| OCR Text |
Show 162 TWENTY-EIGHT It was a little before seven when Parker walked into the front office of the Detention Center Thursday night. In one arm he carried a box marked "Holiday Floral." There were fifteen red roses inside, dewy fresh on a bed of pink tissue. The usual card was missing, but a graduation program had taken its place. Inside the program, fifteen names, including the one between Jacqueline Stromberg and Trent Swanson, were circled in gold ink. "Could you possibly deliver this before eight o'clock?" Parker asked the uniformed woman at the desk. "Who is it for, please?" "Dyna Suggs." The officer stood, came to the counter. Carefully, she slipped the ribbon to one end of the box. "I have to do this," she explained, removing the lid and feeling around under the tissue. She examined each flower. Then she pressed a buzzer. "The matron can deliver it right.away, if you'd like," she said. "Thanks." Then, having gained the courage, Parker reached in his suit pocket for a message he'd hastily written out in the pickup. "I don't suppose you could give her this, too?" He handed it over. The policewoman read it. "This coupon good for an unlimited number of coffee cappuccinos-with Parker, of course. No expiration date." "Are you Parker?" she asked, her eyes smiling. "Yes, Ma'am, I am." "I'm sorry," she said, sounding truly sorry. "No personal messages." The matron arrived, received her instructions. She sniffed at the side of the box. "Roses, huh? What's so special about her?" she muttered on the way out. Parker turned to leave. "Hey," the officer called after him, "I'll tell her you tried." |
