Learn To Love Again

Chapter 22

I felt like I should tell detective Sterling about the dog. I wasn't sure if it could help build a case against Malcolm, but I felt the need to tell him.

I picked up my cell phone to call the detective, then realized that I didn't have his number. I remembered him calling my cell that first night we met when he wanted me to open the door, but there were more than one unfamiliar number in my call log; I wouldn't know which was his.

I decided to check the directory for the number of the station where he worked; hopefully, he would still be there. I pulled the big, heavy directory from the book stand in my room, dusted it off, and opened it on a chair. It took a few minutes of searching but, eventually, I found the number.

I dialled it and brought the phone to my ears. A female picked up on the second ring.

"Freeport Police Station. How may I assist you?"

"May I speak with detective Sterling, please?" I asked.

"Okay. Can you hold on for a second?"

"Sure."

A few moments passed, then the line was open again.

"Hello?" Came detective Sterling's voice.

"Hi, it's Anna," I said. "I need to talk to you about something."

"Sure." I could hear the concern in his voice. "Is everything okay?"

"Yes," I said reassuringly. "I just have something I need to tell you."

"Okay, I'll be over there in a few minutes."

"If you're buzy, it could wait until tomorrow," I said. "It's not that important."

"No, it's fine," he said. "I was getting ready to leave anyways."

"Okay."

"Okay."

I hung up the phone and returned to directory to the book stand, then went downstairs to make some hot chocolate. I put on some extra water just in case Detective Sterling wanted any.

I was lying lazily on the couch sipping cranberry juice and waiting for the water to boil when there was a knock on my door.

"Who is it?" I called on my way over to the door.

"Detective Sterling."

I unlocked the door and pulled it open. Detective Sterling stood on the other side wearing faded jeans and a navy blue buttoned shirt.

"Hi, come in," I told him. When he did, I locked the door behind him. "Would you like some hot chocolate?" I asked on our way over to the couch.

"Okay. Sure."

By the time I got to the kitchen, the water had already started to boil. I turned off the stove and made two steaming cups of hot chocolate, then returned to the living room. I handed detective Sterling one of the cups, then took a seat on a recliner opposite the couch on which he was seated.

"Thanks," he said before taking a sip and placing the cup on the coffee table. "So, what is it?"

I took a sip of hot chocolate before telling him about the time Malcolm had brought in the wounded dog and about my encounter with Kimona."