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Nic said to me “Jealous much?”

I replied laughingly “Absolutely, but I
wouldn't be caught dead in that dress and I'd chew off my left arm
before I'd wear that much makeup.” I finished saying it as the
happy couple got close to our table, and then I couldn't speak
again. I caught Jett looking at me and couldn't look away and I
didn't care. Declan tapping on my shoulder to ask for a dance
snapped me out of it.

When our dance was finished I noticed
Detective Grey standing in the doorway. I gave Declan a squeeze and
thanked him for the dance and walked on over to him.

“Detective Grey, are you here for a dance?”
He gave me a smile out of the corner of his mouth.

“No Addie, but any one of these young men
would be lucky to have you. You do look very nice tonight.” He
replied.

“Why thank you.” I said with a smile. When I
am in a formal situation I am always polite and polished. It's from
all the years of training my parents have drilled into our heads.
My hair was up and I actually had full make up on – full for me. I
had on a very simple black dress with lining which helps my lines,
fitted but not too tight, long but not to my ankles with two thick
straps making “x's" on my back. Black sandals and hose of course,
topped off by a nice thick row of cubic zirconia's around my neck,
earrings and a couple of bracelets to match. My mom always says
“Less is more, k.i.s., keep it simple. Then again, not enough may
have you standing on the corner and getting unwelcomed offers.” She
would always giggle after that second part.

“I have some urgent questions for you, and ah
well, there's a missing person and we think there is foul play
involved. Do you have time?” he asked, facing me and not backing up
at all.

“Well, I just have to tell my friends we'll
be back in a few minutes.” I said as I was pointing back to our
table. “Should we go get a cup of coffee?” I asked.

“Ah, no, I sent Detective O'Connor to get us
some; he set something up for us in the hall.”

Jett came over to our table. “Uncle Grey,
you're not looking for me again are you? I swear I'm clean.” He put
his hand out for a shake as I was leaning over the table to grab my
purse when his hand brushed along my arm. I felt a surge of
electricity go through my body. Startled I looked him in the eye,
he reciprocated and I knew he felt it too.

I turned to talk “Grey, Grey McGaven, I love
that name, very nice. So you’re Jett’s uncle.” He nodded. “Why
don’t they call you Detective McGaven?” I asked but as I pondered
it Detective Grey does have a nice ring to it.

“It’s less of a mouthful they tell me, they
started calling me Detective Grey and it stuck.”

“And it sounds cooler,” he smiled as I said
it “shall we go?” I turned back to the table told Nic I would be
with Detective Grey in the hallway.

“Grey don't you think she's a little young
for you?” Jett stated and put his hand on the middle of my back, I
felt the same surge as before, it made me straighten up a bit. I
turned my head to see Jett, his eyes locked onto mine and then they
wandered all the way down to the floor.

To my surprise Detective Grey said “Afraid of
a little competition.”

By now we were getting a lot of attention. As
I said, he was good looking and an older man meeting me at the
dance. It was sure to get all sorts of rumors flying.

I turned back to Jett and I placed my hand
around his bicep, he flinched and flexed it, I think he was shocked
I grabbed his arm. I found the words to actually come out smoothly
“If I go missing, tell everyone it was your uncle.” Grey and Jett
laughed. I told Grey “I'm ready, I'd like to get out of here,
everyone is paired up but me.”

“Shall we,” Grey said. Giving me his elbow, I
tucked my hand in the crook of his arm gently. “O'Connor went to
get coffee and he said he set up chairs in the back hall for us.
Sorry we're disrupting the dance on you... Also the crack about
competition, I couldn’t help but bedevil my nephew.”

“Don't worry about it, I am done with the
dance too, I made my appearance. Too bad O'Connor isn't picking up
burgers, I'm starving.” I said.

He laughed “Finally, a girl that eats… Should
I call your parents?”

“Not unless you're going to ask for my hand
in marriage, and since this is our first coffee, I would say no.”
He laughed again.

We didn't talk shop waiting for O'Connor who
had set up chairs in a circle by the gym exit that Nic and I
usually waited for our rides home after wrestling. We started
talking and Grey told me he graduated high school early and just
plowed through college so he could get to work. I had a feeling he
was some sort of genius and I bet he could do anything he wanted
to, so I wonder why he picked being a detective.

We actually had a nice personal conversation.
I told him I liked to golf and swim but I wanted to go to school
for fashion design. We talked about golfing a lot, “The older you
get the more people you can find to play.” Grey said. “Your right,
it is hard to find people to play a round of golf at my age.” I
replied.

As we were talking Jett came into the hallway
and glanced our way. I wanted to give him a little wave, but
didn't. Not taking my eyes off Jett I asked Grey “Do you want to
ask me questions about Jewel? I didn't kill her you know, and
neither did Nic.” And finally tore my eyes away and back to Grey.
He let out a little laugh “I know you two didn't kill anyone nor do
I think you had anything to do with either of the cases I'm working
on. But my partner thinks we need to bring you into the station for
questioning, and that can be really rough on someone as young as
you. So I wanted to talk to you further to try and get a feel for
what kind of information you've given us and where it may have come
from. Maybe figure out how I, or we, should proceed from here.”

When Grey saw O'Connor at the door he went
and opened it for him, he actually brought coffee and donuts. I
raised an eyebrow in pleasure. “Food, right up your ally, right?”
Grey asked.

“Absolutely.” I said. I grabbed a donut and a
coffee; I could tell that Grey's mind was just ticking away trying
to figure me out and what to do next. Now that O'Connor was there,
Grey shared the fact that I liked to golf and we socialized a bit
more. O'Connor was married and had two kids. Then they slyly
started asking me the same questions they had the night before. I
think they were satisfied with my answers; they had to be the same
if not similar as I only knew the one side.

Students from the dance started exiting the
gym, then coming up the stairs by us, making the hallway louder and
a little more crowded. We were still in a circle with me in the
middle of the hall and Grey and O'Connor were nearest the wall. I
was about to scoot my chair in when someone bumped me and I spilled
a bit of my coffee on my dress. I immediately stood up. Grey pulled
me in and then pulled my chair up against the wall. I picked up the
bag of donuts and placed them on my chair, so they wouldn't get
trampled. “Gotta save the donuts.” Grey said. “Of course.” I
replied.

Storm must have seen it because he charged up
the stairs and asked if I was ok, “Do you need to go clean up, is
your dress ruined?” I held my cup toward the middle of our circle
and Storm took it, I got a napkin out of the bag and dried it,
“Nope, my dress will live, it’s fine, I knew I liked black.” I
crumpled the napkin and walked across the wide hall to deposit it
in the garbage when I noticed them, Jett and his slutty girlfriend
making out. I couldn't take my eyes off them as I was making my way
back to Storm.

Storm announced he was going to Nic's and
that everyone else was getting ready to leave. I looked to Gray and
O'Connor “do you mind if I grab my coat now, before the mob comes?”
They shook their heads and I went down the stairs past slut girl
and Jett, past the drink table and finally to the coat rack. I
looked over my shoulder to see if the two of them were still stuck
together, when Jett brushed by me making contact. I just smiled. I
found my coat when Nic and Topher came up behind me; he helped me
put my coat on, such a nice guy.

We walked back over to the detectives and
told them I had to get going and O'Connor looked perturbed by my
comment. So I suggested they drive me to Nic's so we could talk
more, I didn’t tell them she was right up the road so they
obviously wouldn't get much questioning in.

When we got to her house a party was hoppin,’
they came in and met Mr. and Mrs. Newland and actually grabbed a
soda. I grabbed a plate of appetizers and desserts. Mr. Newland was
leaning on the counter. “I can't believe you're still eating” he
said. “This is actually for you.” I replied.

I nodded toward Mr. Newland and said “Isn't
it mandatory to.....” he interrupted “Yes, it's mandatory to grab a
plate while you are here or Mrs. Newland will have your head,” he
said and Grey laughed.

“These are water chestnuts wrapped in bacon”
I dipped it in barbeque sauce. “They are awesome,” and popped one
in my mouth.

Mrs. Newland came by and said “Good girl
Addie, eat up.”

“Grey put his plate on the counter, took a
waster chestnut and then another. He chugged his drink and said “We
ought to get going.” O'Connor walked out and gave a nod
good-bye.

I walked Grey out, “You didn't ask me any new
or specific questions about the cases, mostly just about my golfing
habits.”

“I know, I felt weird, I’ve never questioned
anyone at a dance before – it was either that or bring you in. And
now we're at a teenage party with my nephew giving me the stink
eye. All just a little weird for me.”

“Sorry, I actually feel comfortable around
you, like I could talk to you, so I did what I would do with anyone
– just chatted away.”

He smiled. “I believe you Addie, and I think
you’re a sincere person, and both O'Connor and I are comfortable
talking to you, too.”

“Besides, getting to know me is being able to
trust me, establishing a baseline in our relationship, right?
That's why we talked tonight and we did that, right?” He didn't
answer but seemed like he agreed with that. I had this aching
feeling he wanted to ask me something important, maybe he knows
about my dreams, but then how would he, “What can I help you with?”
I blurted out.

I heard the storm door creak and turned to
see Storm coming out of Nic's house. “See what I mean?” Grey
said.

“I do, look at O'Connor” I said. Pointing to
O'Connor leaning on the car with his arms crossed. “He's giving me
the same evil eye.” Grey looked over at him and laughed. “Tell
Storm you need to talk to me on official business and we'll get
this done now.” I said a little more professional like. I liked
Grey and if I was going to have dreams that come true and people
getting hurt in them, he would be a great ally to have. Plus, I
don’t think I wanted to be brought down to the station for
questioning.

Storm shook his uncle's hand and they chatted
a bit. “Storm, I need to ask Addie a few questions, official
business, and then I need to get going. Do you mind?” Grey asked. I
got a little look from Storm but he left.

“Are you familiar with the neighborhood
behind you? You’re separated by fields, ravines and several
acres...”

I interrupted. “Yes, I actually know it well,
my cousin Peyton lives over there and I've hiked back there several
times.”

My cousin and I were always friends but I
remember the day we became kindred friends. Both our families
belonged to the same club and this helped us get into trouble.
Stealing golf carts was one of our favorite things to do among
other things, until this one incident. Peyton stole, well borrowed,
a golf cart and I jumped into the passenger seat. We took off fast
and went for a joy ride. If you have ever been on a golf course you
know there are hills, ravines, sand traps, water and wooded areas.
Well, when we went speeding down a steep hill and took a sharp turn
it rocked the cart onto two wheels and I started slipping off
the seat, the green grass was so close to me I thought I was going
to eat it. Peyton tried grabbing my arm as she jerked the wheel the
other way as my arm and leg were dragging on the ground. As she
jerked it back, I hit my head on the back of the cart. The cart
bobbled back and forth when it rocked back in my direction she let
go of my arm and I fell out of the cart and rolled
halfway down the hill before I could stop myself. I lay there
still, feeling the cool cut grass all around me. I thought that was
a good sign, feeling the grass. But could I move? 

Peyton, came running down the hill
completely panicked, her face all pale. I have never seen such
a panic stricken look on anyone before. I looked down at
my body, but all my pieces were still
attached and I saw no blood. I looked back
at her face and she still looked filled with horror, very
grim. I tried to laugh, although just for a second I was
momentarily paralyzed and couldn't.

Peyton had long brown wavy hair, she was
adventurous and very, very social. She was just as popular as Tori
if not more so. She’s older than we are, but we all still got
along. We used to be on swim team together. She had beautiful
white, soft, skin and never got too tan and had these beautiful
blue eyes. All the boys were always after her and my sister.

Years ago her brother was almost paralyzed
from a senseless accident, and I saw that panic written all
over her face. So I forced a laugh that came out horse at first. I
wiggled my feet and legs they were fine, I started to sit up –
everything felt okay. And Peyton began to laugh with me with tears
in her eyes. It was much scarier than it sounds. Anyway, as soon as
I was able to get up and walk, and it did take me a couple of
minutes, we snuck the cart back and never took another
one. Peyton and I had a closer relationship from
then on. We had formed a bond that could never be broken. Like I
said, some memories just stick.