The Harem on the Hill (Part XXXIII) (Patreon)

"Good afternoon, Sir.  I'm officer Petty and this is officer Morgan."

"What can I do for you..."  You almost say gentlemen, but notice Morgan's full lips and flawless olive skin.  "Officers?"

"First of all, thank you for letting us through the gate," Petty says.

"Of course," you say, although you had nothing to do with it.  If it was up to you, Officers Petty and Morgan would be on their way back to headquarters right now.

"Secondly, we were hoping to ask you a couple questions about a missing townie."

"I'm sorry to hear that.  Who?"  When dealing with the law, you were cautioned to be careful asking questions to which you already know the answer, as it can come off as phony or diversionary.  In this case, however, you really don't know.

Officer Petty pulls a photograph of a diminutive brunette from his breast pocket.  "Her name is Tina Jordan."

Lithe body.  Bright smile.  Trendy bob haircut.  It's Tina alright, though she hasn't looked that way in quite some time.  

You nod.  "She was a waitress at a coffee shop I used to frequent."

"Not anymore?"

"I would assume not."  You can't resist a little cop show sarcasm, although it probably isn't the best legal strategy.

Officer Petty smiles.  He's either a good sport or a good actor.  "I'm sorry.  I meant you don't frequent the coffee shop anymore."

"Occasionally," you say.  That was true.  You didn't want to completely abandon ship once Tina was gone and had visited a handful of times since.  Besides, the coffee was good and you liked the owner, Paul.

"But not as much."

"No, I liked Tina.  The owner, Pete?  Paul?"  The officers' blank faces are no help.  "Anyway, he mentioned she had disappeared.  Not really disappeared, just no-called, no-showed and never came back."

"Were you concerned?"

"Not really.  I figured that sort of thing happens.  Disappointed though."

"You were friends?"

"Friendly."

"Rumor has it you might have been more than friends."  Officer Morgan speaks!   By the look Petty shoots her she wasn't supposed to.  Regardless, her voice is as smooth as her skin.

"Who told you that?"  Another question you don't know the answer to, though you'd like to.

"We're not at liberty to say,"  Officer Petty says.  There's a hint of irritation in his voice, likely with his junior officer.

Officer Morgan is undaunted.  "This is quite a place," she says, sizing it up.  "I imagine that's why it took so long to let us in.  Heck, I'd pee my pants trying to find a bathroom!"  She smiles at her partner, but he doesn't return it.

"That's where I was when you showed up."  Your first lie, though innocuous.

"Is that where you got the scratch?"

You locate a tender spot on your chin.  In your haste to meet the police at the door you hadn't checked yourself following your incursion with Tabitha.  "No, I was doing some gardening.  I must have gotten it then."

Your second lie.  You're not sure you like talking to officer Morgan.

"Really?  I figured a guy like you would have people for that.  What are you planting this time of year?"

Now you're certain of it.

"Just routine maintenance," you say.  "It's a bit too warm for planting."

Morgan nods then adds, "May I see it?  I've got a bit of a green thumb."

"I'm sorry, sir," Officer Petty interjects.  "I'm sure you don't have time to give guided tours of your garden."  Then he glares at his partner.  "And we don't have time to take them."

"Another time," you smile.  Frankly, you'd love nothing more than to give Officer Morgan a one-way tour of your basement.

"It is a bit warm out here though, sir," Officer Petty adds.  "Would you mind if we came in just for a couple of minutes?  Then I promise we won't bother you again."

You've heard that promise before.

Ideally, you'd invite the officers in.  Nothing raises red flags like avoidance and you've gone to great lengths to ensure there's nothing incriminating on the main floor.  However, with one of your girls electrocuted and another running amok, it isn't a great time.

What do you say?