"How do I walk and talk?"
"More like a lifeguard."
"I was, right here on this beach. Summer before I went off to college. But we're not here to socialize."
"I hope not, Detective, because I'm busy with a murder investigation."
"Call me Chip, and you're Sandra."
"Sandy." She reached across and shook his hand. It was softer than she expected. Her hand felt small.
The waitress was quick with his coffee. He waved the cream away. Sandy said, "You're a plain black coffee kind of guy."
"What kind is that?"
"No frills, nothing fancy added. Hold the cream and sugar, baby, let's get straight to the caffeine."
"You're an interesting girl. Your mind is always turning, isn't it?" He blew on the coffee, took a sip and glanced up at her. "First of all, I'm sorry if I came off overbearing when we first met."
"I expected it. Raise your voice to keep control. It's in the cop handbook. What's with the parking in back?"
"Huress has been nosing around. I don't want our cars seen together. Yours stands out like a red jellybean in a bowl of peanuts."
"Huress?"
"Bobby Huress, my old partner. We rode patrol. He thought we were great buddies, but I just tolerated him. He's into all that macho crap. The buddy stuff disappeared fast after I passed the detective exam and he flunked. He claims I got special treatment because my dad was once chief. He barely studied, and then said he couldn't pass because of the burden of wife and kids."
"He envies you. Why are you telling me this?"
"Probably shouldn't. I just wanted you to know, if you run into him, he's not on the case."
She could tell he was warming up to her. She liked this guy letting down his guard and throwing out some personal information, not afraid of appearing vulnerable. That earned him a couple more points. "Are you saying there's a patrol cop running around that you can't control, and he might try to play detective and approach me?"
"He's a sergeant now, has a lot of freedom. It's just a tip. All I'm saying is you're free to ignore him. Forget I said anything."
"I'll spot him if he follows me. What's he driving?"
"A blue and white, but watch out for his personal vehicle, a red Ford pickup with a large orange and blue 'Gator Nation' decal on the back window."
"Hey, I've seen that truck parked outside my apartment, Raymond's apartment. I saw it and wondered what the hell 'Gator Nation' meant. Is that your school?"
"Not my school. I'm Florida State. When did you see his truck?"