The next two days went by slowly, doing her best to avoid Phineas after he'd let her in each morning. Every time he would apologize for Tuesday and try again to earn Renae's interest. After making a call to her old professor and explaining the brake in, MIT changed the passwords and kicked out all known logged in users. This alleviated some of her stress. To keep the EIA off Coopers tracks, they had decided it would be best to avoid being in the same vicinity as one another. Providing each other their cell numbers for emergencies only. Until he could provide them with burner phones. It was all strange to Renae the secrecy and deception, and it made her wonder how many other private research centers were just like this. She doubted any were like this, and she wondered what are the odds that she ended up at one of the few absurd ones. She just prayed that the day would end as quickly as possible.
She was having terrible luck, she wasn't able to find any new proteins from the bones. And after a long day of working the clock finally stuck five marking it the end of the day, finally being able to leave she grabbed her packed worked case. She had stopped leaving her findings at the office due to her growing suspicion of the EIA. It had also seemed someone had been snooping her data sheets. She knew whoever was looking at them here was the culprit for who stole her password to EIA. Making her way out to her parked truck, she saw Ricky standing next to his own in the stall next to hers. Damn, she knew she was going to have to try and make small talk, even though she just wanted to leave. Wanting it to go quickly she approached the truck and waved goodbye to Ricky hoping that's all she needed to do. "Hey Renae," under his booming voice she could detect a sense of nervousness. "Hey Ricky." She replied opening the truck door. Ricky cleared his throat, "A couple of us are going out tonight to get drinks, would you want to join?" What was she to say? I'm sorry I'm going to Colorado Springs with the one person you all hate. She had to come up with something quickly. "Thank you for the invite, but I told my parents I'd see them this weekend in Denver." Noticing how he wore his emotions on his sleeve she could tell he didn't fully buy into her lie. Ricky started growing a friendship with Phineas, and she didn't know if she could trust Ricky. Yet she hoped this excuse would get any suspicion off her back. "I see" he paused, "enjoy your time with your parents." Ricky turned got in his car and left the parking lot. Sighing she did the same, making her way back to the motel.
* * * *
Cooper was already standing outside her door waiting for her, with a small groceries bag. "Evening officer, what can I do for you?" she giggled. "Well there have been complaints about an odd smell coming from this room" he sniffed the door teasing back at her. This playful banter was becoming something she missed over the last few days. Making her way up to her door she let herself and Cooper inside, "let me go get my bag and we can go." He nodded, and after a few moments of silence she decided to break some of the ice, "what's in the bag?"
"I thought we could use some snacks." Renae giggled, "thank god! It's like you read my mind." "Don't expose my secret super power. It's what makes me a good cop." She laughed again. That same silence picked up again as she packed her bag, while doing so she noticed he was glancing at the pictures, and small memorabilia on the dresser. Picking up the largest frame he examined the people, Renae and a rather large burley man next to her in a UMass football uniform. "That's my foster bother Hunter." she said nodding towards the picture in his hand. "I was able to talk with him the other day." "What did he say? Is he okay?", "he is doing just fine, he is just glad you are liking it here." That was nothing like how the conversation went, but he didn't want her to know they argued. In fact it was more of a masculine check then anything else. Day had tried to be civil, until the man had questioned his agenda. He know knew what he looked like, and it started to sour his mood. He didn't know why but the thought of her with another man bothered him, more than he would like to admit. Continuing to look at the photos, he found it odd there were no photos of what would looked like a mother and father.
"Seems like your family got all the brains and brawn." Day said prying for information. "We got it from our parents I suppose." she shrugged, finishing up grabbing her bag for the weekend they made their way out the door. "So your parents were geniuses too then?" he pressed on, "That is what I'm told." again she only shrugged her shoulders. "It was his parents who improved my education." Her answers vague, yet acting like she was really opening up to him. "And where are they now?" he felt nosey, at this point he was beyond curious about her past. "My parents? They are in the Wellsville Cemetery. Utah." Well now he felt like an complete jerk, he had maybe pried too deep. "Don't feel bad, I didn't really know them." Grabbing his hand they went down to his cruiser. After throwing her bag in the back seat, the pair climbed into the car. "Tell me, was Hunter mad at me?" she seemed worried about him being upset, "he wasn't mad at you. He was sure as hell mad at me though." mumbling the last part. "What was that?" it seemed like nothing could get past her. "Your bother didn't really seem to like me." "Don't sweat it too much, he never really liked any guy I talked too." waving her hand as if it was no big deal. Yet it bothered Cooper, they weren't technically related; what if he was in love with her. That would mean more competition, well at least real competition.
Yawning Renae laid her seat back, making it to where she could curl up into a perfect ball. It wasn't late, but the last week had taken a toll on her sleep schedule. Before closing her eyes she yawned once more and spoke softly, "do you mind?" His eyes looked down to her seeing her puppy dog eyes. Only nodding, she understood his approval. He knew she must have been tired, in the last week she had gotten more excitement then most in their lifetime. Yet this was like any other day for him.
Cooper kept driving, the destination six hours away; the scene's repetitive. Every so often to gain a break from the stretching road, he would glance ever so slightly down at the beautiful girl curled in the passenger seat. He couldn't help but smile. Finally he had some time to think about the brunette; she was unlike any woman he had ever met. Her eyes were something unimaginable as if they told all the secrets to the world, making him only fall deeper into their spell. They were blue with lush green islands in between, all swirled with a sparkling white. They emulated earth from space, and it was breathtaking. Her skin was a gently kissed by the sun, her hair shining in long broken curls. Her looks weren't her only beautiful features. Day liked her sass and relaxed demeaner, it made him feel at ease around her. But she was also alert and intelligent, he could tell she was destined for greater things. And her good heart would get her there. Helping him only further proved his point of her selflessness. He knew Morris was right though, he knew he should look more into her. She could be a set up, a distraction to get him off EIA's case. She would be a damn good distraction too, he could tell he was already starting to fall for the smart woman next to him. He wasn't even mad about it, the only thing he didn't like that she was in danger. Even more so because she was working with him. She knew the risks yet she still chose to help him. It baffled him, and wished he could see inside her thought process.
* * * *
She slept the whole drive; only waking when she felt the brakes pull to stop in a stall at the Colorado Springs station. "Time to get up sleeping beauty." Cooper chuckled has he undid his seatbelt. Following his pursuit, they made their way into the station.
The station was much larger, and with that more deputies; all bustling around the office. Renae clung to the detective next to her, she always hated police stations. It reminded her of her of the day her parents left her. As they passed the desks of the beautiful receptionist and the working deputies, all welcomed Day back into the office. Slapping him in his back and exclaiming loudly how they missed his presence. Each giving Renae a sideways glance as Cooper lead her through the office, they made their way to the back of the building, after making a right they stood in front of a large door. On it read Chief Albert Megan, "I'm going to need you to wait here." Cooper rubbed the nape of his neck, it became a signature part of Day when he was nervous.
Renae nodded understanding that he needed to do this part alone.
Day walked into the office, gulping as the office chair spun around to face him. The walls were bare lacking personality, it matching the look of Chief Megan who was gruff and plain. "Good Morning Sir." Day started, the chief raised his hand to stop his talking. "What are you doing back here? I know damn well the EIA case hasn't been solved."
"Yes I know that sir, but I need personal to run checks and history files on a Miss Dottie Edinburg, Dr. Tom Phineas, Janet Rosenburg and a Dr. Renae Foster." He choked out the last name, feeling guilty as he did. "This will further progress my intel on this case."
"I'll get Addison in personal to start on those, you can pick them up first thing in the morning. Then back to Cortez, we need this case solved. And it won't be solved with you in town." "Yes sir I know that, I'm also here to report I know have an inside informant. And after having this plate number ran I can report threatening a police on one of the possible suspects." Megan grunted, "An informant? You don't mean the young lady that is outside my door do you?" "Yes it is sir, but I promise she is trust worthy. But to check she is one of the people I'm running a check on." He was anxious, it seemed whatever case he worked on, no matter how amazing he did the chief was never pleased with him. Day had worked hard to get were he was, and yet he still wasn't appreciated. "Very well, but if I hear of one mistake regarding her involvement I'll be forced to pull you off the case." He huffed then waved his hand to shoo Day out of his office.
Outside waiting was Renae standing nervously. Cooper cleared his throat, causing her to look up to find Days eyes. "So how'd it go?"
"I got it approved, we can pick it up tomorrow." "And what are we to do until then?" Renae questioned, "We will need gear, and I know just the guy."
Word Count: 2009
YOU ARE READING
Green Table
Science FictionWhen Reane Foster is approached by the Edinburg Institution of Archeology, EIA to help achieve their goal of building a better future for childrens' history education. Renae sees it as an opportunity to build a lasting name for herself in a male dom...
