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When she wakes up later and looks at the clock on the night table, she notices that John has forgotten his cell phone. Not that he's going to miss it much, having the police radio in his car, and plenty of phones in the station, but she wouldn't want him to worry about it, think that he's lost it somewhere. So she calls the station. She knows she should rather call the private number in his office but doesn't know it. She generally tries not to bother him at work and, if she needs to reach him, there's usually his cellphone.

"Good morning! It's Clarity. May I…"

"Full name. Purpose of your call."

"Well, I'm Clarity and…"

"This is not a full name."

"But I'd just like…"

"Last name, first name, middle initial"

Clarity doesn't recognize the woman's voice; she must be new in the station. And sounds to be a stickler for the rules. "Vannier. Claire. I don't have any middle name. But it won't…"

"Purpose of your call."

Clarity sighs. The woman is just doing her job. A bit too 'uptightly' maybe, but well… "May I talk to Sheriff Biebe, please?"

"Sheriff Biebe's out of the office, on mission."

"Then could you please forward him a message?"

"Sheriff Biebe is a busy man. Report your problem here and I'll…"

"Well… it's personal, you know. I'm sorry to bother you but it's just that he has forg…"

"If it's personal, then call him on his cellphone and don't block the line, we need it for real emergencies."

Clarity is trying to stay calm and understanding but she's beginning to lose patience. "I know, I'm sorry I shouldn't have used this line but I've forgotten the direct number to his office and he has forgotten…"

"I'm not allowed to give you the direct line to the Sheriff's office."

"I know, and I'm not asking you anything you can't do, I just would like you to tell him, when you get in touch with him, without bothering you, him or anyone too much that…" She hears a click then the sound of a dead line. She gets the unpleasant feeling that someone just hanged up on her.

The bitch!

She angrily dials again the numbers of the station and, when she gets the line, she speaks without waiting: "Now you listen to me, Miss Top-of-the-regulations-class-who-has-more-respect-for-the-rules-than-for-other-people…"

"Clarity? It's you?"

"Harriett?"

"Oh, I see, you've just met our new… reinforcement." The older woman lowers her voice. "Charming, isn't she? If it was only me, she would already be applying her dear regulations in the dusty office of a ghost town, but you know the Sheriff… he wants to give her a chance! And I think that the harpy has a crush already on our good Sheriff. Welcome to the club!" She laughs. "What can I do for you, sweetie, you okay?"

"Oh Harriett, am I happy to hear you! Don't worry, it's nothing serious. John has forgotten his cell phone home and I just wanted to tell him not to worry, in case he wonders if he's lost it or something, you know."

"You'll tell him yourself in few minutes, honey, he's on his way to the Phoenix. He should already be there but he's just reported about having to stop on the 101 to check on a motorcycle. But he shouldn't be long now. He told me this morning that he had to see someone at the Phoenix. And we both know who that 'someone' might be, don't we?" says the head dispatcher, with a knowing laugh. "Anyway, give that handsome man of yours a big hug for me when you see him, will you?"

"I will, Harriett, I will."

Except that this 'someone' that John has to see at the Phoenix now is not her; because he knows very well that she's not working before the evening.

So what? Maybe he really must meet someone for his work? And even if doesn't, can't he just go see his friends when she's not there?

She mentally shrugs away any disturbing and unreasonable thoughts that naturally come to her insecure woman's mind, and tries to think about something else.

She still has hours ahead before going back to work. She's still tired and doesn't feel able to do anything in the house. Maybe she'd better go back to bed and nap for a few more hours, so she would be in better shape to work tonight.

Work. This job was supposed to be only for a while and is so not what she wants to do for the rest of her life. She had other plans. Before. Still does.

Her honey business has been pending for a long time now. Too long. The only thing missing to start it is… her. The problem is that it is there, in France, while she's here, and is still not sure she could use the books on a regular basis.. it doesn't sound right.

Or maybe… As long as there are flowers, there can be bees, can't there? No matter the country. Bees... flowers... meadows... horses… Egan… East. A bittersweet smile comes to the corner of her lips, as each time she thinks about East. There will always be a soft spot for that man in her heart, but having not seen him much since then, she's not sure how he feels about all this now... about her. She's still not very proud of the way she's behaved with him back then. Yet, she's sure that it could have worked between them. It really could have… If John Biebe had never existed and stollen her heart at first sight without even knowing it.

But he does, he has. And is present in almost each of her thoughts. Which can be kind of disturbing and can make her react to things in a way she would never have before.

Like for example… since when has she become suspicious? Those two calls this morning bother her. And even more her reaction to them. John meets women and men all the time, for his work, and in his personal life. So what? He's friendly with men and women, reassures them, makes them feel comfortable with him… and women like him? So. what? He's a sheriff, for God's sake! She should be proud and happy that, at the end of the day, it's to her that he comes back.

Well, does he have any other choice? She's living in his home! She laughs at the silliness of her thoughts. Must be the remaining effects of booze.

Yet, she can't help thinking about that call on his cell phone. That haughty woman. She thought she was the operator, and when she was about to tell her: "no, I am…" she's found herself out of words. She's what? What is she really to John? His roommate? His girlfriend? Well both, but… But before she could find the right word, the woman had hung up on her.

Maybe… no, surely, this call was about work. How could she even doubt? She trusts John with her life. He's the most honest and upright person she's ever known. He would never ever lie to her. Never. Of that, she is absolutely sure.

So, after the woman had hung up on her, she had called the Phoenix to forward the message for John that his appointment would be late. But Paul told her that John was already gone. Without adding any witty comment. Rather unlike Paul. But maybe he was just busy? Because of her. Because she had let him down today.

You'd better stop thinking silly things and go back to sleep, you'll look like a mess this evening and won't be of any help to Paul or anyone else if you don't.

So she goes back to bed.