CHAPTER THREE

Laurie

When Laurie awoke, sunlight peeked through the edges of the closed curtains. She rolled onto her back, staring at the white ceiling. This was a blank room. Everything was white, and it was sparsely furnished. Just a bed on a metal frame, a wooden nightstand with a lamp, and a chair. The wood of the nightstand looked like someone had taken a chunk out of it. The lamp had a crack that ran from the upper right corner of its oval surface almost to the bottom left of the base. There was a closet, but no dresser. This room was not a room you lived in; it was one you stayed in—for as little time as possible.

She ran her hand over the sea foam green sheets Dante used to make her bed. At least he tried to make her feel more comfortable. Laurie sat up on the bed and stretched. There would be no work today. No more cleaning rooms. The thought made Laurie lighthearted for a moment.

She got up, and saw a note on her bag at the foot of the bed.

Morning,

When you’re up and ready, come downstairs for breakfast.

Dante

Laurie smiled. She went to the bathroom to get a shower. She was hungry, and she was anxious to see her new home, even if it was temporary. She had fallen asleep on the drive here. She had no idea where they were. Between work and law school, she never had time to go anywhere. Laurie glanced out the bathroom window as she ran water for her shower. The view was breathtaking. The volcano was in the distance, barren and grey, the top shrouded in clouds. In front was a swath of brilliant green that led to a clearing where the house stood. She was in the middle of a lush forest. Probably one of the reserves. The realization made Laurie even more anxious to get ready.

She showered with lightning speed and walked back to her bag to pick out some clothes. Maybe Dante would go hiking with her. She had always wanted to hike the volcano, but never had the time. Now she had plenty of time. Her stomach growled as she pulled on shorts and a light green tank top.

She ran back into the bathroom to put on make-up. She almost never wore it, but—well, she didn’t know why she was putting it on now. No, she did know, but she didn’t want to admit it. Not even to herself.

Finished, she exited her room and tried to remember where the kitchen was. She walked past several doors in the hallway. She supposed they belonged to the other men staying here. The hallway opened up halfway down to give her a clear view of the living room below on one side, and the kitchen on the other.

Dante sat at the kitchen table, reading a newspaper. David stood in the living room, surveying the yard outside.

“Good morning.” Laurie leaned over the banister of the kitchen with a smile.

Dante glanced up at her.

She bounced down the stairs at the end of the landing, which ended in the living room. The living room had two beautiful windows to the outside. They had heavy, dark green curtains, which were currently drawn back to let in the light.

“Ma’am.” David nodded to her.

David was tall and lanky. He had wheat blond hair brushed over to the side of his off-center part. He wore his gun in a shoulder holster. He had on a blue pin-stripped shirt, grey slacks and shiny black shoes to match. The suspenders he wore slung over each shoulder amused Laurie the most. Altogether, he looked like he just stepped out of a Dick Tracey novel.

“You can call me Laurie.” She shook his hand. “What time is it?”

“Time for breakfast,” replied Dante. Laurie turned to see him leaning against the doorway. His gun was at his hip, belted to his jeans. He had on a dark blue t-shirt that fit him loosely. He looked at home, at ease. “You slept late. You must be hungry by now.”

“Starving.” She smiled up at him. She followed him into the kitchen.

“You can have any of the food in the fridge.” He gestured to the appliance in question on her right. “It’s for all of us. We stock up once a week, so if you need anything just put it on the list.”

“Where are we? Where do we get food from?”

“We’re in the Hilo Reserve.” He turned to face her, leaning on the counter. “But you don’t get the food. We get the food, and we change where we get our food from weekly. Eggs?”

“Sure, I’d love eggs. Do we have toast?”

“Yes.” Dante reached for a small breadbox beside the microwave. Laurie moved toward the refrigerator to get the eggs. Dante took the frying pan from the drain board. “I’ve got it, Laurie. You can sit.”

Laurie took a seat at the island counter. The kitchen was bright and open, thanks to the cathedral ceiling. Long counters of pinewood ran from the refrigerator down the length of the room. Behind her, there was a large, wooden oval kitchen table. There were two large windows in front of where Dante worked. There was another one to her left at the end of the room.

“Do you like to cook?” Laurie watched Dante’s impressive juggling act as he started the toast and the eggs at the same time.

“Sometimes. Depends on what I need to make and who I’m making it for.”

“I wasn’t able to cook often at the resort. I ate the food they served the staff. I asked some of the cooks in the restaurant to teach me, but they never had time. They had families.” Laurie shrugged, and Dante eyed her over his shoulder.

“Well, now you’ll have plenty of time to learn. There are recipe books over on that shelf.” Dante gestured to a bookshelf by the door to the living room.

“Yes, so what do we do now?”

“I make you breakfast and you eat it.”

“No, but after that, what do we do now?”

“We wait.” He turned to face her. “We wait here until the DA can give you a more thorough interview, and we get you signed up for the Witness Security Program.”

He turned back to the stove. His back was to her, but Laurie saw every muscle as he worked. There was fluidity in his movements as he bent back his elbow. Power surged up his forearm as he flipped an omelet in the pan. Then he reached for the toast with one hand and slid the omelet onto the plate at the same time.

“Coffee?” He gave her a sidelong glance over his shoulder.

“Yes, please! Skim milk if we have it. Two sugars.”

It was one of her few vices.

Dante turned to the cabinet on his right. He got out a blue porcelain mug and poured her a cup of coffee. Then he turned to pick up her plate, bringing it to the kitchen table.

Laurie slid off the counter high-top chair. She sat down where he set her food. The table was a long, smooth slab of maple, with seats for eight people. It occurred to her that whole families must be under protective custody from time to time. She felt a little small sitting there. She was used to eating with over forty staff members. It was too quiet for her to eat breakfast.

“I don’t think we have skim milk, is whole okay?” He ambled over to the fridge.

“Yes.” Laurie waited for him to join her. “Thank you for making me breakfast.”

“Whoa. What did you just say?” asked a voice from above them. Laurie looked up to see Cheyn standing at the railing, looking down into the kitchen. He had on a blue button-down shirt, with the sleeves rolled up. His almond shaped eyes were alight. The smooth lilt in his voice was a dead give-away for mischief, and he wore an easy smile to match. Laurie saw Dante grimace as he extracted the milk from the refrigerator.

“Miz Laurie, did I hear you right? Did the boss make you breakfast?” Cheyn leaned over the railing.

“Yes.” His grin made her laugh.

“I’ve never seen him make anyone breakfast before. How come you don’t make me breakfast?” Cheyn nodded at Dante.

“I thought you were going to bed.” Dante set the milk down in front of Laurie.

“I’m gettin’ there. I had to come say hello to our lovely lady.” Cheyn turned and came down the stairs.