The Oaths We Keep

Chapter 9

Taylor decided to call it a night as well. It was just before seven that evening, and he began to feel hungry. Deciding that tonight would be a drive-thru night, then home, he walked into the fading daylight. His car was parked at the far end of the lot. He started parking there years ago when he was a rookie cop, and though he could park much closer, he never made the change. His spot's location saved his life, too, not long ago when a car bomb exploded as he walked to his car. Had it not been for the distance of the parking spot and some good timing by Barnes, he would be dead.

He bought a new car after the bomb destroyed his Charger. He could have bought any car he wanted after that, but as a surprise to no one, he purchased another Charger. He liked the look and feel of the Charger and how it brought back memories of the old classic muscle car of his teenage years. The one he drove now was his third Charger since his discharge from the Army.

As he approached his Charger, the phone rang. Instinctively, he answered it by repeating his last name. "Hello, Detective," came the familiar voice on the other end. "I got your text this morning. Sorry I haven't had time to respond," said Amber.

Taylor quickly switched his phone to the speaker. "Oh yeah, that's fine. It's been a busy day here, too." Looking down at his text log, he saw, to his horror, that he had sent the message to Amber he thought he had deleted. "So, how have you been?" Was all Taylor could muster to say as he read the text to remember what he had sent to her.

"Well, this is sudden, but I'm heading into town and wanted to know if you would like to join me for dinner tonight.

"Tonight?" Taylor asked. "Yeah, sure. I'm leaving the station right now, actually. Where do you want to go?"

"Well, how about your friend's place? I saw a burger on the menu I wanted to try."

"Yeah, okay, I'll meet you there."

Several minutes later, Taylor walked through the door of Eddie's restaurant, looking for his impromptu date. Spotting her didn't take long, so he made his way there as quickly as possible. To his surprise, Amber stood to greet him and gave him a quick embrace before settling back at the table.

They both ordered the Warrenton, a double patty bacon cheeseburger with a special barbeque sauce, Swiss and cheddar cheese, topped with grilled onions. It was a town favorite and Roger's favorite menu item. He wondered if she somehow knew that or if it was a coincidence that she wanted to order his favorite thing. He ordered a whole basket of onion rings with their burgers, assuring her these were the best around.

"Do you watch much television?" she asked him while they waited for their food.

"Not much. I catch a game occasionally, but only a little in the way of scripted television. How about you?"

"I found a show or two I watch. One is a medical drama set in LA. I love to watch it and pick it apart. I spend a lot of time at hospitals around the area, so it's funny to see what they get right and wrong. The other is about the FBI's Fugitive Task Force. You don't watch cop shows?"

"No, I get enough of that during the day."

"I get that. Okay, so enough about television. Have you been to a game lately?"

"Not recently, no. The Tiger Sharks have been on a losing streak recently. Their starting pitching is good, but that bullpen is a nightmare."

"It's early in the season. Maybe the team will get it together," Amber said.

"That's the good and bad thing about minor league ball: players get sent down or called up, which can completely change the team. I think it makes it more exciting."