BOOTLEG LOVE

6

Evangeline watched as Quincy spoke to Payton and the men with him. Of all the places they could have gone, why had Quincy picked this one? Had he known Payton would be there? Had he just used their date as an excuse to follow Payton around off duty? She was too far away to hear what was said, but it wasn’t long before Quincy was returning to their table.

            “Friends of yours?” She asked with a smile. She didn’t think it wise to admit she knew Payton. His presence didn’t seem to fill Quincy with joy. In fact, he looked down, right ticked off as he took his seat across from her.

            “Not quite.” He said, reaching for the menu. “This place has great pasta.” He said, scanning the menu.

            “Are you going to tell me what that was about?” She asked, taking the menu in front of her and perusing it.             

            “No.” He said flatly and then looked up from his menu and smiled at her. “I would hate to burden you with the particulars of my job. It is not all glitz and glory.”

            He had opened the door. “Oh, so that was business? Is he another detective?” She asked, knowing he wasn’t, and the men with Payton likely weren’t either.

            “No. They would be on the other side of the interrogation table.” He said, looking back at his menu.

            “Oh my, they are criminals? Is it safe to be here?”

            “I will keep you safe.” He promised. “Besides, they are just eating, nothing illegal about that.”

            Evangeline leaned forward, wondering how much Quincy knew about Payton. “What did they do?”

            “That I can prove? Not a thing.”

            “And that you can’t prove?”

            “They are bootleggers.”

            Evangeline feigned a shocked expression. “Shameful.” She said, sitting back in her chair and looking over at Payton, who was casually looking her way. Quincy was engrossed in his menu options; he didn’t notice the smile Payton gave her. It was that same impish grin he had given her a million times before in their youth. Evangeline smiled and looked away, trying not to draw attention to the fact that she knew him.

            “Yes, it is.” Quincy looked up at her and shook his head. “Men like that always think they can skirt the rules. Just pick and choose the laws they want to obey. If everyone did that, the whole world would descend into chaos. Men like that are the worst; they make good honest, hard-working people into criminals, preying on their desperation; it is vile. They should all be shot.”

            “That seems a wee bit extreme.” She said.

            “They are a menace to polite society, and I will tell you what, when I get elected, I will make harsher punishments for men like that. They will do hard time. If I have my way, they will never breathe another free breath for the rest of their lives.” He seemed passionate about his opinion; now, she was sure not revealing her acquaintance with Payton a good idea. He would freak right out if he knew she knew Payton Kingston.

            “Did you know they would be here?” The question was eating at her.

            Quincy’s eyes widened with surprise, and then he looked hurt. “You think I came here just because they did? That our luncheon is a ruse?” He reached across the table and took her hand in his, his dark eyes filled with hurt. “Never. This day was all about us. Their presence was just an unlucky coincidence.” He seemed to be genuine, so she decided to take him at his word.

            The waitress appeared at their side, ready to take their order. Deciding to continue with their date, Evangeline ordered, and then Quincy did as well. “Tell me, are you ever really off duty?” She asked teasingly.

            He smiled and nodded his head. “I know I should leave the office at the office, but it is not so easy. When you are a cop, you are always on duty, even on your days off. But I promise I will do my utmost to focus on you.” He promised, and she believed he would do just that.

            He picked up his seat and moved it around the side of the table, giving Payton’s table his back and seating himself next to Evangeline. He then took her hand in his and kissed her knuckles. “Let’s forget them. I would much rather talk about you.” He smiled. “How do you spend your time?”

            “I spend a lot of time following my Mother around. She has grand plans for me to follow in her footsteps.”

            “Blue-stockings.” He said with understanding.

            “Exactly. She and the others have this notion of equality. She wants me to fight the good fight.”

            “But you don’t want to?”

            Well, it wasn’t that she didn’t believe in equality. Women should have the same rights as men, to vote and work and be paid just as well as their male counterparts, but it was a choice. She also believed there was nothing wrong with staying in the home and rearing children, a woman should have the right to choose to stay home or go to work, and she shouldn’t be pressured to do one or the other. However, her mother and the others did not share her view of equality.

            “Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for equality, but I think if a woman should have the right to choose to work, she should also have the right to raise a family.”

            “And which do you want?” He asked, hanging on her every word.

            What did she want? No one had ever asked her that. “I don’t know.” But, honestly, she didn’t. She could see the benefits and the drawbacks to both sides. Working meant she was self-sufficient and independent; there were no limits to what she could do, but she would have no time for a family. But, on the other hand, if she married, stayed home, and raised babies, then she was dependent on a man and, at his mercy, victim to his every whim.

She supposed if she married a good man like Quincy, she could have a good life. He surely wouldn’t mistreat her. After all, he seemed utterly enthralled with her, and she must say she was enjoying the attention. Usually, men went for the girls like Pamela and Becky, both of which were far more fashionable than she was. They had the shapeless flat figure Evangeline tried so hard to achieve with little luck. She tried to lose weight, and she did her best to bind her breasts to hide her curvy hips and full bust, but cloth could only hide so much.

            “Well, if you were my woman, I would spend my life giving you whatever it was your heart desired.”

            What her heart desired. Without thinking, her gaze darted over to Payton, who was still watching her and Quincy. Finding this odd, Quincy looked over his shoulder to see what she was looking at, but Payton looked away.

            “What is it?” He asked, looking at the table. “Are they doing something?”

            “Nothing.” She lied, drawing his attention back to her. She didn’t want him focusing on Payton. She wanted to distract him. Luckily at that moment, the waitress brought their meal and set it down in front of them.

            They talked about life, his family and hers. Then, while they were finishing off their plates, Payton’s table stood up, and the older man paid, left money on the table, and they headed for the door. Payton shot her one last look as they disappeared through the door. She wished she could have talked to him, but now had not been the time.

            They finished their meals, and Quincy paid the bill. He then pulled out her chair and offered her his hand. Evangeline looked down at his hand. Holding his hand was perhaps a bit more intimate than she should allow. After all, she barely knew him, but she felt so comfortable around him; what would it hurt to allow him some liberties? 

            She took his hand, and the smile on his face grew. They left the car outside the restaurant and took a walk down the path that led down to the water. Hand in hand, they walked by the lake, and Quincy told her more about his childhood and his family. They were having such a good time they didn’t even notice the time.

            “Why did you become a police officer?” She asked as they sat on the grassy bank.

            “I wanted to make a difference in the world.” He said, sitting beside her.

            “And do you feel like you are?”

            “I do.”

            “Then why are you going into politics?”

            “I think I could make a bigger difference as a Mayor. Being a Detective is fine, but the limits of the law often tie my hands. As a politician, I would have the chance to influence and perhaps one day change and make the laws. The impact I could make is phenomenal. I can’t pass it up.” He said. He looked up at the setting sun and then looked down and took a pocket watch from his vest pocket. “Oh my, where did the day go?” He laughed, standing up. “My shift starts in an hour.” He offered her his hand and helped her to her feet. “I am afraid I must take you home.”

            “What a pity.” She said, standing up. “I was having a lovely time.” She said as they started back to the restaurant.

            “As was I.” He said, taking her hand in his. “Perhaps we could see each other again tomorrow afternoon.”

            It was a lovely thought, but she had other obligations. “I’m afraid I have other plans,” she was having tea with her friends, “but what about the next day?”

            “I’m afraid I have a fundraiser to attend. Perhaps you would accompany me?”

            “I would love to.” She said as they reached the car. “Tell me what is on the agenda tonight? Doing some driving around to find evildoers?” She teased.

            “Actually, no.” He said, opening the door for her so she could get in. “We have a tip that there is an underground jazz club beneath a coffee shop in Greenwood. We are going to raid it tonight. It should be interesting. I’m hoping for a big bust.” Oh no… Payton. Evangeline went silent as Quincy shut her door and walked around the car. She had to warn Payton. She had to get to him first.