Detective Partners (30 page)

C
hapter  29

Nicole switched off the ignition and laid her head back against the headrest. Letting out a weary sigh, she closed her eyes. It had been a long day. She was tired and her feet ached. If that wasn't bad enough she had been to three businesses that developed pictures, none of them had developed the picture of her and Galen. She was growing more frustrated by the minute. Sighing once more, she grabbed the envelope from the passenger seat, got out of the car, and made her way toward the entrance. She opened the door and entered the shop.

The man behind the counter glanced up as she approached. "May I help you?"

"I hope so." Nicole removed the picture from the envelope and slid it across the counter. "Was this picture developed here?"

The man picked up the photo and studied it for a few minutes. "No," he finally said. "We don't use this kind of photo paper. Nice picture though." He handed it back to her.

"Thank you," she said, returning the picture to the envelope.

"No problem."

Nicole left the shop and headed to her car. She had just slid behind the wheel when her cell phone rang. Retrieving the phone from her pocket, she flipped it open and pressed the talk button. "Goodwin."

"Hi, sweetheart," Galen said.

The tension left her body at the sound of his voice and a smile graced her lips. "Hi, honey.
Anything new?"

"No," he answered. "I was just thinking about you and thought I would call and check on you. How's the search going?"

"Not very well," she told him. "I've been to four businesses and each one informed me that they did not develop the picture. I don't know. I'm starting to think that whoever took it had it developed some place out of town."

"That's a possibility," he said. "What are you going to do now?"

"I'm thinking of paying my father a visit." The thought of seeing Stuart Goodwin filled her with dread.

"I don't think that's a good idea," Galen muttered. "You know your father will upset you. I don't like to see you upset, honey. Let me talk to him."

"Will you promise me that you'll be a good boy?" she said.

"I promise," he said.

"All right," Nicole sighed. "Talk to him."

"Let's meet at
Connor's
for dinner," he suggested. "Say an hour from now?"

She checked her watch. "That's fine."

"I'll see you then."

"I'll see you soon." Nicole closed her phone and reached for her seatbelt. She had time to stop by a few more photo shops.

"What do you want?" Stuart growled from his cot.

"Nice to see you too, old man."
Galen leaned a hip against the bars and looked in at Nicole's father. "So how are they treating you in here? Horrible, I hope."

"Go fuck yourself," the old man sneered.

Galen arched an eyebrow. "Now that's not very nice. I'm trying to be pleasant and you're-"

Stuart snorted.
"Pleasant, my ass.
Get out of here and leave me be."

"Believe me I'd rather be
some place
else than standing here talking with you." Galen crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Your daughter is doing fine. In fact she's doing great now that you're not in her life any-"

"I don't give a damn how that little slut is-"

"Let's change the subject," Galen said through clenched teeth.

Stuart smirked. "She still has you fooled I see. You'll wake up eventually and see what she really is."

The urge to beat the smirk off his face was strong. Galen took several deep breaths and reined in his anger. He wasn't going to let the bastard get the better of him. "I'm going to get to the point of why I'm here. I have a question and you are going to answer it."

"Don't hold your breath," the old man uttered coldly.

"You will answer my question," Galen snarled. "If you don't I will make your life a living night-" He paused. "Someone took a picture of Nicole and me and sent it to our boss. Did you have anything to do with that?"

"Go to hell." Stuart wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "I'm not answering your question."

Determined to keep his cool Galen gritted his teeth. "What will it take to get you to answer the question?"

"Get me a beer and I'll answer any questions you have."

Galen grinned. "I bet it's killing you that you can't have a beer. Well, I'm not going to make you feel better. I'm going to let you suffer. You deserve to be miserable after everything you've done." He pushed away from the bars and moved toward the door.

"You won't get your question answered," Stuart called out.

Galen turned and looked at him. "Oh, I will find out who took the picture and when I do
he
or she will be held accountable for their actions. Now I had better go. I'm having dinner with Nicole. You have a nice night." He walked out without a backward glance.

Nicole and Galen didn't talk about the picture or Galen's visit with Stuart during dinner. They kept their conversation light and teasing. Both knew if they talked about serious matters, it would ruin their appetite and that was the last thing Nicole wanted to happen. After a busy day of running from one business to another trying to find out about the photograph she was starved.

"Well?" Nicole said, after they were finished eating.

"Well what?" Galen asked, knowing perfectly well, what she wanted to talk about.

"How did it go with my father?"

"Do you feel up to dancing, Ms. Goodwin?" he queried.

Nicole smiled weakly. "I think I can handle a dance or two."

Galen pushed back his chair and stood. He held out his hand and Nicole took it. She rose to her feet and followed him onto the dance floor, where other couples were swaying to the music. Once they found an empty space, they turned to each other. Galen took her right hand gently in his left hand and wrapped an arm around her waist. Nicole placed her hand on his bicep and they began to move to the music.

"We're playing with fire you know," Nicole said. "Someone could be taking our picture right now."

"It's just a dance," Galen told her. "There's nothing scandalous going on." He winked at her. "Just keep your hands from wandering and we'll be fine."

"I'll try to control myself," she said dryly.

His eyes twinkling, he said, "Don't try too hard."

Nicole laughed softly.

"You're beautiful when you laugh," Galen said, squeezing her waist gently. "I wish you would do it more often."

"There's not much to laugh about," she said. "There's a serial killer calling me. I have a father in jail that I will have to face sooner or later, and some sick bastard out there is taking pictures of us." She moved her hand from his bicep to his cheek and lightly skimmed her fingers over his stubble. "You are the only thing that makes me
happ
the only
thing
that can make me laugh."

"If I had my way you would always be happy," he said.

"I love you," Nicole breathed.

Galen stared down at her, his eyes soft and full of tenderness. He lowered his head and brushed his lips against hers. "I love you, too."

She kissed him and lowered her head to his shoulder, her arms encircled his neck. "My father wouldn't cooperate, would he?" she said.

Briefly, he filled her in on the conversation he had with Stuart. "It was a waste of time."

"Yes, it was." Nicole rubbed her cheek against his shoulder. "I'm sorry I asked you to go and-"

"Don't apologize. You're forgetting that I volunteered to talk with him," Galen pointed out. "You didn't ask me to do anything." He ran his hand up and down her back. "We'll find out who took the picture, sweetheart. It may take us a while, but we'll find out. Now no more talk of your father or work. Let's just enjoy each other and forget about everything else for a while."

Blocking out everything and everyone, Nicole closed her eyes and lost herself in Galen's embrace.

C
hapter  30

Galen was getting ready for work the next day when the doorbell rang. Leaving the bedroom, he headed down the hallway, through the living room, and into the foyer. He unlocked the door and opened it. Nicole stood there with a rose in her hand. Silently, she held it out to him. Galen grinned. No one had ever given him a flower before. He took the rose and pulled her into the house, closing the door behind him. Turning to her, he kissed her on the mouth. "Good morning, beautiful," he whispered.

Nicole smiled at him. "Good morning."

"What brings you by?" he asked. "Not that you need a reason, because you don't."

"I thought we could ride to work together." She wrapped her arms around his neck. "Maybe hold hands on the way there."

"I like the way you think," Galen said. "Not only-"

"I think we're being watched," Nicole muttered, jerking her head in the direction of the living room.

Galen turned his head and saw the dog sitting in the doorway, looking up at them. "We're having a moment. Do you mind? Why don't you go chew on one of my shoes?" The dog cocked his head as though he understood and was listening.

Nicole stepped away from Galen and walked over to the dog. She knelt down and patted him on the head. "Hey, little guy. You remember me, don't you? I brought you something." She stuck her hand in her pocket and retrieved a bone shaped treat. "Here you go." She placed it in front of his face. He took it out of her hand with his mouth, turned around, and ran through the living room toward the bedroom.

"You're going to spoil him." Galen helped her straighten up.