Page 42 of Legends Luke

“Shreveport PD. Open up!”

“Lyric,” Luke called before she could react hastily. “Ask them to verify they’re police before you open the door.”

“Okay.”

He listened to her voice the question, and after a few minutes, she called to him.

“She slid a badge and photo ID under the door.”

Luke released Melody and reached for the laptop. “Give me the name and badge number.”

He quickly ran the information through his system remotely. “She’s good, Lyric. Put the lid down and open the door. Keep your hands raised, so they know you’re not a threat.”

Melody leaned into him as they listened to Lyric open the door to the officer. Her voice shook as she answered the officer’s questions about what happened, and Luke put his arms back around Melody. Her body shook, and he tightened his hold.

The officer’s voice was louder. “Are you on the phone with someone? Are you talking to the 911 operator?”

“N-no,” Lyric replied. “The 911 call dropped. It’s my sister and her boyfriend. They stayed on the phone with me until you could get here.”

Melody didn’t react to her sister referring to Luke as a boyfriend, and he was surprised he liked the sound of it as much as he did.

“Hello?” The officer’s voice was clear as she spoke into Lyric’s phone.

“Yes,” Melody spoke up. “This is Melody Douglas. Lyric is my sister. Is she alright?”

“Miss Douglas, this is Officer Mareno. Your sister is pretty shaken up, but the perpetrators weren’t able to get to her before we got here. My partner and I were fortunately close by and able to respond quickly. Do you live nearby?”

“No, but I’m only three hours away. I’ll get on the road as soon as I can pack a bag.”

The officer’s voice sounded far away as if she moved the cell away from her as she spoke to Lyric. “Do you have someone you can stay with until your sister arrives?”

They couldn’t make out the words, but they heard Lyric respond. Then she spoke into the phone.

“Melon, it’s okay. You don’t have to come. I’m fine. I’ll call my friend Hannah and stay with her tonight. It’s fine. Is Luke still there?”

“I’m here, Lyric.”

“Thank you for being there. I don’t want to think about howthings would have been different if you…well, thank you. Can you do me one more favor?”

He couldn’t stop the smile from crossing his lips. “Name it.”

“Melon is going to insist on coming here. Talk her off the ledge for me? I really am okay. Just frightened, but it’ll pass.”

Luke met Melody’s determined gaze, and he realized Lyric’s favor would be no easy task. “I’ll do my best.”

“I’ll call when I get to Hannah’s. Officer Mareno said she would escort me there.”

“I love you, Bird. I’ll be waiting for your call, so don’t forget.”

The call ended. Luke logged out of his remote system and closed the laptop. He already had an argument in mind to keep Melody from driving to Shreveport, but when he faced her, the incredulity on her face left him speechless.

“You were amazing,” she whispered, and as his pride puffed up in response, his ego deflated when she continued. “How do you know how to do that?”

It was on the tip of his tongue to lie and redirect the conversation away from him. But for the first time in his adulthood, Luke was faced with a moment he never thought would come — when, instead of inventing a response, he wanted to share with someone about his life as a Legend. He no longer wanted to hide who he was.

Chapter Eighteen

Melody pocketed her cell and resumed staring out of the truck window into the inky night. The sporadic streetlamps provided little illumination on the country road, and their speed made it difficult to note her surroundings. Her mind dwelled on other things.

---