Robbery in Progress

Nineteen

I parked at the coffee shop and got out, turning behind me to see the man walking towards me.

"I said yes to coffee with you, but I do not even know your name."

"Yeah, you did."

"Well..."

"Well, what?"

"What's your name?"

"John."

"Last name?" I said with a slight annoyed tone.

"You're kind of interrogating me, you know that?" I slightly smiled and nodded. I couldn't help it. That's what I was good at. "It's Hamblin."Well John Hamblin, are we going to go inside or just stand here? I don't have all day. I have a job, you know." He opened the door and gave a hand motion for me to go in first. I ordered my coffee first and took a seat, waiting for him to join me.

"I think I should know your name now."

"Jen Marcum." He smiled.

"Well, Jen, I am curious about something."

"And what is it you're curious about?"

"I'm curious as to why you said you would get coffee with a stranger." That was something to be curious about. I was curious about the same thing.

"I have no clue, to be honest." He chuckled.

"Why is that so funny?"

"I guess I just take you to be the kind of woman who has an answer for everything." I smiled at him. I was having a good time and enjoying myself, not once thinking about Derek or his sister or what they might be doing.

"I'm going to have to go."

"Okay, no problem. You have work to do. I can't keep you from your job." Wow. Was this guy acting like a mature adult or what? He stood up, opened the door for me, and walked me to my police car.

"Can I get your number so I can call you? Maybe we could do this again?" I paused and looked down then back up at him. I was not sure what to say.

"I don't know."

"What do you mean you don't know?" I paused again, wanting to spare him from hearing my problems.

"I've had a lot going on lately."

"There's another guy, isn't there?" I had to hand it to him. He was pretty sharp.

"I don't know if you could say that. It's a long story."

"Are you two together?"

"No, we aren't. I broke up with him."

"Why did you if you don't mind me asking? Did he hurt you?" I really didn't want to get into this. We had a good time and I wasn't trying to ruin that.

"Pretty much, yeah. He completely ignored me for a while and then I called him, and he said he was busy with work."

"Too busy to call or text to let you know?" This man really was sharp.

"That's exactly what I told him!"

"Well, let me ask you this. Did you have a good time in there?" He pointed to the coffee shop. I turned my head to glance at it.

"I did."

"Then what reason do you have for not doing this again with me? I know you have been hurt and that it is scary to get back out there. Believe me, I know all about that, but you have to get back out there at some point." I hated to admit that that someone else was right, but he was. I grabbed a pen and his hand and wrote my number in his palm. "I'll never wash my hand again."

"Well, that's gross so you better wash it." We laughed. "Now I gave you my number, so you better not be lying to me. You better call." I acted stern towards him, but he didn't budge or have the least bit of fear in his eyes. How was that possible? I figured I'd have scared the crap out of him by now.

"Trust me, I'll call." I got in my car and began to pull out of the parking lot when my phone rang. I didn't recognize the number.

"Hello?"

"It's John. I just wanted to call so you knew I was not lying. Are you working tomorrow?""I am not."

"Can I see you tomorrow?"

"Yes, just text me the time and place." What was this man doing to me? This was totally out of my comfort zone.

"Well, I thought maybe I could pick you up." He was already a step up from Derek, who did not even have a car.

"I'll send you my address later." I looked in my auxiliary mirror in the front of my car and could see John standing at his car, looking at me. I smiled and waved, then drove off.

Back at the station, my whole demeanor was different, so I knew this was not going to be good with Paul. He was sure to grill me for information. I sat at my desk, not speaking a word, and saw Paul staring at me through my peripheral vision.

"Can I help you?" I kept writing, not looking up.

"I believe you can. Why are you so happy right now? You were a hot mess earlier."

"Excuse me?" I raised my head up to look at him, laying the pen on the table.

"I just call it as I see it, you know that." I shook my head.

"No reason, okay?"

"Nope, not okay. Tell me."

"I think this I'm going to keep to myself." Paul gave me a look like he was going to get the information out of me one way or another. I knew there was no use in fighting it.

"Just tell me. I can keep this up the rest of the day, you know." I rolled my eyes, knowing that was the truth.

"Alright, fine. I will tell you, but you can't say anything." He nodded yes. "That man that was in here earlier?"

"What about him?"

"When I left here earlier, he came up to me at my car and I thought it was weird, but I didn't say anything. I told him I was going to get coffee and drive around some before coming back here and he asked if he could join me for coffee."

"What?" The look on Paul's face was utter shock.

"I said yes."

"Are you crazy? Jen, this is so unlike you."

"I know it is, but Paul...I had a really good time. I did not once think about Derek or that his sister is in town today or what they might be doing. I did not think about any of the things that have been on my mind lately. I just enjoyed myself for the first time in a while." I let out a breath.

"Well, he does have a beard. I know you like those." I playfully hit him in the arm. He was right, though. I had a thing for men with beards. "Are you going to see him again?"

"Tomorrow."

"Wow."

"You think I'm crazy, don't you? "I do not think you're crazy. I am glad you enjoyed yourself and I hope you have a good time tomorrow, too. Don't forget to tell me all about it." Paul winked.