St. Louis Chapter 22 part 1

It's Thursday evening. McKenzie and Logan have known each other 9 days. I'm happy to have received a review that stated McKenzie and Logan have only known each other for 9 days and thought they might be moving too fast. Most of my reviews state they need to move faster and don't understand what's taking them so long. I agree it's only been 9 days. They have plenty of time.


Ending of Previous Post:

McKenzie stretched in the seat. "Now we wait and watch. You know I really miss my Super Bee."

Logan reached back and grabbed a sack. "Here's your bag of Twizzlers." He handed it to her. "I know you do. It won't be long before you can retrieve it from Bill's garage." He watched her take a bite of a Twizzler stick. "Now, tell me your idea of a perfect husband."

"But earlier you said you could wait a week or so."

"That was an attempt to convince you to postpone this for a week or so. It didn't work. So now, a deal's a deal. You can't back out. We're here, so talk. I've already given you my qualities of a perfect wife. The agreement was you'd tell me your qualities the next night we pulled surveillance. I've waited almost a week. Start talking."

McKenzie sighed. "Bill, I'm sure you will find this boring."

"I think it'll be interesting. Let me get a cup of coffee before you begin."

"Logan, please..." Her eyes pleaded with him. "Not with Bill listening. I'll do it another time. How about once we're back home? I promise."

TODAY'S POST:

ST. LOUIS CHAPTER 22 PART 1

After a silence, Bill said, "Okay Mac, I'll turn the volume down. If you need anything, yell loudly. I'll watch the game."

"What's the score?" asked McKenzie.

"Cards are up by three."

"You've stalled long enough." Logan took a bite of Twizzler. "I'd forgotten how good these are."

McKenzie hesitated and then spoke quietly, "I think the most important quality would be someone who loves me for who I am. He wouldn't be threatened because I'm independent or can take care of myself. I guess that would fall under self-confident, but not cross over to cocky. There's a fine line between the two. I don't want him too full of himself. If he was, he wouldn't be thoughtful. I'd want him to care about my feelings or at least consider how I'd feel about things."

"I'm sure being able to cook would be high on your list," teased Logan.

"Ha, ha, very funny. I'm sure we could figure something out. I've managed this long without knowing how to cook." She thought for a moment. "Dependability would be important. I'd want to feel secure with him; comfortable. Also, I'd have to trust him. That's really important."

She tapped a Twizzler stick against her lips. "Faithfulness would be important. I want to be the only woman he desires. When he's around other women, I want to know he'll always come home to me."

Logan raised his hand. "Question: Men often acknowledge attractive women. They can't miss them. It's in our DNA."

"True, and in our society women are everywhere and in every occupation. But I believe there's a difference in acknowledging an attractive woman and desiring to jump in bed with her."

He grinned. "There is."

"I think this is part of moral integrity which is also very important. If he truly loves me, then he wouldn't want anybody else. I believe there's a difference in lust and love. I want a man in love with me. Not hot for my body."

I think I can innocently fit in last night's T-shirt. He focused on looking out the windshield. "I need to address something." He released a deep breath. "Last night's T-shirt..." She tilted her head, as he continued, "The one you sleep in."

Her eyes widened. "Where are you going with this?"

Logan interlocked his hands and stretched them before he answered, "You know that nightshirt you wore last night? Well, it was very seductive. Can you wear something else in case you need to come downstairs in the middle of the night?"

Silence.

"I-I-I didn't know," she whispered. "I didn't mean to. I'm sorry."

Logan reached over and took her hand. "I'm not accusing you of anything. I know it was an accident. I thought maybe you'd want to know."

"I do. I'll make the correction. Why didn't you say something last night?"

"It didn't fit into any conversation. So much happened."

Her hand covered her mouth. "And I fell asleep with you holding me on the couch. I'm so sorry."

"Why do you think you woke up covered?"

She gulped. "Thank you."

"Continue with your list."

"Intelligent, kind, a good listener, balanced, and have a sense of humor. I'm done." McKenzie stared out the passenger window.

"Another question."

"I don't think I can take any more questions or comments."

"This one should be easy. "What do you mean by balanced?"

"A man who can do it all. He can prioritize his job, family, friends, and a relationship. Now, I'm done."

"Mac, look at me." She turned but avoided eye contact. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything."

"And suffer in silence?"

He grinned. "I was uncomfortable, but I can't honestly say I suffered."

I'm sorry. I'm not that kind of female."

"I know. It was an accident."

"Excuse me, you two," interrupted Bill. "You'll need to take this conversation up later. Mr. Whitmore just left. Are you following him to his next stop?"

"Yes, he usually goes straight home," answered McKenzie. She stared at Logan and whispered, "I'm really sorry."

He squeezed her hand. "I know. Quit apologizing."

Silence.

After Whitmore returned home, Bill said, "Harris will be stopping by once you're safely home."

"Sounds good. Thank you, Bill. I think we can take it from here. Go home to Joanie. Give her a hug from me."

"Sure will. But Mac, I'm staying until you're safely inside your house." Bill heard McKenzie start to answer so he continued, "It won't do any good to argue. I'm listening until I hear Arlo bark."

She sighed.

"I heard that, young lady," replied Bill.

Logan chuckled.

*****
Once inside McKenzie's townhouse, she headed straight for the stairs. "I'm turning in for the night."

Logan watched. "I'm surprised, you're not going to let the dogs out or wait on Harris? I'll write down everything he says." He turned. "I'll let the boys out."

After the dogs were outside, McKenzie said, "Logan?"

He faced her. "I know something's bothering you and this time, for once, I actually know what. How can I make it better?"

"You can't."

"Let's talk it out. You mentioned on your perfect husband list that you want him to be a good listener." He paused. "For that to happen, you need to be a good talker."

"I am a good talker."

"About your feelings. How's a guy supposed to know, guess?" He sat on the couch and patted a spot for her to sit. After she did, he said, "Now would be a perfect time to tell me what you're feeling. Or do you want me to guess?"

Silence.

"Okay," said Logan. "I'm guessing you feel embarrassed."

"I'm not embarrassed," interrupted McKenzie. "I'm more humiliated or ashamed. It should never have happened. I should've been more careful. Since we've met you've been a gentleman. Thank you for that. I acted like a floozy."

"Now, I know where you're coming from. To start with you've never been a floozy around me." He held up one finger. "Well that one time you went out with Jose and played pool to try to trip up Whitney was pretty close, but you were undercover."

McKenzie gave a partial grin. "I did look pretty raunchy. You're right."

"Good, that got a smile. What happened last night was completely different, and you have no reason to feel ashamed or anything else. I know it was an accident. You meant nothing by it. If I knew you were going to be this upset over it, I never would've mentioned it."

"You had every right to say something." She studied her hands in her lap before she continued, "I don't want you to think of me as-" she stopped.

"As what?"

"As a tease."

Logan put arms around her. "I would never consider you a tease. You're far from that." He turned as somebody knocked on the door. "I'm guessing that's Harris." He got up to answer. "Stay..."

"I know, stay put."

Logan grinned. "You're a trip." He continued toward the door. "Come in, Harris. Mac's in the living room."

After everybody was seated, McKenzie asked, "What did Mr. Whitmore do inside?"

"You're not going to believe this," began Harris. "He sat at a table by himself and nursed the same beer for three hours."

"Who'd he speak to?" asked Logan.

"Nobody. He was literally alone all night. He just stared at the stage."

"What was happening on the stage?"

Both Logan and Harris gave her wide-eyed looks and said, "Really?"

"I've never been in a place like that. How would I know?"

Logan grinned. "Yes Harris, exactly what was the stage act?"

"Four naked women pole dancing."

"Oh!" replied McKenzie. "He stared at that for three hours? That doesn't make sense."

"They did take breaks. New women came on and danced. They repeated that process over and over again. He did a a variety of women. If that's all your questions, I'll get on home."

"Thank you. Good night."

Logan stood. "I'll walk you to the door."

When Logan returned, McKenzie asked, "Why would he sit there and stare at naked women pole dancing for three hours? That's strange. I think I need to speak with some of the ladies who work there. There has to be more going on."

"It does seem a little strange to sit there for three hours and do nothing. When you plan on going back?"

"I'm thinking tomorrow, maybe around five or six, before they get busy. What do you think?"

"Probably a good idea. I'm going with you."

McKenzie stood. "I never thought you wouldn't. I'm just wondering if Bill, Mitch and the gang will be going too." She paused. "I'm going to bed. Good night."

"See you in the morning."




Characters:

McKenzie 'Mac' Morgan a 27 year old private investigator
Major Logan Nelson 34 years old and an active duty soldier
Arlo McKenzie's black and tan dachshund
Megan Nelson Logan's younger sister - murdered
The Lou local name for St. Louis
Simon Knight and Sheila Logan's former Army buddy and a Lab technician. Sheila's his wife.
Fan name for the St. Louis Cardinals - a major league
baseball team.
Yadi What Cardinal fans call Tadier Molina - Cardinal's all-star catcher.
Edger McKenzie's black and tan rottweiler
George Whitney A former boyfriend of Megan, early suspect in her murger.
John Benson Man who murdered McKenzie's parents
Bill Abbot A D.A and McKenzie's God-Father; he was a high-
school friend of McKenzie's father. Joanie is his wife.
Jose Lopez his wife is Lucy Chicago Police Department undercover police
department.
Kate Hartford Megan Nelson's friend they taught middle school
together.
Donny Carlton A man Megan Nelson dated.
Mitch Gardner St. Louis Police Department detective who has
partnered with McKenzie's dad.
Ivan Smart A bad guy
Peter and Nancy Nelson Logan's parents
Sidney Parks works for the St. Louis Police Detective with the drug unit.
Mack and Helen Morgan McKenzie's parents - both deceased
Gus Piper McKenzie's abusive grandfather - deceased
Austin Bryant an old boyfriend - McKenzie broke up with him because he's a jerk.
Joshua Davis so far a nobody, but is a neighbor to Donny Carlton
Mark Young an acquaintance of McKenzie, a state trooper, and will become important much later in the novel