Wednesday

  Mueller Mobile Home Park

  Detective Mackey drives his Crown Victoria nearly to the front door of Madison's trailer. He looks over at the dozing woman with loving eyes.

  "Madison? Maddie? You're home," James says.

  The sound of Titus barking inside the trailer makes James grin. The high-class mutt's face is pressed against the front window as he barks his little head off. Madison drowsily sits up in the passenger seat. She rotates her head on her shoulders.

  "That was quick. I don't even remember falling asleep."

  "Haha. You did. About five minutes after we left the restaurant."

  "I'm sorry. I'm such terrible company, James. I didn't mean to fall asleep on you. I was just really tired. They had me running around so much today. I feel like I pulled a double, but it was barely eight hours. I'm glad I quit that other job out at the ballfield. I couldn't have done it. Not anymore. I'm so sorry, James."

  "I'm not mad, Madison. I was only teasing you."

  "I know," Madison says.

  Silence fills the sedan as James and Madison consider how to say their goodnights. They finally settle for a solitary kiss, turning and leaning towards each other at the same time. When they are still kissing minutes later, Mackey presses a hand to the back of Madison's head. Not since Sam has he kissed anyone like this.

  "Madison?" James says, separating their mouths for the briefest of moments. "I think you should go inside. I'll be here for as long as I can. Please go. If you don't...I may want to join you in there."

  "Who cares?" Madison says, seeking James' lips again. "I want you, James."

  "Maddie, I can't. Not tonight. Not with two unidentified bodies sitting in the morgue. Another time, Madison. I promise."

  James can almost see Madison's spirits deflate. The young woman's shoulders droop, her body grows rigid, and the pattern of her breathing changes. Madison's eyelids drop to halfway over her round brown eyes.

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  "I'm going to hold you to that," Madison says in a breathy whisper, her mouth less than centimeters from Detective Mackey's.

  Connecting one more time, James rubs Madison's back through her uniform. His hand brushes over the spot where her bra clasp rests. Oh Lord.

  "Go, Maddie. Please."

  "Okay, James."

  Gathering her things, Madison climbs from the sedan. She crosses around the front of Mackey's Crown Victoria, but halts when he softly calls her name. Going to the driver's side window, Madison leans in and kisses the detective a final time.

  "Bye, James."

  Without another word, Madison hurries to go inside. James watches her hurry away, struggling to control the sensation below his belt which nearly overrode his common sense. Are he and Madison a couple now? Is that even allowed?

  Sighing heavily, Detective Mackey takes out his bulky laptop. He logs in and begins scrolling the web. The determined detective scours the internet for further clues as to the identity of the two newest victims.

  $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

  3 hours later

  Madison awakens to the soft startup purr of Detective Mackey's prized sedan. She throws off the covers and races to the bedroom door. She draws the room door open and moves with haste through the house. He can't leave. Not yet.

  Reaching the front door, Madison flicks the front light switch up and down, hoping James will see the flickering lights as he backs down the drive. Her plan works. James throws the car into forward gear and drives back towards the house.

  Madison has not even bothered to throw on her robe. She descends the porch steps wearing only her nightgown. James climbs out of the Crown Vic, a worried expression on his face.

  "Madison? What wrong? Did something happen? Is someone in there with you?"

  "No! It was nothing like that," Madison says with a light-hearted chuckle. "It's just that...You can't go without your coffee, James. At least, let me make you a cup of coffee."

  A smile tugs at Detective Mackey's lips and he beams down at Madison as if he has struck gold. Coffee. Wow. She wants to make him coffee.

  Taking Madison's face into both hands, James plants a tiny kiss on her lips. Madison's eyes slide shut as she welcomes his affection. Pecking Madison twice more on the mouth, James politely separates from her. Madison's eyelids slowly reopen, her breathing greatly accelerated.

  "Okay, Maddie," James says with a full-blown smile. "Coffee. We'll have coffee. But after that...I have to return to the station."

  "I know," Madison replies. "I'm not trying to trick you, James. You've been watching over me for over a month. Keeping me safe. The least I can do is make you a cup of coffee every morning."

  "I appreciate it, Maddie. I truly do."

  "Don't mention it, James. I want to do it."

  Taking Madison's hand, James walks with her into the trailer.