Part 14

Danny Bounds was exhausted when Charlie pulled up in front of his house in her dirty truck and leaned on the horn. He had to sprint down the front walk before she woke up the whole street, feeling like a man whose mistress has shown up at his doorstep on Christmas morning.

It had been a strange night and sleep hadn’t factored in, despite his best attempts to get some rest. A few more nights like that and the circles under his eyes would be as black as Charlie’s. In his sleep-deprived state, he found this play on words to be shriekingly funny.

Joan had been pleased to see her husband home early, and positively delighted when he’d let slip about his potential promotion. Her enthusiasm was somewhat dampened by Danny’s morose silence.

“You said promotion, right?” she asked as they lay together in bed. “Promotion doesn’t suddenly mean ‘getting fired’ does it?”

“No. It’s good.”

“Then why are you acting like you’re heading to your execution? You’ve been working for this sort of thing for years, Danny. You should be so proud.”

“I either have to accept that vampires are real and the world is insane, or the idea that the Chief is a complete and total lunatic and unfit to hold his job, which I don’t believe at all. This puts me in a very awkward position,” he didn’t say.

“I have to leave at the crack of dawn to go work with Charlie Black on something I don’t understand,” he said, because it was true enough to not be a lie. Joan sighed and rolled over so that her belly nudged his back.

“Daniel. You need to get over your issues with that woman. It’s getting ridiculous.” He could hear the smile in her voice. “In fact, it’s nearing an obsession, and as your wife I have some problems with that.” Danny chuckled weakly into his pillow.

“You are the focus of all my obsessions,” he assured her. “It’s just… I feel like I’m out of my depth here.” Understatements didn’t count as lies. Joan’s fingers snaked into his hair, cool against his forehead.

“Baby, this could be huge. For all of us. Your promotion could change our lives. Mrs. Meigs says that my work this year on the flower arrangements is going to put Piper Ridge on the map. And with you as the new Chief of Police…” Her voice trailed off, lost in a perfect vision of their future together. Her happiness lit up the dark bedroom. “We’ll be set, Danny. This is what we’ve always wanted.” She planted a soft kiss at the base of his neck. “So grit your teeth and put up with Charlie. Hell, I’ll go with her if it will get you that promotion.” Her lips became more aggressive at his neck.

“All right,” laughed Danny, squirming under her mouth. “I’ll play nice with the town nut for your and Bump, and the eternal glory of the Bounds clan.”

“Thank you, Danny.” They settled down to sleep. Bounds’ voice pulled Joan back from the edge of slumber.

“Honey, do we have any garlic?”