No Cap

Chapter 1

Sackgesicht: someone who is mean and looks like a testicle

—reasons to learn German

QUINCY

“Sir,” I said when I saw the two vehicles, exhaustion leeching into my veins.

JesusChrist, it wasn’t even seven in the morning, and I was already dealing with bullshit.

I’dbeen on my way to work, for Christ’s sake. But not to actually work. To drive my brother, Auden, to work. I’d been going back home when I’d run into this… mess.

“Who the fuck just leaves their car in the middle of the road like this?” the man continued to rant. “The kind of person who’s a complete and utter dumbass, that’s who!” he cried out, throwing his hands wide.

Itended to agree with him.

Therewas a brown ToyotaCorolla with ski racks partially in a parking spot. The rest of it was in a no parking zone that was so close to the hospital I had no doubt in my mind I was about to be dealing with a nurse.

AndI say partially in a parking spot liberally, because it was more out than in.

“Sir,” I said again, sounding just as impatient as I felt. “I can do a full write up on this entire situation. IfI do that, I’ll have to investigate why you didn’t see this car, because regardless of it being illegally parked, it’s still out of the road. Or you can take your fucked up front bumper and get it fixed elsewhere without me dealing with the ticket procedure.”

Theman, seeing the wisdom of my words, sighed and nodded.

Myguess was he was probably texting and driving. He was a young, expensive looking dude. Likely, he had somewhere to be, was talking or texting, and had sideswiped the shithole of a car that was slightly in the road.

Technically, the guy should’ve been paying a bit more attention.

Butalso, the driver of this vehicle should’ve parked it way better than they had.

Whichwas why, at seven thirteen in the morning, I was heading inside the hospital to see if I could find the owner of the car to get them to move it into a proper parking spot.

Iwiped at my tired eyes as I made the hike to DallasMemorial.

Notonly had I literally just come from this hospital less than seven hours ago with a new case in my lap, but I’d also just dropped my other brother, Atlas, off there before Auden because he was getting a procedure done this morning on his eyes.

Iwas the official drop everyone off where they needed to go person, apparently.

Technically, I didn’t have any specific shift times when it came to my job as a detective with DallasPoliceDepartment. I hadn’t had actual shift times since I’d left the gang unit two years ago.

Iwent in when it was needed and took time off when needed. ThoughI did have specific days off. Well, one day, in particular. Tuesdays.

Andsince I’d just had that day off two days ago, I didn’t have a single day to look forward to for five more days.

“Yo,” the security guard, Marrott, jerked his chin up at me. “Whatcha doin’ here, buddy?”

Ishowed him the sticky note I’d written the license plate down on.

I’dhave memorized it like I usually did, but there were a lot of Bs and 8s, and I wasn’t willing to forget this one.

Ialmost felt like the license plate had been specifically done confusingly so it’d make it harder for cops trying to do their jobs.

“You got anyone working here with this license plate?” I asked.

Marrottlooked down at the license plate and rolled his eyes. “That’sHollisAue. She’s a rad tech. Up on the third floor, usually. There was a big accident not too long ago, though, and she might be in the ER.”

Inodded, then went in search of her.

Ifound her in the ER, just like Marrott said, holding down a two-year-old standing behind a gaggle of other bodies and a table.

Iknew all of them in that room except one and figured that was my culprit.

“Ma’am,” I said to the woman who wasn’t familiar. “I need you to move your car.”

Asif she actually knew that I was speaking to her and not the other four women in the room, she looked up, and her eyes locked with mine.

Ifelt like I’d been sucker punched.

Hereyes were the color of a warm whiskey on a cold winter day.

“You can just deal with it,” she said. “Write the ticket. I’ll deal with it later.”

Mybrows rose.

Andno matter how hard I tried, she ignored me.

Imean, I understood.

Therewas a kid who was needing X-rays, and she was the one to do them.

Butshe could at least acknowledge me or show some remorse.

Shegave me none of that.

And, too tired to force the issue even though I knew she was finishing up, I left.

Iwrote the ticket.

ThenI drove home and, ignoring the stack of case files on my kitchen table, went back to bed.