on his cell phone.
“Are you texting some woman, while ogling another one? What is wrong with you?” I hated how petty I sounded.
He didn't look up from his phone as he responded to me. “And, you forgot that I was also having dinner with one very hot-headed nurse.”
I stammered over my words. I think I must have been shocked, because as I've said ad nauseam to everyone I knew over the last decade or so, I will never date again. Nope, not going to happen.
“When you're done flattering yourself, would you mind getting to the point? Who cares about her camera?” I asked.
He turned his phone to face me. It was a listing for an expensive camera, popular with photojournalists and the paparazzi.
“Is that what kind of camera she has?” I turned to look back at the woman, but she was gone. I didn't think too much of it. Rollie had mentioned that the media were always lurking around because of the clients that the psych unit treated.
“Anyone famous in the psych unit?” Charlie asked.
I rolled my eyes. “No, I can't imagine why a reporter would be in town.” My sarcasm reservoir was overflowing. “Maybe, she's here waiting for a murder to happen.”
He sighed. “Oh, that gal wasn't taking pictures of a murder scene. I think she was taking pictures of you.”
*
“Nice place.” Charlie had no shame. He stood in front of the windows, leaning on them to see inside. “You said she's a tall blonde, right?”
I tugged his arm to get him away from the window. A small crowd of horrified diners had gathered to gawk at him. “Get away from there. You know, for a cop, you sure are horrible at being discreet.”
He smiled and bowed for the crowd inside, eliciting nervous laughter from them.
“They probably think that I'm out for a walk with one of my eccentric patients.” I said.
“I don't have a problem with that,” Charlie shrugged.
“Here she comes. Now, behave yourself. This woman doesn't need any help being...” I paused because I couldn't think of an appropriate term for the kind of woman I thought she was.
Brandi spotted me right away. She ran over like we were old friends. “Hi, hon! I'm so happy to see you.”
I was a bit taken aback. Why would she be happy to see me? She didn't even know who I was?
“Hi, Brandi. Sorry to bother you again. This is my... This is Charlie.” She didn't hesitate a second before she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him. He didn't resist her. I think he enjoyed the warm welcome.
“Here's the thing, Brandi. My friend here tells me that you may be able to fill in some gaps for us. You see, people were not really keen on giving us any information about your husband.”
Brandi was quick to interject, twirling her hair as she spoke. “Oh, he wasn't my husband. He was my ex. That relationship died years ago, honey.”
This woman gave me chills. I'd never met anyone like her.
“Oh, I apologize. I can't believe he let you go.” Charlie was laying it on thick. I was going to have to bite the inside of my cheek to prevent myself from stopping this love fest.
Brandi giggled like he'd said the funniest thing she'd ever heard. Kill me now!
“Well, aren't you a sweetheart. Looks like someone let you get away too.” She grabbed his hand, pointing to his empty ring finger.
“Okay, that's enough!” I hadn't expected that to come out so harshly. Both Charlie and Brandi looked at me with silly grins on their faces. I cleared my throat. “Sorry, did anyone else hear that car's muffler. It was loud.” That's the first thing I could think of.
Charlie took a step back and stood next to me. Brandi's facial expression changed as he did that.
“Well, if you have a few minutes, we just have a few more questions for you?” Charlie finally remembered why we were talking to her in the first place.
She looked toward the front entrance of the restaurant.
“Are you texting some woman, while ogling another one? What is wrong with you?” I hated how petty I sounded.
He didn't look up from his phone as he responded to me. “And, you forgot that I was also having dinner with one very hot-headed nurse.”
I stammered over my words. I think I must have been shocked, because as I've said ad nauseam to everyone I knew over the last decade or so, I will never date again. Nope, not going to happen.
“When you're done flattering yourself, would you mind getting to the point? Who cares about her camera?” I asked.
He turned his phone to face me. It was a listing for an expensive camera, popular with photojournalists and the paparazzi.
“Is that what kind of camera she has?” I turned to look back at the woman, but she was gone. I didn't think too much of it. Rollie had mentioned that the media were always lurking around because of the clients that the psych unit treated.
“Anyone famous in the psych unit?” Charlie asked.
I rolled my eyes. “No, I can't imagine why a reporter would be in town.” My sarcasm reservoir was overflowing. “Maybe, she's here waiting for a murder to happen.”
He sighed. “Oh, that gal wasn't taking pictures of a murder scene. I think she was taking pictures of you.”
*
“Nice place.” Charlie had no shame. He stood in front of the windows, leaning on them to see inside. “You said she's a tall blonde, right?”
I tugged his arm to get him away from the window. A small crowd of horrified diners had gathered to gawk at him. “Get away from there. You know, for a cop, you sure are horrible at being discreet.”
He smiled and bowed for the crowd inside, eliciting nervous laughter from them.
“They probably think that I'm out for a walk with one of my eccentric patients.” I said.
“I don't have a problem with that,” Charlie shrugged.
“Here she comes. Now, behave yourself. This woman doesn't need any help being...” I paused because I couldn't think of an appropriate term for the kind of woman I thought she was.
Brandi spotted me right away. She ran over like we were old friends. “Hi, hon! I'm so happy to see you.”
I was a bit taken aback. Why would she be happy to see me? She didn't even know who I was?
“Hi, Brandi. Sorry to bother you again. This is my... This is Charlie.” She didn't hesitate a second before she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him. He didn't resist her. I think he enjoyed the warm welcome.
“Here's the thing, Brandi. My friend here tells me that you may be able to fill in some gaps for us. You see, people were not really keen on giving us any information about your husband.”
Brandi was quick to interject, twirling her hair as she spoke. “Oh, he wasn't my husband. He was my ex. That relationship died years ago, honey.”
This woman gave me chills. I'd never met anyone like her.
“Oh, I apologize. I can't believe he let you go.” Charlie was laying it on thick. I was going to have to bite the inside of my cheek to prevent myself from stopping this love fest.
Brandi giggled like he'd said the funniest thing she'd ever heard. Kill me now!
“Well, aren't you a sweetheart. Looks like someone let you get away too.” She grabbed his hand, pointing to his empty ring finger.
“Okay, that's enough!” I hadn't expected that to come out so harshly. Both Charlie and Brandi looked at me with silly grins on their faces. I cleared my throat. “Sorry, did anyone else hear that car's muffler. It was loud.” That's the first thing I could think of.
Charlie took a step back and stood next to me. Brandi's facial expression changed as he did that.
“Well, if you have a few minutes, we just have a few more questions for you?” Charlie finally remembered why we were talking to her in the first place.
She looked toward the front entrance of the restaurant.
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