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Chapter 4
Luis’ shift was just about finished. Sam was letting him
off a little early so he could come back and work the grave yard shift. Kenny, the officer who would be out for
the next few days, worked the desk at night which could be tough on someone used to working nights, never mind
a day person like Luis. Unless something big was brewing in Harmony, which most of the time it wasn’t, desk duty
was boring. Answering phones mostly and dispatching other officers. He hadn’t admitted it to himself, but Luis
was really looking forward to working these nights. He would have the computer to keep him occupied, which was
something he’d not really had the luxury of before.
Luis stopped at his desk on the way out the door and couldn’t resist the temptation to send off a quick email to
KC. Once online he saw he had mail. One letter from his pal Jay and another from KC. Luis felt his heart begin
to pound as he quickly clicked on KC’s note.
Dear Pezz,
Sleepy? That’s the clue? Sheesh, I’m getting sleepy just thinking about it! LOL.
Since you are working midnights for the next few days, I’ll look for your emails at different times. you may not
realize this but you just gave yourself away Mister! Until today, I had no idea what shift you worked which of
course added to the intrigue. Now I know you work days normally and will be coming back to work nights. So my detective
brain has now definitely narrowed you down to the East coast. I may not figure things out from the pathetic clues
you give me, but I’ll find it from the ones you don’t realize you’ve given me! Ha! Gotcha on that one! LOL
Luis let out a slight groan and laughed to himself. "She’s one smart cookie! I can’t get anything past her."
Anyway, you already know where I live, so it shouldn’t surprise you to know I’ll be going to bed soon. Actually
I’ll be posting my travel post first and then going to bed. I have something to do first in the morning so I want
to turn in early. I guess you and I will be going to bed at the same time tonight! LOL
Sweet dreams Pezz,
KC
Luis didn’t know what it was exactly but the strangest
feeling came over him at the thought of going to bed at the same time as KC. "Get real Luis!" he laughed
to himself.
Luis decided to send a quick response. He couldn’t help himself. All he wrote was
KC,
Sweet Dreams Yourself :)
Pezz
Not wanting to waste anymore time at the station, Luis
decided to print up Jay’s email and bring it home to read. He’d read it right before he went to bed. She was usually
good for a few laughs.
Once Luis had made it home and was lying on his bed reading Jay’s note, he wondered if it had been such a good
idea. He always suspected she was crazy, but now he knew it to be true after reading her message.
Luis,
Stop gloating about the Celtics already! You know they wouldn't have won if either Shaq or Kobe had been able to
play. Yeah, yeah, Walker awesome - what ever! It's not like we are talking Larry Bird here.
Partner, don't yell at me, but I think you need to take a step back and look at yourself. As much as he pissed
you off, Sam may be onto something that you don't want to think about, meaning your feelings for Beth and for KC.
Yep buddy, like it or not, time to face facts, you may be starting to have feelings for the cyber traveler.
C'mon Luis, you and I both know that Beth isn't the right woman for you and you're not doing her or you any good
by prolonging things. Maybe if I keep saying it enough times, you'll finally get it through that thick stubborn
head of yours and realize that you and Beth are not meant to be. You need to end things with Beth, let her move
to the big city and you stay in Harmony and get on with your life. The sooner, the better, for both of you.
Are you calming down? Look, we all know you are Mister Morality and that you'd never sleep with 2 women at the
same time. But there is physical cheating and then there is emotional cheating. You'd never cheat on Beth intentionally,
in any way, but I think this situation has kind of crept on you without you realizing what is happening. Luis,
you may not want to face it, but you LIKE this KC girl. Ever since you started emailing with her, she's been the
major topic of your emails to me. You almost never mention work or your family, let alone Beth, it's all about
KC. Next thing I know, you'll be telling me that you are going into the station early and staying late everyday
just so you can email with her. Oh God! I bet you are already doing that, aren't you? How well do I know you? LOL.
Be HONEST with yourself Luis - which makes your heart beat faster, the thought of seeing Beth or reading a new
email from KC?
From what I've read of her posts and from what you've told me about her, I like this KC. She seems nice, as well
as smart and articulate. I've been thinking - always a dangerous thing J - Sometimes people who post on a board
also hang out in that board's chat room. I think I'm going to have to check out the chat room on that travel site.
Maybe I will find KC there and can check her out for myself. After all, I need to see if she is good enough for
my favorite partner.
My clue for your game with KC - the town's name is one word.
Use it if you want.
Good luck - you're gonna need it. I'm here if you want to talk
.... or rant.
Jay
"Jay, you have no idea what you are talking about"
Luis muttered. Luis was lying on his bed in his boxers holding the letter in the air as he reread it. She’s just
someone who is nice to talk to on the internet. How can I possibly "like" someone I’ve never met? That’s
just silly." Luis laughed at the notion of falling for someone he’s never met, never mind had no idea what
she looked like. All he really knew about her was she lived in Paris, was born in the States, has traveled extensively
and longed to live in a small town. "It’s crazy Jay, I’m telling you" Luis again muttered as he closed
his eyes.
As Luis drifted into an uneasy slumber he could hear his friends words echoing in his head. "Be honest with yourself Luis, which makes your heart beat faster? The
thought of seeing Beth or the thought of reading a new email from KC?" The
names Bethand
KC kept
flashing in Luis’ mind.
Beth walked up behind Luis as he was typing furiously at his keyboard. KC was on IM and Luis was chatting with
her. "Hey handsome" Beth said with a seductive smile.
Luis whipped around surprised to find Beth standing there in a black laced teddy. He stood up away from the computer
to face her. "Hi Beth" he smiled. "What are you doing here?"
Beth smiled again at him and pulled Luis into a passionate kiss. Luis responded tentatively to her advances.
"Pezz, where are you?" a soft voice from the computer called him. "I can’t find you."
"Luis, what’s going on?" Beth demanded to know.
"Look, Beth, I can explain," Luis began, but he pulled himself out of their embrace.
"Pezz, please come to me. I want you, I need you" the voice continued to call.
Luis found himself being drawn closer and closer to the computer screen.
"Luis, what are you doing? Where are you going? You can’t leave me!" Beth pleaded.
"Beth, I’m sorry, I really didn’t mean for this to happen" Luis said, still moving closer to the screen.
"Pezz, where are you?" The voice continued. "Please come to me."
"Luis, I demand you come to me right now. I’m going to seduce you and convince you to come to New York with
me."
"Pezz, I still can’t find you. Where are you?" The soft soothing voice pleaded.
Luis looked at Beth, back to the computer screen and then back to Beth again. "I’m sorry Beth" Luis said
again. I can’t stay. I have to go." Suddenly Luis felt himself being sucked into the computer screen in a
whirlwind tunnel. He heard himself saying "I’m sorry Beth over and over again. He then changed his mantra
to "Don’t worry KC, I’m coming. I’m here KC."
Luis rolled over violently then sat bolt upright in bed. He opened his eyes to find himself surrounded by darkness.
His breathing was hard and his muscular body glistened with sweat.
Luis heard footsteps rushing towards him and suddenly his eyes were assaulted by light.
"Luis, are you all right?" Pilar asked with concern.
"Mama!" He exclaimed with relief. He took a moment to compose himself, finally coming to the realization
that it was just a nightmare. "Yeah Mama. I’m fine" he finally answered. "What time is it anyway?"
"It’s 10:30 Luis" Pilar answered him.
"Whoa! I’d better get moving. I have to be at the station at 11:00."
"Your uniform is pressed and waiting for you. Go take a shower and I’ll have something for you to eat downstairs
when you’re ready."
"Thanks Mama" Luis smiled, now fully awake.
"Luis, who is Casey?" Pilar asked curiously.
"KC?" Luis asked in surprise. Just the mention of the name caused him to catch his breath.
"Yes, you called the name out in your sleep"
Laughing it off, Luis shrugged his shoulders. "I don’t remember" he lied. "You know how dreams are.
You forget them the minute you wake up." Luis tried to make light of the situation, but he had an idea his
mother wasn’t buying it. He could tell by the look in her eyes.
"If you say so son" she replied. "Now, go take your shower, you don’t want to be late for work."
"Right away Mama" Luis answered as he practically ran into the bathroom. Whether his mother believed
him or not, he was glad she didn’t press the issue any further.
Sheridan hit the snooze on her alarm and rolled over still half asleep. She was dreaming and wasn’t quite ready
to face the world yet. It didn’t take long for sleep to come again and Sheridan was right back in her dream.
"Sheridan my love, I promise as soon as I finish business we will have all the time in the world together.
You’ll see" Jean Luc said with an alluring smile.
"I do love you Jean Luc" Sheridan said sounding as if she was trying to convince herself of this as well
as him.
"Come to me Sheridan" the tall dark stranger called. "You know we were always meant to be together.
"Do I know you?" Sheridan asked feeling drawn to the faceless man. All she could see was his black hat
and trench coat. He faced her, yet she could not see his features, they were obscured by a shadow.
"You know me. You know me well. Sheridan, you and I are meant to be" the man said holding his arms out
to her.
"But I am engaged to Jean Luc!" Sheridan told him sadly.
"Sheridan, in your heart you know Jean Luc is not the man for you. Whom have you dreamed of your whole life?"
"You" Sheridan answered simply. "I have dreamed of you." She found herself drifting further
and further from Jean Luc, reaching out to the stranger. Her hand was only inches from his. She looked over her
shoulder at Jean Luc who was calling her name. She wanted to return to her fiancé, but she couldn’t. Some
force was pulling her towards the tall dark stranger. She thought to herself she should be afraid, but she wasn’t.
On the contrary, she felt safer and more secure than she ever had in her life the closer she came to this man.
"But who are you? I don’t know who you are."
"Yes Sheridan. You know who I am. I am who you have waited for."
"Please let me see you face" Sheridan pleaded. The stranger gently took Sheridan’s hands and she felt
a surge of electricity shoot through her entire body as his strong hands caressed her own. It was unlike anything
she’d ever felt before.
The stranger lifted Sheridan’s left hand to his lips allowing them to brush her skin lightly, sending more shockwaves
flowing through her. He then lowered her hand as gingerly as he had lifted it and slowly backed away. In a moment,
he disappeared into the fog from where he came. Just as he was no longer visible, Sheridan heard the beep, beep,
beep of her alarm. She slowly opened her eyes revealing she was in her apartment in Paris.
"Oh my God, it was so real!" she said in frustration. These dreams are getting more real all the time."
She looked down at her hand and could swear she could still feel where he’d kissed it. After a few minutes, Sheridan
climbed out of bed and readied herself for her early morning chat.
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