Chapter 6

Russell Drake was sweating. The tie he was rearing was beginning to feel like a hangman's noose around his neck. It had been a long hot day. He was standing at what was his third grave side service for the day. Why did everyone seem to choose to "depart" all at once? He was fine with the occasional two funerals in one day, but three on what seemed to be the hottest day the've had so far? That was ridiculous. Just as the pastor was saying "amen", Russ felt his phone vibrating in his pocket. Great, he thought to him self, What does a black man have to do for some peace and quiet around here? The number was the police department. Of course it was. Why wouldn't it he? 

"Sergeant Drake" He answered in a whisper as he tip toed away from the grave site. 

"Russ?" The female voice on the other end seemed to yell into the phone.

"Yes Tammy, it's Russ, you don't have to yell at me" he was still speaking barley above a whisper.

"Why in tarnation are you whispering for?" She was still yelling.

"Im at a funeral Tammy, What do you want?" Still whispering.

" Oh, I'm sorry, I wouldn't be bothering you at all if I had a choice, so you can just drop that attitude" now she was whispering which made it hard for Russ to hear over the crowed chatting behind him.

"What in God's name do u want Tammy!" Sergeant Drake picked the wrong moment to speak above a whisper and the pastor gave him a disapproving glance.

"Well Chief told me to call you to come in quick as you can. He's beside his self about something. Told me not to say anything to no body but to call you lickity split".

Russell checked his watch. He should be able to sneak out any minuet now. "Ok, i'll be by there as soon as I can" He hung up before Tammy could say anything else. He could just imagine her slamming the phone down at the office, ready to spit fire at him.  

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Tammy mumbled under her breath as she began to dial the other numbers the chief had given her. They seemed to be calling everyone in and it must be important because when one of the officers response to coming in on his day off was "I've been drinking sense lunch time" Chief said "then sober up quick 'cause we need you". 

She sat there twirling her long blonde hair around her index finger. The phone rang, rang and rang and finally went to voice mail.  She hung up and tried again, this time leaving a message when he didn't answer. "Hmm" she thought allowed. That wasn't like him at all.

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The water was warm. Not a warm as bath water. Still cool enough to feel refreshing on your bare skin, but warm enough to make you want to stay in it for hours. Reluctanty both Mason and Blair trudged out of the water just as the sun was setting behind the hill. Instantly making it a little bit cooler. They lay on the side of the bank, clothes dripping.

"Well, i'm not going to lie, I'm disappointed you wouldn't jump in with your uniform on. I mean, that would have been much more reckless of you." Blair had dimples on either cheek when she smiled. She leaned her head to the side now, ringing her hair out. The water made her hair look almost black.

"You kidding me? These things are like gold around the department. If your lucky to get a new one, you treat it like its you last!"

They both laughed together.

"What are you studying in school, Blair? You haven't told me."

"Early child hood education. Last semester was the last on for me in a class room. This fall I'll be student teaching."

The light was growing less by the minuet. With the sunset came a cool evening breeze. Mason noticed Blair was shivering a little bit. He stood to his feet and offered her his hand.

"Guess it's time we head to find some dry clothes."

"Mason?" Blair asked him as the walked to the fork in the path, where he would go one way, and her the other.

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for helping me pick up where we left off, I needed it"

He just chuckled and nodded a reply.

"I'll see ay Blair".

She smiled and lifted her hand in a slight wave, and turned her back on him to go back to her grandparents house.

Mason fairly flew to his truck, this time jumping over the gate. He was almost giddy, and he new it.

he climbed into his truck and heard the annoying beeping of his phone. He looked down to check it, and got a little worried when he saw there were 7 missed calls. All from the department.