It’s fair to say I burst into the room. I was prepared to draw my pistol in an instant. Instead, I froze when I heard “Michael!”
I just stared. Mary Catherine stood in the middle of the room. She looked spectacular in jeans and a button-down shirt. Maybe it was the unexpected and sudden shift of blood that made me dizzy.
I took my hand off the pistol and stood up straight. Mary Catherine didn’t say anything. She just rushed to me.
Between kisses, I blurted out, “What? How?”
All I heard was “Shhhhh. It’s all right. I’m here now.”
We kissed. Gently at first, then our lips seemed to lock together. Mary Catherine eased me onto the bed. She moved as carefully as a nurse. I tossed aside the case file and fumbled with my jacket, feeling as nervous as a teenage boy. My heart raced. I could feel the beats in my ears. I started to pant, a little breathless with excitement.
This was heaven, with Mary Catherine as my guide. I went with it.
We made love on the bed like it was our wedding night. Then we made love in the shower like it was our honeymoon. Then we were back under the covers of the king-size bed.
Chapter 33
I put my arm around Mary Catherine, and she snuggled up next to me. Our hotel room had the vague air of a crime scene, with our clothes scattered around. Mary Catherine’s jeans were nowhere in sight.
Mary Catherine gazed out the window at the early night sky typical of mid-Atlantic autumn. It was weird to think how many parts of the country were still light and sunny.
Just having Mary Catherine near had energized me. We hadn’t said much other than “I love you” since I’d burst into the room. We’d been too busy concentrating on other things.
I said, “Ready for a little dinner?”
Mary Catherine sat up in bed and faced me. “Oh God, I wish I could. I’ve got to make the 8:30 train.”
“What? Why? You’re not staying the night?”
“I’d love to, sweetheart. But this was all I could work out. I missed you so badly, I just needed to see you for a few hours. I’m volunteering in Chrissy’s class tomorrow. Seamus is spending the night, but I told him I’d be back at the apartment.” She caressed my cheek with her hand. “I hope you’re not sorry about the short visit.”
I didn’t answer. I kissed her. What a woman. I doubted I had another round of lovemaking in me. At least not for a couple of hours. But I was ready to give it a try.
We ended up snuggling for half an hour until my fantastic dream came to an end.
As we got dressed, Mary Catherine asked me if I’d found out anything new about Emily Parker’s murder.
All I could do was shrug. I told her about some of the interviews and about Michelle Luna’s murder, that I felt useless for not connecting any of it to Emily.
Mary Catherine said, “I never would’ve guessed about Emily’s personal life. She was always so proper. Goes to show how little anyone knows about other people.”
“I’ve been surprised by some of the revelations. It doesn’t change the fact that she was murdered. Or the fact that I desperately want to find out who killed her. I’m still not sure how the FBI would react if their management knew I was here and working on the case.”
“I thought you said your FBI contact seems like a decent guy.”
“Bobby is working hard and hasn’t really disappointed me yet. I just wonder if he has the backbone to stand up to his bosses if they disapprove of me helping.”
Mary Catherine hugged me and said, “Whatever happens, I hope you can find peace. The kids and I just want you back home. As soon as you can make it.”
“No one seems to want me here. It’s nice to know I’m wanted somewhere.”
“Don’t get me wrong. I want you to find Emily’s killer first. I know you will. You always do. Then you can come home to an epic feast and party.”
I chuckled. “It sounds like you’ve been reading more of those historical novels about Rome. You sounded like Caesar just then.”
After another passionate kiss, I had to introduce her to the ugliest rental car of all time. She made her train with less than three minutes to spare.
Chapter 34
I had contemplated getting on the train with Mary Catherine, but in the end, I let her go home to our family. It was after nine by the time I dropped my car back at the hotel. I was a little down. Seeing Mary Catherine for a few hours was wonderful, but it also reminded me of what I was missing while I was here.
Even though the kids didn’t make as much of a fuss over their father as they got older, I knew they missed me. I got texts from them all through each day. Just little notes to make me smile. But it also made me miss them. Trent kept me abreast of his plans to attend the ceremony meant to recognize his writing achievement. Juliana said she loved me. Shawna sent me a string of emojis that I think said she missed me and loved me. I thought civilization had moved on from hieroglyphics.