Learn To Love Again

Chapter 16

I bit the insides of my lips in anticipation, the phone pressed to my ear. On about the third ring, there was an answer.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Malcolm," I said in a calm voice.

"Anna? What's up?"

"I thought about what you said yesterday," I said. "About helping me out with the necklace situation."

"You did? What about it ?" I could tell he was trying to keep the excitement out of his voice.

"If you are able to do what you said you would, then I will go to dinner with you tonight."

He didn't answer for a while. I was beginning to think that he'd hung up when he said, "it's a deal. I'll get everything sorted out with my cousin and get back to the station in about an hour."

"Okay."

"See you then."

I hung up the phone and stared across the desk at detective Sterling.

"So far so good."

"He agreed to do it?" He asked.

"Yes," I responded. "He said he'll be here in about an hour."

He nodded, then sighed. "I still don't get why it took you so long to report his behavior towards you," he said.

"I didn't think it was this serious."

"You didn't think it was serious?" He said disbelievingly. "He stalked you, threatened you, and now you think he framed you for theft."

"Was he the one who told you where the necklace was?" I asked, changing the subject.

"No."

"So how did he/she know where to find it?"

"I don't know," he said. "I'll ask some questions later and see if he has any relation to Malcolm."

"Okay."

"You can go home if you want to," he said. "You don't have to wait until Malcolm gets here."

"Yeah, but what will Malcolm think when he comes here to get me out of jail and I'm not in jail?"

"Oh," he said dramatically with a wide smile, "you want to go back in the cell? 'Cause I could help you with that."

I couldn't help but laugh. "I think I'll pass, but thanks for the offer, though."

He laughed also. "I'll deal with Malcolm when he gets here," he said seriously. "Just do your part and this will work out just fine."

"Okay." I got up to leave.

"Wait, before you go," he said, getting up also, "let me get you the equipment that you'll need so you won't have to come back here. Then I can drive you home."

I nodded and followed behind him as he lead the way out of the room.

*****

I had just finished cleaning the results of the burnt pancakes and was making myself a sandwich when my phone started ringing. I paused to look at the caller ID and when I realized it was Malcolm, I hit the ignore button.

As I continued to make the sandwich, my phone rang again and, like before, I ignored it. When it started ringing a third time, I picked up on the fourth ring.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Anna. Just wanted to let you know I'll be picking you up at about eight tonight. Sounds good?"