

in, but it will have to be early if that’s okay. I dropped my car off to be serviced, so Dalia will have to bring me in.”
“I could pick you up and take you back to Imani House after we finish up. Then you
wouldn’t have to find a place to park. And I can take you back to Imani House afterward.”
“Well if you’re sure, Mark, that would be fine with me.” Her relief came through in her
voice.
He could also hear her exhaustion. “I’d better let you go. I’ll see you soon, Maya.”
“Goodnight, Mark.”
After hanging up the phone, he shed his clothes and took a long hot shower, allowing the
heat to loosen his aching muscles.
When he climbed into bed, he thankfully sank into the king-sized mattress. His thoughts
alternated between the investigation and the way calling Maya sweetheart had seemed so natural, until he fell into a hard slumber.
* * * *
After Maya hung up the phone, she undressed. She tossed her well-worn familiar jeans
into the corner chair of her bedroom and walked across to the smaller bathroom in the room to take a quick shower. After completing a shortened version of her nightly ritual, she walked back into her bedroom and went to bed, sinking her tired body into its welcoming comfort.
Before succumbing to sleep, her thoughts were usually of Imani House and her schedule
for the upcoming day’s events. Tonight her thoughts were on Mark, and the way her heart
skipped a beat whenever they spoke.
* * * *
Mark arrived at her doorstep bright and early at 6:30 a.m. with two Styrofoam cups in his
hand. He was dressed in faded jeans and a dark blue chambray shirt. Her smile of welcome
poured over him like warm honey.
“Good morning, Maya, you look great. Are you ready?”
“Yes I am. Is that coffee for me?” She asked with a hopeful, appealing smile.
“I thought you might like it. I wasn’t sure how you took it, I have cream and sugar in my
SUV.” He automatically took her oversized bag and slung it across his shoulder.
“Thank you,” she said in response to both the coffee and his taking her briefcase. “I take
both cream and sugar.”
As they walked to his SUV, Mark shortened his stride to match her much smaller gait.
“You like it sweet, huh?”
“That’s the only way that I can drink it. Let me rephrase that. I prefer to drink it that way, but if desperate, I will drink it straight,” she laughed.
She waited for him to open her side of the door and took an appreciative sniff of the
heady aroma wafting from the cup.
“Ready?” he asked after climbing behind the wheel of his vehicle and starting the engine.
She glanced up after taking another sip and slowly bobbed her head up and down. “Sure
go ahead, I’m fine.”
“I know you have a really tight schedule, and I want you to know we appreciate your
coming in today. It shouldn’t take too long. We need to fill you in on where the investigation is so far, ask you a few preliminary questions and of course answer any questions you may have. I believe you’ll be able to help us in this investigation.” He said as he drove along the highway toward the precinct.
“I’m not sure how much help I’ll be, but I’ll do my best. And I do have some questions,
but I’ll wait until we arrive at the station before I ask. That way we won’t have to repeat anything.”
“That’s fine. Any questions you have, I’m sure we’ll be able to answer them. My partner
may be arriving later, so I’m not sure if he’ll make our meeting, but we’ll be with the lieutenant, and we should be able to cover everything.”
The remaining drive was held in companionable silence, as they finished their coffee.
The warm San Antonio breeze vented through the lowered windows as he drove and helped the
caffeine in rejuvenating them.
When they approached the station Maya noticed camera crews and news vans situated in
front of the precinct. At the same time that she noticed this, Mark swore under his breath and made a U-turn, heading for the back entry into the underground parking garage.
“I was afraid that this would happen. Somehow, the media’s found out about the slayer’s
latest victim before we’ve issued a statement.” They both saw the television station van with a big number three on the roof.
Mark answered her unspoken question. “Last night we couldn’t make a positive ID, but
we believe that the latest victim was Guy Kross--the owner of the adult novelty chain. Somehow the media has found out, and that’s not good.” He said grimly.
He opened the backseat door and retrieved Maya’s oversized bag before he opened the
door for her. He placed his arm across the small of her back, his hand resting above the small indentation of her waist. He hoped to have averted the eyes of the waiting reporters, and was disappointed when he spotted the female reporter who’d pointed toward his retreating vehicle.
Mark quickened his stride and urged Maya to do the same. Just as they reached the stairs
that would lead them into the sanctuary of the station, a bright light shone brightly in their faces.
“At this time the police don’t have any comment to make, and when we do you’ll be the
first one we contact for the press conference.” Mark rudely shoved the camera out of Maya’s face.
“Detective Halstan, isn’t it?” The reporter asked, directing the cameraman to get a close
up them. “Detective is it true that the slayer has struck again? And is it also true that her latest victim was Guy Kross?” she asked, as the light from the camera continued to beam in their faces.
As the light shone, Maya ducked her head away from its relentless glare. When the
reporter noticed her, she directed her gaze toward her new target and demanded, “Who are you?
Are you connected