“Working for God is really rubbing off on you,” Mason whispered. He and Clark laughed off Free’s declaration, but Mason had a sinking feeling that Free was telling the truth. It was no longer a secret that God and Day had somehow managed to secure one of the best hackers in the world for their team. And working for the Atlanta Police Department was a good way for Lennox Freeman to stay off the terrorists’ search list.
“Okay, your request is all sent. Remember I told you, you have to close completely out of VWS before you can send department mail. If you’re working in the victim/witness statements application, it won’t let you—”
“Send other correspondence,” Mason hurried to finish, snapping his fingers. “Fuck, that’s right.” Mason grimaced, wishing there was some way he could become more computer savvy that didn’t require months of schooling. But at age thirty-three, he was afraid that ship had sailed long ago.
“He’s told you that five times, numbnuts.” Clark rolled his eyes. “Free, why do you keep rescuing this guy? I think you should report his gross incompetence to his LT. Do you have any idea how long it takes Mase to finish our damn reports? It’s absurd.”
“I can’t help myself.” Free smiled that sexy, mature grin that always made Mason have to look away. After he shut down Mason’s computer, he stood and draped his arms around his shoulders from behind and whispered in Mason’s ear, “I have a thing for technically challenged men.”
If he didn’t already know that Free was head over heels in love with his boyfriend, he’d swear the man was flirting with him. Mason made sure to school his features and control his body’s natural reaction. It didn’t matter that he had a brilliant, handsome, wonderful-smelling man clinging to his back, his slim chest pressing against Mason’s Kevlar. He couldn’t get fucking hard. Heaven forbid someone even thought he was making a play for the SWAT captain’s first and only boyfriend.
“Well, shit, if that’s what you like, then Mason should really turn your crank.” Clark stood and put on his heavy polyester coat over his uniform. It was past time for them to be on the road and on the radio.
“Hey. You leave my fantasy man alone.” Free smirked. “And Clark, you sure didn’t mind when I helped you with your little satellite cable problem after the tech company was dragging their ass and you couldn’t watch Monday night football two weeks in a row.”
Clark waved him off. “That’s different. We’re talking football against fast, accurate police reports. One far outweighs the other.”
“You guys are crazy. I’m out of here, I have only got a few minutes to grab some dinner and get back inside,” Free said, releasing Mason’s stiff shoulders. “Mase, if you need me, you know where to find me.”
“You’re working tonight?” Mason asked, putting on his own winter jacket.
“Yep. We’re all going to be pulling some long hours while we try to figure out when in the bloody hell these drugs are going to hit the streets,” Free said.
He and Clark both dropped the joking and turned serious. “Has God got anything concrete, or should none of us make plans for the new year?”
Free glanced around before lowering his deep voice. He wasn’t supposed to share the task force’s leads with anyone since the entire department was currently under IA investigation for officers that were on the take, but Free had long ago determined he could trust Mason. “He has a pretty good idea. The enforcers, Ruxs, Green, Tech, and Steele are bringing in dealers every night, trying to get to the big man. He and Day think we’re close.”
“I’m sure if anyone can get that bastard, it’s God.” Clark nodded.
“Yeah, God always gets his man. But still, be careful out there. This new drug has a combination of synthetics that causes symptoms of psychosis, so some of these users and dealers are becoming more unpredictable.”
Mason and Clark glanced at each other, silently communicating that they’d keep that under strict advisement. They were always careful, but Free was warning them of a potentially new threat. “Thanks, Free.”
“I will be on the comms all night. Mason, you know what channel to use if you need me,” Free said and strolled through the bullpen, waving to a few other officers who were also just as fascinated with him as Mason was.
“Y’know, kid, being saddled with a whippersnapper like you is beginning to have its perks,” Clark said as they walked through the parking lot to their patrol car.
“Don’t you fuckin’ start,” Mason laughed, but of course, his partner continued. This was his second favorite thing to tease him about after his computer illiteracy.
“You got fucking Lennox Freeman—a man that has the capability to eliminate someone’s existence with the click of a few buttons on his tablet—drooling all over your cluelessness and keeping an eye on us while we’re patrolling.” Clark opened his door. “A guy could do worse.”