“Do you? Because sometimes, I’m not so sure.”
“How about just Party Wagon?”
“Yes, damn it!” Sloane was caught between feeling frustrated and wanting to laugh. “Fine. Party Wagon.”
Dex let out a loud whoop, hitting the sirens and lights. Something was seriously wrong with Sloane. There had to be. Why else was he continually allowing Dex to name maneuvers and equipment? Especially when it was always a reference to some eighties movie, or God help him, after cartoon turtles. Maybe because arguing with his man-child partner wasn’t worth the exhaustion or pouting that resulted from it. God, he’d let the guy name the Suburban after a cartoon truck. “I must be losing my mind.”
Dex laughed as he maneuvered through traffic. “Variety is the spice of life.”
“Is weed a spice? Because that would explain a lot where you’re concerned.”
His partner burst into laughter, the sound infectious. Sloane shook his head, his lips pressed together, but he couldn’t stop it from bubbling up, and he started laughing. Oh God, the crazy was contagious. He sobered up, wiping a tear from his eye. “We better get our shit together, because if not, your dad’s going to kick our asses.”
“Welcome to the ranks of every boyfriend I’ve ever had,” Dex said, then seemed to catch onto Sloane’s startled expression. His smile fell away. “I didn’t mean to imply you were, you know, um…. Forget I said that.”
Sloane nodded, his heart feeling as though it was trying to escape from his chest. “It’s not that I don’t want—”
“Don’t worry about it. It was my bad.” Dex waved a hand and gave him a sweet smile. “You know me. Sometimes the wires get crossed, and my mouth is quicker than my brain.”
“Sometimes?” Sloane teased.
“Dick,” Dex said with a chuckle before his expression grew concerned. “You think it’s the Order?”
“I don’t know, but it makes no sense. They plant a bomb, then call to inform us and give us enough time to get there? Why?”
“Trap?”
Sloane shook his head. “They’d have to know we’d think that. Doesn’t make any damn sense. First College Point, now this? What kind of game is Isaac playing?”
The CDC Therian registration office was situated on busy Worth Street across from Thomas Paine Park and surrounded by several other government buildings. One block over was the courthouse where Dex had testified against his Human partner, thus sending his HPF career down the pan and getting him recruited to the THIRDS.
Dex pulled the Suburban up behind the BearCat parked beside the State Office Building a block over, his expression thoughtful. No doubt, his partner was thinking along the same lines. Sloane turned to look at him. “You okay?”
“Yeah. Just thinking about how this is kind of where it all started.”
Was Dex wishing he’d never left the HPF? Had his life been better? Sloane couldn’t help his frown. By now, Dex would have still been with his old boyfriend Lou, or moved onto someone else, but instead he was stuck with a guy who freaked out over hearing the word “boyfriend.” As if sensing his thoughts, Dex quickly spoke up.
“Not that I’m not glad to be here now, with the THIRDS and you. It just would have been nice to get here without all the bruises and threats.”
How was it that Dex always knew Sloane needed reassuring without Sloane saying a word? He smiled at Dex, and took Dex’s right hand in his, giving it a quick squeeze before letting go. “I’m glad you’re here too, Daley. Though if you touch my radio again, you’re going to see some more bruising.”
“Right, sorry.” Dex held his hands up in surrender. “I let the power go to my head.”
“Come on, wise guy.” Sloane climbed out of the Suburban with Dex following his lead. He knocked on one of the BearCat’s back doors, and as soon as they were inside, Sloane took a seat to conserve his energy while Ash handed him his equipment piece by piece, starting with his tac vest. The weight of his equipment was going to be uncomfortable, but he’d simply have to endure it like so many of the other times before. As he clipped pieces of his equipment into place, he noticed Dex head straight for the front of the BearCat and the security console where his brother sat. Without a word, Cael held out a white paper bag that Dex snatched up with a broad smile and a wink. “Thanks, bro.”
“No prob.”
With a dopey grin, Dex handed the bag over to Sloane. “Here. I had Cael grab you a triple beef burger from the cafeteria.”
Sloane took the bag, his voice mirroring his surprise. “You asked him to get me food?”
“Yeah.” Dex shrugged as if it was no big deal. “I figured you’d need the boost. You’re my partner, right? It’s my job to help where I can.”
Sloane didn’t know what to say. It was true Dex was his partner, and as such, part of his responsibility was providing PSTC, but his responsibility as far as nutrition went ended with Gatorade and protein bars. Dex’s job was to get Sloane on his feet. Making certain he recuperated properly, and/or healthily wasn’t part of his partner’s duty. Gabe had provided exceptional PSTC, but while at work, he focused on the job, and he expected Sloane to be responsible for himself. With a “thanks,” Sloane dug into his burger while Ash played the recording of the phone call put in to 911. Dex finished gearing up and stepped up to the ballistic window with a frown.
“How is no one at the registration office panicking? People are coming in and out as if nothing was going on.”
The phone call didn’t reveal much other than the caller was obviously using a voice enhancer. This wasn’t looking good.