Chapter 8: Murder In Harmony
Chapter 8:
Sheridan awoke feeling safe and warm wrapped in Luis’ arms. She was finally starting to get used to the fact that it wasn’t a dream and she and Luis really were together. The air in the room was a bit cold so she snuggled up a little more to Luis and pulled the blankets up higher.
Luis felt her moving around. “Morning angel,” Luis said sleepily and he wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head, “you’re awake early.”
“Awake, but not ready to get up,” she said, “I could stay in bed with you forever.”
“Well, I don’t know about forever, but I don’t have to be at the station until eleven so we can stay here for a while.” They lay there cuddled up together until Sheridan’s eyes focused outside the window.
“Oh my god Luis,” she cried out.
“What, what is it?” Luis asked sitting up and holding Sheridan protectively, “what’s wrong?”
“Look outside, it snowed,” Sheridan said excitedly, “it’s the first snow of the year.”
“Snow, you scared the hell out of me because it snowed,” Luis said and he flopped back onto the pillow.
“I’m sorry baby, I’m just excited. I love snow.”
“I can tell you’re excited,” Luis laughed, “you’re like a kid who just found out school was cancelled for a snow day.”
“A what?” Sheridan asked.
“A snow day. You know when it snows so much they have to cancel school for the day because you can’t even get to school.”
“Oh, we never had those. I lived at school, so they never cancelled it. All we had to do was walk across a sidewalk to get to class,” Sheridan said, “come on get up, I want to go outside.”
Sheridan started to get up but Luis pulled her back down onto the bed. “I thought you wanted to stay in bed with me all day.”
“I did, but now I want to go outside,” Sheridan said and gave Luis a sexy little pout, “please come outside and play with me.”
“I just can’t resist you.”
“Great,” Sheridan said and she gave Luis a quick kiss before jumping out of bed, “let’s get dressed.” Luis laughed at how excited Sheridan was and climbed out of bed to get dressed.
“Come on Luis,” Sheridan called from the living room. She was already dressed in her winter clothes and ready to go outside but Luis was still getting dressed.
“Ok, ok, I’m ready, “ Luis said as he walked out of the bedroom, but the living room was empty and the front door was open. Luis walked outside and shut the front door behind him. “Ok angel, here I am,” Luis called and a snowball hit him in the side of the face. Luis wiped the cold snow from his face and when he opened his eyes he saw Sheridan standing in front of him with a big smile on her face. “You’re gonna pay for that,” Luis said and he started chasing her around. They tossed snowballs at each other until Luis finally caught Sheridan and they both fell down into the snow.
Luis grabbed a handful of snow and held it above Sheridan’s face. “Are you ready for payback,” Luis grinned, wiggling his eyebrows.
“No please Luis don’t.”
“It’s only fair Sheridan. You got me, now it’s your turn. There’s no escape.”
“Fine, just get it over with.” Sheridan squeezed her eyes shut waiting for the cold snow to hit her face. Luis dropped the snow onto the ground and leaned down enveloping her lips in a passionate kiss.
“I thought payback was supposed to be hell but if this is hell, let me burn forever,” Sheridan teased.
“That was a big snowball you threw at me, I think I need a little more payback,” Luis said and he continued his kissing torture.
“Will you help me make a snowman?” Sheridan asked.
“A snowman huh. I’m not sure that’s going to match the whole Crane Estate look.”
“I know,” Sheridan grinned, “Father and Julian will hate it.”
“Well in that case, let’s make a snowman,” Luis laughed.
Luis was using some small stones to make the face when Sheridan stopped him. “Wait Luis, this is a Crane snowman, it should be frowning. In fact, we’re missing something,” Sheridan said and she ran into the house and returned carrying a small glass with some brown liquid inside. She sat the glass into one of the snowman’s tree branch arms. “There now it’s perfect.”
“What’s the glass for?”
“Hey Sheridan,” Ethan called walking up the path, “did you rope Luis into playing in the snow with you? She’s always like this every year when it snows for the first time.”
“So Ethan do you like my snowman? Who does it remind you of?” Sheridan asked with a mischievous grin.
“Well, let’s see,” Ethan said surveying the snowman, “he’s frowning, and what’s in the glass, is that brandy? Oh god Sheridan, it’s father.” Luis burst out laughing. “Sheridan you’re terrible. Father’s going to have a fit if he sees that.”
“Oh well,” Sheridan shrugged, “so what brings you over this early Ethan?”
“I came to see if you want to have lunch this afternoon.”
“Sure,” Sheridan answered, “Luis is working today so I’m free.”
“Well I have a meeting this morning but I can come back and pick you up around eleven.”
“I have to be at the station at eleven so if you want I can take Sheridan with me and you guys can just meet somewhere so you don’t have to drive all the way back here,” Luis offered.
“Thanks baby, that sounds great. Why don’t we meet at the Book Café,” Sheridan said.
“Ok, thanks Luis. I’ll see you at the Book Café,” Ethan said and he left.
“Now that our snowman is finished lets go inside, I’m freezing,” Sheridan said. Luis started walking to the door and didn’t see Sheridan come up behind him with a handful of snow, which she quickly stuffed down the back of Luis’ shirt. Luis jumped back in surprise and Sheridan ducked around him and went into the house laughing.
Luis followed her into the house. “Why did you do that?
“I’m sorry baby, I was just playing,” Sheridan said and she gave Luis a kiss. While the were kissing Luis slipped his hand out from behind his back and dropped a small amount of snow in the back of her pants.
“Ahhh,” Sheridan shrieked, “that’s cold.”
“Now we’re even,” Luis grinned, “I’ll start a fire.”
“Fine,” Sheridan said as she took of her coat and gloves, “I’m going to change into something a little drier and warmer.”
Luis hung up his coat and took off his shirt since it now had a big wet patch on the back. He quickly lit a fire in the gas fireplace and then went into the kitchen to make them some hot chocolate.
Sheridan came out of her bedroom ready to make an entrance, but the living room was empty. She grabbed a blanket off the back of the couch and spread it out on the floor in front of the fireplace. She lay down on the blanket on her side with her head propped up on one hand and waited for Luis to return.
Luis came out of the kitchen carrying two mugs. “I made us some hot…” Luis stopped in mid sentence when he saw Sheridan lying in front of the fireplace, wearing nothing but a smile. “I thought you were going to change into something warm,” Luis said as he sat the mugs on the table.
“I decided all I really need to warm me up is you,” Sheridan said seductively.
Luis joined Sheridan on the floor. “Baby by the time I’m done you’ll be burning up.”
“I’m counting on it,” Sheridan purred and she pulled Luis into a fiery kiss.
Julian took a swig of brandy and rolled his eyes at the speakerphone sitting on his desk.
“Put down your liquid breakfast and pay attention Julian,” Alistair’s voice screamed from the speakerphone.
“I am paying attention father, but I don’t see what you expect me to do, go yank Luis out of Sheridan’s bed.”
“We have to do something. I don’t want Sheridan and Luis involved. It’s too risky,” Alistair grumbled, “convince Sheridan he’s still using her or have the kidnapping charges reinstated.”
“I think we should just leave them alone.”
“You think! I don’t care what you think Julian.”
“But father if we do something now it will only make Luis suspicious and then he’ll start poking around. I think right now Sheridan and her boy toy are too wrapped up in each other to care about anything else,” Julian said. “Besides she is a Crane and she’ll surely get bored with his low income lifestyle before too long and then we won’t have to worry about Luis at all.”
“You’re probably wrong Julian, you usually are,” Alistair spat through the phone, “if something happens because of your laziness you’ll be held fully responsible. Now I want you to do something about this situation.”
“Yes father, I’ll take care of it. I have to go now,” Julian said and quickly hung up the phone.
Kay was brushing her hair when there was a knock at her bedroom door. “Come in,” she called and Ivy walked in.
“Good morning Kay, could we talk for a minute,” Ivy asked.
“Sure, what about?” Kay and Ivy sat down on the couch.
“Well you agreed to stay here on a temporary basis and it’s been a few days now so I was wondering if you’ve made any decisions about what you want to do.”
“Oh, you’re right, I guess I’ve been here too long,” Kay said sadly, “I can pack up my stuff and leave tonight.”
“No Kay darling, you misunderstood me. I don’t want you to leave, in fact I was hoping you would agree to stay longer, as long as you want,” Ivy said.
“You really want me to stay,” Kay questioned, “what about Mr. Crane, he obviously doesn’t like me.”
“Well I don’t like Julian, so who cares,” Ivy laughed, “Ethan and I both love having you here and we’d like you to stay. We want you to feel like part of the family.”
“I’d love to stay,” Kay said happily, “I really like it here and you and Ethan have been so great.”
“Well then it’s settled, you’ll stay,” Ivy said, “but there are a few decisions that must be made.”
“Like what?”
“School. It’s Monday and you’re supposed to be at school. Ethan told me you didn’t want to go back to school and you’re obviously not going today, but you can’t keep missing school. Having an education is important and I know your father won’t be happy about you missing school.”
“But I don’t want to go back to school,” Kay said, “Miguel and Charity are in all my classes and I don’t want to see them or anyone else.”
“I didn’t think you would, so I thought we’d hire some tutors to come to the house and that way you can continue the work you have already been doing at school but you won’t actually have to go there.”
“Thank you Ivy, that would be great,” Kay said and she hugged Ivy.
“Well now that we’ve settled that I think we should have some fun today. Sheridan said that you should consider this your room now and you can change anything you want. So why don’t we go to the Book Café and get some coffee, or whatever you want and we’ll look at some design magazines and see what you want your room to look like.”
“That sounds great.”
“Ok you finish getting ready and we’ll leave in 10 minutes,” Ivy said and she went back into her room and picked up the phone.
The phone rang at Sheridan’s cottage as she was buttoning the last two buttons of her shirt. “Hello.”
“Sheridan it’s Ivy. Is Luis there?”
“Yes, but he’s about to leave for the station, why?” Sheridan asked.
“I’m taking Kay to the Book Café and I was hoping Luis could find a way to get Sam over there,” Ivy said, “I think that if they get the chance to see each other that Kay will start talking to him.”
“Well Luis was going to drop me off at the Book Café to meet Ethan on his way to the station, but I can go with him to the station and I’ll make sure Sam comes over to the Book Café with me.”
“Thank you Sheridan, that would be great,” Ivy said, “I’ll see you later.”
“Bye,” Sheridan said and she hung up the phone and walked out into the living room. “I’m ready to go.”
“Ok Angel. Who was on the phone?” Luis asked.
“That was Ivy. She wants us to get Sam over to the Book Café.”
“Why?”
“She’s taking Kay over there and she thinks that Kay will talk to Sam if they run into each other.”
“I know exactly what to do,” Luis said and they left for the station.
Sheridan and Luis walked hand in hand into the police station. Luis winked at Sheridan and they went over to Sam.
“Hey Sam,” Luis said.
“Oh hi Luis. What are you doing here Sheridan?”
“I just came by to take a look at Luis’ new office,” Sheridan said and she and Luis went into his office.
“So what do you think?” Luis asked and she sat down in the chair behind his desk.
“It’s great Luis, I’m so happy for you,” Sheridan gushed happily and she sat up on the corner of Luis’ desk and looked down at him, “you had a dream and you made it come true.”
“You are my dream come true,” Luis said and he kissed her hand.
“And you are mine.” Sheridan leaned down and captured his lips in a soft kiss. “This office is missing something,” Sheridan said.
“What’s that?”
“It needs a plant or some fish or something.”
“I’m terrible with plants,” Luis said, “Mama says I have a brown thumb.”
Sheridan laughed, “okay then how about some fish. They’re supposed to help you relax and work better.”
“Fish? I don’t know Sheridan.”
“You could put a tank over in the corner. It would be really nice. We could get some of those little tiny sharks and then when you bring in a suspect for interrogation he will be intimidated by the little sharks and confess,” Sheridan teased. “Please Luis, let me get you some fish. I want to get you something for your office that will remind you of me.”
“Sharks are supposed to remind me of you?” Luis laughed.
“Well that and the picture of me I’m going to put on your desk,” Sheridan grinned.
“There are already pictures of you on my desk angel.” Sheridan turned around and saw a tri-fold picture frame with three pictures in it. The first picture was the standard picture of Sheridan that always went out in family and Crane Industries press propaganda. The middle picture was a picture of Sheridan and Luis kissing at the Policeman’s Ball that had been cut out of the newspaper. The last picture was Sheridan’s mug shot when Luis had arrested her.
“Why do you have my mug shot on your desk?”
“The pictures and the frame were a gift from Sam. It was on my desk when I got here for my first day as a detective.”
“Oh Luis that’s a horrible picture.”
“I like it. That angry look on your face is directed at me standing next to the camera. It reminds me that I don’t want to do anything to make you mad at me. That and to never let you drive,” Luis laughed. Sheridan smacked Luis’ arm. “Hey now, don’t assault a police officer or we’ll have to go take a new picture for my desk,” Luis teased and he pulled Sheridan off his desk and onto his lap.
“There’s nothing wrong with my driving,” Sheridan muttered.
“Whatever you say angel,” Luis said and he kissed her cheek. “I’m going to go out and talk to Sam. You wait in here for a couple of minutes and then come out like we planned.” Luis walked out of his office and went up to Sam who was talking to a couple of officers. “Hey chief can I talk to you for a sec.”
“Sure Luis, what’s up?”
“It’s about Sheridan. She’s supposed to go over to the Book Café to meet Ethan. I can tell she’s still a little nervous about being out in public alone after everything that happened with those drug dealers and hitmen,” Luis began.
“That’s understandable,” Sam said.
“She won’t admit it though and you know how stubborn she is. Whenever I worry about her or say something about it she says I’m being too overprotective. Would you mind walking over there with her? I know if I try to do it she’ll just get mad at me for thinking she can’t take care of herself.”
“Sure.”
“Great, just act like your already going over there so she won’t know I asked you to go with her,” Luis said quickly when he saw Sheridan walking their way.
“I better get going Luis, I have to meet Ethan at the Book Café in five minutes,” Sheridan said.
“Oh really, I was just about to go over there and grab a cup of coffee and a muffin,” Sam said, “do you mind if I walkover there with you.”
“Sure, I’d like that,” Sheridan said and she turned to Luis and kissed him on the cheek,” Have a good day. I love you.”
“I love you too,” Luis responded, “I get off at six so I’ll pick you up for dinner.”
“Ok.” Sheridan turned back to Sam. “Were going to have to have a chat about that mug shot,” she said to Sam as they walked out of the station.
A few minutes later Sheridan and Sam walked into the Book Café. “Oh look, there’s Ivy and Kay. Let’s go say hi,” Sheridan said and she led Sam over to the table where Ivy and Kay were sitting.
“Hello Sheridan,” Ivy said, “what are you doing here?”
“I’m meeting Ethan and Sam was nice enough to walk over here with me. Oh, it looks like Ethan just got here so I better go. Bye,” Sheridan said and she went off with Ethan, leaving Sam with Ivy and Kay.
“Hello Sam, it’s good to see you,” Ivy said.
“It’s nice to see you too,” Sam said and he looked at his daughter, “Kay, do you mind if I join you for a minute?”
To Be Continued…