Page 65 of Truly, Madly, Deeply
“It’s okay.” She lifted one heeled foot. “These are more comfortable than they look.” She leaned over and kissed Luke’s cheek. “I’ll walk with you.”
Something about the dimly lit parking area or thedistance they needed to walk to get to the studio gave Luke the slightest sense of concern. They weren’t in the worst part of the city, but the area wasn’t exactly safe. For a moment he thought about taking her back to the front door and insisting she skip the walk.
But then he came upon a spot and he parked. “They need more light back here.”
“Agreed.” She looked out her side window and then through the windshield to the wooded area that lined the lot. “Let’s hurry.”
Luke wasn’t afraid. But his concern deepened as he helped Reagan out of the car.Lord, walk with us. Something doesn’t feel right.He pulled Reagan close and she took his arm.
They had just started walking toward the dance building when someone behind them shouted. “Hey! Turn around!”
They both pivoted and Luke felt a rush of terror. Two men were running toward them, guns drawn. Instinctively, Luke moved Reagan behind him. The men were young with masks on their faces. Clown masks. One of them was laughing.
“What do you want?” Luke thought about fleeing, but they couldn’t turn their backs on the armed punks.
The guys stopped a few feet away. Their guns were real. Luke was sure. The one who was still laughing raised his weapon higher. “Your money. Throw your wallets and purse down on the ground.”
Before Luke or Reagan could do as they asked, sirenssounded near the entrance of the driveway. The lead clown shoved his gun at Luke’s shoulder. “Your wallet. Now! Or I’ll kill you both!”
The sirens were louder, closer.
“They found us, man.” The other masked guy turned and started running the other way. “It’s too late. Come on!”
Just then a police car sped up and two officers jumped out. “Stop. Police!” they shouted, and as they did, the guy with the laugh turned and ran after his buddy.
Luke couldn’t breathe. What had just happened? What if they had…? He turned and pulled Reagan into his arms. “Honey. It’s okay.”
“Luke they… they could’ve…” Her skin was sheet white. She buried her face in his shoulder. “We had no warning.”
In the adjacent lot, the officers tackled the guys and cuffed them. Luke closed his eyes and breathed in the smell of Reagan’s hair. She was right. It had happened so fast. And just like that they could’ve been… their kids would’ve been without—
He couldn’t let himself go there. “We’re safe.” His voice sounded desperate with relief. “Thank God, we’re safe.”
They waited while the bad guys were taken to the squad car. By then a few other officers had arrived. One of the cops who had chased down the suspects took statements from Luke and then from Reagan.
Luke still felt dizzy as they told the officers whatthey knew. Reagan clung to him, like she might collapse otherwise. Yes, they had guns. Yes, they had pointed their weapons at them and demanded money. Yes, they had threatened to kill them.
The cop was maybe in his late twenties. Dark skinned. Good looking, fit. Willing to put his life on the line for Luke and Reagan. The sort of officer Tommy would be. The guy shook his head. “So sorry about the scare. Those two have been on a robbery spree since midday.” He tapped his pen on his clipboard. “We’ve been in pursuit on and off from the first call.”
Luke’s lawyer brain had a handful of questions about the suspects and whether the district attorney would file the most severe charges against the men. But that wasn’t his job, and he still wanted to go dancing with his wife. He put his hand on the young officer’s shoulder. “Thank you. If you hadn’t come just then…”
“I know.” The man clenched his jaw. “They fired shots at a few of their victims.” He took a deep breath. “We’d been following them for several blocks.”
Half an hour later, when the lesson portion of the ballroom dancing was over and free dance began, Luke waltzed Reagan across the floor. His heart was beating normally again. “That was awful.”
“Those officers… they saved our lives.” Reagan looked deep into Luke’s eyes. “If they hadn’t shown up when they did…”
“Anything could’ve happened.” Luke ran his hand along the back of her head. “I can’t think about it.”
She stayed in time with him. No matter how many years had gone by, the two of them still shone on the dance floor. Like a single moving, breathing unit, gliding across the polished wood. His Reagan, the love of his life.
Later over dessert, they told the story to Mike and his wife, Trudy. They all agreed that if the officers hadn’t already been in pursuit of the suspects, the night could’ve ended much differently.
Luke watched the way Reagan seemed fully engaged in the conversation with the couple. Maybe the incident at the parking lot had given her a new perspective. She looked from Luke to Mike and his wife across the booth. “For years we’ve watchedCopswith Tommy. He’s always wanted to be an officer, you know.”
“That’s what I heard. Our kids watch it, too. They love the show.” Mike put his arm around his wife. “Tommy’s a wonderful young man. We already love him at the department.”
“I’m sure.” Reagan was still fired up. “I always say high school kids should be required to watch a season ofCops.” She looked at Mike. “So they can see what not to do… drugs and robbery and violence. And so they can appreciate the danger you and your fellow officers put yourselves in every day.” She took a quick breath. “Police work isn’t a job. I saw that tonight. It’s a calling.”
