Between Law and Crime - Chapter 4

“The dinner is ready,” Rene said awkwardly, not knowing what to talk about. “What about we started?”

“Of course,” Maria agreed immediately and leaded their guest inside. “We can chat during it and get to know each other.”

David and Rene exchanged quick glances. They already passed the point of no return. The only thing which they could do now was keep going. If only they knew…

“Have a seat,” Maria said politely. She was trying to treat David friendly but her cop side was analysing his every move. How old is he? Definitely older than Rene. Maybe late thirties? Rene should find someone his own age. Clearing her throat, Maria sat in front of David and smiled at him. There were thousands of questions she wanted to ask but Rene pleaded her not to turn dinner into interrogation. Just a small back up check. I could so easily found some info about him. Only the important things like age, job, criminal record… It wouldn´t hurt anyone, would it?

“You have beautiful house, Mrs Satou,” David said like he was supposed to. As the crimelord, he knew Chief Investigator but they never met before. Interesting woman. Definitely not a person who believes anything they hear. Knowing what she did for Rene, underestimating her is not an option.

“Thank you.” Maria´s false smile sent shivers down Rene´s back. He moved his hands under the table to hide the trembling. Clearing his throat, Rene decided to join the conversation.

“It´s nice that you had time to come,” he said nervously to David. To have both his boyfriend and his mother in one room was stressful experience. Whose stupid idea was this? Oh, yes. Mine. But they had to meet. Mother always wants to know where I go. Being with David secretly is time demanding.
 
“Pleasure is all mine,” David retorted sweetly, taking one of Rene´s hand and squeezing it affectionately. Rene almost fell from his chair.

“Great.” You too, Brutus? Rene had to suppress the urge to shake his head. Maria acts friendly because she wants me to talk to her more. But David? Does he plan to play caring boyfriend´s role? That´s ridiculous.

“I´m really glad to meet you, Mister Marks,” Maria said nicely. “Rene didn´t tell me much about you. He can be so secretive sometimes,” she added chuckling but rest of party stayed serious. At least David kept playing his role well.

“Please, just call me David,” he said bowing his head to Maria. “I´d love us to get along well.” Rene tried to kick him under the table but hit Maria instead, who took it as reminder that she shouldn´t act like strict cop.

“Of course, David. I hope we´ll get along well too,” she said quickly. Not that I have for choice. Rene won´t talk to me ever again if I embarrass him now. Being caring mother is so difficult.

“I´ll bring the food,” Rene volunteered hastily. The tension in room was like the fourth guest and he needed to lighten the atmosphere a bit. Or to speed the dinner up a bit. I can´t wait to see it done. Behind his back, the conversation continued.

“What do you do, David?”

“I work as businessman. Did you hear about Aurora?”

“That group of jewellers?”

“Yeah. I´m its director. It´s very interesting job.”

Rene frowned into the plate he was preparing. He was doing his best to overhear the conversation so he could jump in if needed. But David seemed to have a plan. So you own Aurora now? That´s called making good impression. I just hope that you practiced your story a lot, there is no chance mother would be satisfied with asking only one question.

“It´s great,” Maria said cheerfully. “You must be a successful man.” If it´s true, he´s not after Rene´s money. I have to check it with Aurora later. But Rene said no checking. But I´m not going to investigate him. There is nothing wrong about visiting a jewellery shop. I´m woman after all. Just a bit of research…

“Rene said that you work with police,” David remarked casually. “It must be very stressful job.”

“Yes, it is,” Maria nodded, “but I got used to it.”

“Oh, enough talking about work,” Rene interrupted them, bringing plates with salmon and rice. “Let´s talk about less serious things.”

“Shall I help you?” David asked quickly and jumped up to take a plate from Rene.

“Thanks.” Stop being so nice, it´s so weird. I feel like I went through a worm hole into different dimension where Maria is considerate mother and you´re not a ruthless criminal.

Finally, all plates were where they belonged. On the other hand, conversation went down the hill. David didn´t feel the need to chat without being addressed and others couldn´t find a good topic. In the end, politeness (and wish to make good impression on his boyfriend´s mother) won.

“It looks delicious,” David commented, observing his plate.

“It´s bought,” Rene retorted. “We don´t cook much,” he added, winking at David which gained him under-table kick from Maria.

“Would you like some wine?” She asked, standing up but David shook his head.

“I can´t, I will be driving home,” he apologized, inconspicuously looking at Rene. See? Another good point for me. I´m rich, polite businessman and now I even don´t drive after drinking. Karin is so going to make fun from me.

“I see.” Maria sat down again.

“I´d like a bit of wine,” Rene pleaded but he was ignored.

“Tell me, how did you meet with Rene?” Maria asked curiously. “He´s not the type to visit jewellery shops.” I hope he´s not. Or I missed something again? He didn´t get a piercing like that punk vice-captain of his, right?

“No, we didn´t meet in my work,” David shook his. “Through we met in Rene´s work.” He caught Rene´s nervous glance with a corner of his eyes and gave him a reassuring smile. They were prepared for this question. “He was doing random checks on highway, you know, to make sure that drivers have their licences and stuff…”

Maria nodded. “Yeah, I know.”

“Rene stopped me too and I have to admit that I´ve never met so handsome cop,” David turned and his significant other turned red. This time, Rene managed to kick the right person under the table. “Don´t kick me,” David scolded him gently and took his hand. “It´s true.”

“Please, my mother´s listening,” Rene whined, blushing madly.

“Oh, you don´t have to tell me everything,” Maria joined nervously. There were things which she didn´t need to know about her son. Like details of his relationship with his boyfriend.

“I wanted to keep taking to Rene so much that I made total fool of myself. I actually go out of the car and discussed weather with him. It was embarrassing but I really couldn´t think of anything else to chat about with a cop.”

“I found it sweet,” Rene commented. He already gave up his food and placed his fork next to plate.

“Long story short, I invited Rene for a dinner and he agreed.”

“I see. It sounds really nice,” Maria noted politely. Listening to David, she didn´t notice that Rene stopped eating. One her glare was enough to make him start again. For a while, conversation moved to neutral topics but then Maria poked the wasp nest again.

“You seem like a nice couple but I have to worry about the age difference,” she said casually, ignoring Rene glaring draggers at her. “Don´t you mind that Rene is so younger that you.”

“It´s only six years difference. I don´t see it as problem.” Fact that he´s a cop and I´m Mafioso is slightly more troublesome. Plus having younger partner isn´t really a disadvantage. Just don´t smile now.

“You ask like I was dating an old man,” Rene complained.

“I just want to make sure that you´re happy in your relationship,” Maria retorted pouting. “People in love tend to overlook flaws of their partners.”

This time, both Rene and David stared at her coldly. You have no idea what you´re talking about, woman, David thought. Sometimes you can be happy with person with flaws. Nothing like perfection exists in this world anyways. Rene was less discreet about his opinions.

“It´s not like we were moving together,” he snapped. “We´re just getting to know each other.” David stepped on his foot under table.

“It´s all right. Your mother is just worried about you. There is nothing wrong about it.”

Rene took a deep breath to calm a bit. This dinner was probably the most stressful he ever had but at least Maria didn´t ask too much. And it wasn´t supposed to take much longer either. Just some more time to suffer through.