“Should I ask what this is about?”
“Probably not.”
“I can’t lose my job for this. Ava would kill me!”
“You won’t lose your job, Ass! I would never risk that!” I’m only slightly offended he would assume so. “You’re a damn good cop. Even if Alan is pissed, he would never fire you. Plus, he won’t even know. In and out. That’s all it’ll be.”
“Be here at twelve thirty. Most of the office will be heading to lunch, other than the desk jockeys who don’t know anything about what’s going on outside of their desks. I’ll bring you in through the back.” He sighs once more before hesitating. I hear it in the hitching of his breath.
“Yes, Bass?”
“You’re okay, right? With everything happening, you’re…are you good?”
“Aww, I didn’t know you cared!” I feel the truck come to a stop and unbuckle my seatbelt. “Yes. I’m okay. Don’t worry about me. I’m a badass psychic, remember?”
He only chuckles in response, but it sounds more relieved than anything.
“I’ll be there at twelve thirty on the dot, Ass. Don’t keep me waiting.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” The line clicks dead and I squeeze my phone tightly in my fist before shoving it back in my pocket.
I know I’m abrasive and dismissive in tone, but that’s just how I handlefeelingsand shit. I have no idea what to do when someone actually shows that they care. It’s hard for me to let people in. Yet, lately, it feels like everyone is somehow sneaking their way under my skin and settling in for the long haul. It’s terrifying. It just gives me more people to lose.
“Alright, boys, let’s eat quick, then off to the precinct!” I announce as my stomach clenches anxiously.
* * *
Ihave no idea if it’s twelve thirty on the dot when the steel back door to the precinct squeaks open, but I know it’s damn close. Bass is not only one of the best cops and guys I know, but he’s deliberate and prompt in everything he does. If he says he’s going to do something, he fucking does it, and he does it to the best of his ability. I have no doubt that he’ll be a full-fledged detective in no time.
“Wicked, welcome back!” His aura is blissful, no doubt from his most recent change of relationship status, and my gut seems to bubble and warm at the state. My brow crinkles as his vibrations joyfully batter away at my mind, almost trying tospread the cheer, for lack of a better term.
“Good to be back, Ass. You’re welcome to leave and solidify an alibi elsewhere in the building. We’ll let ourselves out when we’re done.” I hesitate for only a moment, my palms sweaty and my heart doing weird crossfit kicks in my chest. “Thank you.”
“Copy that. I’ll just be…” He lets the words trail off as he saunters away and starts to whistle an upbeat tune, an obvious bounce in every step and movement. His joy simply radiates off of him like he’s got too much to contain.
It’s kind of beautiful, especially the love he has for Ava. The kind of untainted and pure sort of love that you never want to be darkened or spoiled. I can’t see what the future holds for them in any way, but I’m going to do my damned best to make sure that nothing ever ruins it for them. They deserve it.
“You ready?” Kai asks after I stand stuck in place for, apparently, far too long.
“Yeah, let’s do this shit.” I shake off whatever weirdness is flooding through me and reach towards my towering behemoth. Ezra lets me snake my arm around his bicep as someone holds the door open for us and we make our way into the building.
The familiar smell of burnt coffee, gun oil, and confiscated marijuana drift over my senses as I breathe deeply. I’m not going to lie, I’ve missed it. I miss coming in every day and sitting at my desk, the clatter and chatter of dozens of cops and detectives going through files, making calls, or locking up criminals before they’re transported to the jail.
The business of it all is what kept me sane and made me feel like I was a part of something. Like I had a home. A family. Even if the coffee tasted like oil and the donuts were a mixture of stale and overly sweet. It was still my home. The only home I felt like I had after Nana moved out.
I never felt alone here.
Gizmo and Snitch chirp in excitement, recognizing where we are, and are as happy about it as I am. They love running around this place and alternating between stealing hidden snacks and food from people, to getting pets and scratches, or fucking with Nic. Almost everyone loves them here, while barely tolerating me, but I was okay with that. I still had my place and I did my job, and they did theirs.
It’s just another thing to add to a long list of what I’ve lost since this whole stalker shit started.
But I’m not going to whine about it or pull the wholewoe is mebullshit. I’m going to catch this fucker and I’m going to get my damn life back. When he’s rotting in prison, or heading to death row, I’ll be lounging back at my desk with my shitty coffee and a fattening donut, with the wickedest smile on my face, nothing but satisfaction and justice thrumming through me.
Until then, I need to figure out who the fucker is, and that starts with following the clues.
“Here we are! The records room!” Kai is all excitement and energy now that he’s got enough greasy food in him to kill a whale, and it brings my mood up that much more.
“Okay, let’s find the files on my crash. Wehaveto find out who that witness is.” The room smells of dust and paper and just breathing too deeply makes me want to sneeze, so I shorten my breaths and wipe at my itchy nose.