Threatened

Chapter 3: The First Night

I stare at myself in the mirror. I hate this dress with an undying passion. It opens at the hip and I know the cut will have me holding my hand to my locket all night. I would far rather wear my stiff press uniform that this shred of paper. Unfortunately, this is the only nice thing I've got. So despite its thin layer of dust, it will have to do.

I grab my tiny purse, an umbrella, and keys then slide into my off-duty car. It's a black Bently, the only inheritance I got from my dad. It purrs to life at the turn of the key, and music starts reverberating through the speakers. Imagine Dragons' It's Time starts, relieving me of all my stress.

Before long, I get a text from Lee with the address. I pull over and plug it into maps. Interestingly enough, I have never been to this part of the city, so the gps on my phone is the only thing I can rely on.

I start thinking about what has to happen tonight. I'll have to identify the exits first, monitor the crowd, look for ready weapons. I can't conceal a gun in this snug dress. Actually, I don't think I can do much of anything in this dress. This weekend will include shopping, I don't care what Lee says.

Eventually, I pull up to a really fancy restaurant. Crap. I don't think I can do this, I'm not ready. I should just drive away and say I had something come up that was unavoidable, that watching Lee would have to start tomorrow. What are the odds that the Vipers would strike now anyway?

I am about to pull away when Lee steps out of a taxi beside me. I think I blacked out for a second because the next thing I know, my hand is in his as I step out of my car and open my umbrella.

"Good evening, Detective," he says, kissing my knuckles. I feel like I could faint. The heat rushing to my head makes me slightly dizzy and disoriented, but somehow I manage to stay on my feet.

"Please, call me Anna. I'm supposed to be your girlfriend, remember? And I thought you said party," I jab. Lee laughs.

"This is a party of two," he beams.

"I can't possible afford a place like this! I got the car as inheritance," I add as I see him stare at my car.

"I wasn't expecting you to pay for anything; this is our first date, isn't it?"

"Mr. Pace-"

"Lee. If I'm to call you Anna, you should call me Lee." I wish I had a good argument. He offers me his arm and we step into the restaurant. I assume this is his idea of a cover story...

"Do you have a reservation?" The hostess asks with the most fake smile ever plastered on her face.

"Party of two for Davis," Lee says with a charming smile. She nods and leads us to a small table by the window. Anything but the exposed window. Lee pulls my chair out for me and I can't help but marvel at his manners.

"You are such a gentleman. How do you not have an actual girlfriend?"

"I just never met anyone who could see past my money. There are too many gold diggers in the world, very few genuine women." I nod. I have known so many girls, especially in high school, who only hung out with people for the material perks. This world is going to shit. Maybe that's why I like being a cop so much; I get to fix some of the worst.

"Yeah. I know several people who have no idea what love is. They don't treat it with the respect it deserves. It's harder to find love than win the lottery," I say. Oh, man that sounds preachy now. "Sorry, I shouldn't preach. I, uh, I... well, I tend to be very opinionated," I stammer apologetically.

"No, you're right. Love is special, but people throw the word around like it means nothing." I open my mouth to agree when the waitress asks what we want to drink.