Page 18 of Grimm County Wishes (Grimm County Lawmen #4)
“ A l, you’ve got a big decision. There are eleven women of interest, but two of them will go home tonight.” Shane turned from Al and stared into the camera with a smile.
“Technically ten, since two of the women share the same soul. I don’t think they can be separated.” Al took a swig from his beer. It had been a long night, but the end was in sight.
Shane chuckled, and Al swore his teeth sparkled. “Which of the ladies have caught your interest?”
“Well, Mercedes for sure. She has a great personality and is someone I’d like to hang out with, which is important. I want a wife who is also my best friend. I also liked Jazz. She and I have a lot in common, and she seems very down to Earth.”
“That’s great. Now which of the ladies are you less certain about? ”
Al’s face heated. He hated the thought of hurting anyone’s feelings, but these were the rules of the game. And he hadn’t spoken to any of them longer than twenty minutes, so they couldn’t be that upset.
“Lilith might be a little intense for me, and,” Al paused as he glanced at his cheat sheet, “I wasn’t able to get a good read on Katy or Charlene.” Honestly, he hadn’t had time to get to know any of the women very well, but he had to say something.
“Well, Al, you’ve got a decision to make.” Shane set a briefcase case on the coffee table and popped it open. “These are the evidence cards, one for each woman of interest that you want to keep.”
Al picked one up. It reminded him of a credit card, but with the picture of a fingerprint on the front and a hole at the top.
“When you’re ready, we’ll meet you in the Holding Cell.”
***
Al stepped into the living room, which was now decked out in crime scene tape. There was no furniture, save for a long bench in the center of the room. Two camera operators waited in the back of the room with Lindsey and Jeannie .
Shane clapped his hands and stepped forward. “Ladies! It’s time to judge your worth.” The women moved to sit on the bench.
Al snorted and Shane shrugged. “We’re still working on that line. I can always dub it in post-production.”
Al moved to the front of the room and set the briefcase on a table. He opened it up and picked up the first evidence card.
“First, I want to thank you all for coming here. I enjoyed meeting each of you. I wish you the best in the future, but for two of you, it will be without me.”
“Mercedes,” he called, and she bounced off the bench to where he stood. He held out the evidence card. “Will you accept this evidence of attraction and continue on this journey with me?”
“Hell, yeah!” She grabbed the card and shoved it into her bra.
Shane cleared his throat and stepped in from the side. “Um, actually Mercedes, we’ve got a necklace for each of you, and you’re supposed to collect the cards on the chain.”
Mercedes flipped up her middle finger and slid the card on the necklace. Then shoved the card back in between her boobs .
Al grinned. She was a fun one. He passed out several more cards until he only had one card left and three ladies. Er, units. The twins, Lilith, and Katy.
“Please know, this is more about me than it is about you. Destiny and Delilah, will you accept this evidence of attraction?”
Al cringed as the twins squealed loud enough to shatter glass. They jumped forward and ripped the card from his hands. “Yes! Yes! Yes!”
Shane stepped forward and looked at the remaining two ladies.
“Lilith, Katy, I’m sorry to say, but there’s no evidence of attraction. Your case is dismissed.”
Katy burst into tears, sobbing as if she’d lost her favorite pet. Al took an awkward step back. He hated to make anyone cry, but he barely knew her. Lilith, on the other hand, took a different approach. She pointed straight at him and chanted in a language he couldn’t identify.
“Winners!” Lindsey shouted. “Follow me into the lounge for celebration drinks. Losers, head outside for your final interview.”
Katy let out another wail, and Lilith chanted louder.
Jazz stepped up to Al and linked her arm in his. “Nice work. Looks like you dodged a couple of bullets.”
Al chuckled. “Nice use of the theme. ”
She shrugged. “I went to college a few times.”
“Well, I didn’t go at all, so you made up for the both of us.”
“It’s a perfect match! Now let’s go get that drink.”
“You’re not afraid of that?” He nodded towards Lilith who was still chanting despite being dragged from the room by one of the crew.
“I’m a lawyer. It wouldn’t be my first curse.”
Jazz wasn’t such a bad person. She was cute, smart, and had a sense of humor. He caught Jeannie’s eye as they walked to the next room. She gave them a thumbs up, and Al sighed. If this is what she really wanted, maybe he should give it a shot.