Chapter 3
“Hi, Katie. How about tonight?”
Geez, why was he using her name in the text? That wasn’t the deal.
Nonetheless, she wrote, “Hi, Will. I’m on duty till 8 a.m. tomorrow.” She was pulling mostly nights now.
“Tomorrow then. Between 9 and 10?” Then there were dots… “ You can sleep after.”
He never worried about her sleep.
She was tired though, so maybe that’s why his texts seemed off.
“Sounds good.”
Fortunately, the rest of the night was active. A group of kids drinking in the park. A car accident. The women in expensive clothes who were caught smoking pot in their car. Morning came faster because of their busyness. And the stoned women were a hoot!
She got her stuff from her locker and headed to the car. The morning air refreshed her and she turned her face up to the sun. When she reached her vehicle, she was thinking how Landry and Lawrence had left her alone for the last two shifts.
But…what the fuck? Her back and front tires were flat. Fearing the worst, she circled the car and saw those two were also flat. Now, what were the chances that all four tires gave out at the same time? They weren’t the best quality, but there was something wrong with this.
First she called a tow truck.
Then she called Will. “Kirkland.”
“It’s Kate. I’m not sure I’m going to make it home in time. My four tires are flat.”
“All four?”
“Yep. I called the tow truck.”
“I’ll be right there.”
“Will, no I can handle this.”
“I want to see for myself.”
She fumed until he arrived. He seemed…angry. Well, so was she. “I told you not to come.”
He ignored her protest and bent down. He did the same for each of the tires. Then he faced her. “You should be glad I came. They’ve been slit by a knife.”
“I couldn’t tell that.”
He said smugly, “The Secret Service trained me to check tires.”
She sighed. She kept forgetting he was part of the elite PPD.
“You’ve got to report this. Let’s go inside.”
She hated when men took over for women without asking for their help. “I can take care of it.”
“Call the tow truck company and tell them to come later.”
She knew she was rattled when his autocracy didn’t make her angrier. Giving in because he was right, she phoned the company as they walked back to the precinct together. She was struck again how tall Will was, how wide his shoulders were. When they got inside, she went to the desk. “I want to report that my tires have been slashed.”
The guy behind the counter snorted. “Boy, Donovan, you sure do have shit luck.”
She noticed Will’s gaze narrow on him. Around here, she got no sympathy. No understanding. And she was embarrassed to have how she was treated so blatantly manifested in front of Will.
“Just give me the forms.”
They went back into the squad room and over to her desk and sat. He said, “I’ll talk to the insurance company and you fill out the report.”
She could feel her face flush. “I, um, don’t have the kind of insurance that covers tires.”
“Why the hell not?”
In harsh whisper, she said, “I can’t afford it.”
She got into the police report forms. She’d never realized they were so long, so encompassing.
The chief came into the squad room and walked over to them. “Hey, Will. What are you doing here?”
“I’m a friend of Kate’s.”
He turned to her. “I hear your tires got sliced, Donovan. Any idea who would do that?”
He started to answer but she kicked him under the table.
“No.”
“You’ve had some run-ins lately with other cops.”
“Nothing I can’t handle.”
“I’m putting an investigative team on this. They’ll want to interview you.”
She took in a deep breath and let it out. When Thomas left, she turned to Will. “I don’t want any trouble.”
“Looks like you got it anyway, sweetheart.”
Dismissing the endearment—it sounded sarcastic anyway—she said, “Just my luck.”
They stood. “I’ll give you a lift. Where to?”
She shrugged. “We had a…a…we were going to see each other this morning.”
“Still want to do that?”
Even though she hated his attitude, she asked, “Do you?”
“I’m always up for sex.”
Right now, so was she.
* * *
It took her a minute to realize they weren’t headed for her place. “Where are we going?”
“My house.”
“Why?”
“It’s better than that dump you live in.”
She blurted out, “I can’t afford…” The rest tapered off in a load of hurt.
Uh-oh. He stepped right in it. Crummy house and car. No tire insurance. He gentled his tone. “Your pay was cut when you were demoted, right?”
He was still getting his salary while the Secret Service investigated his mistake. He’d also inherited money from his father’s insurance.
And she was destitute.
“Yes.”
“Where’d you live before?”
“I had a little house on Second Street. It was small, but it was mine.” The last word came out hoarse.
“I’m sorry. My comment was insensitive.”
“You were mean.” She shrugged again. “But you’re right. My place is a dump.”
“Why don’t you fix it up?”
“It isn’t mine.”
“Landlords usually like it when people make improvements.”
She said nothing.
“If you can’t afford paint I—”
“Shut up, Will. This discussion is over.”
Soon, they drove into his dad’s driveway. His now.
Her eyes widened. “Holy cow. I forgot how huge this place is.”
“Yeah. My parents wanted a big family. Didn’t happen. Come on.” He got out and walked to the door from the garage. He was ashamed for how he treated her—and didn’t like the feeling. He led her through the kitchen, the living room and to the stairs. Once on the second floor, they entered a bedroom.
“This yours, when you were little?”
“What made you think that?” he asked sarcastically. “A poster of Pamela Anderson? The mixed tapes over there? The small desk?”
“Will, I don’t understand why you’re being so mean—”
He grabbed her to him. And went on impulse. He took her mouth. The worst part of him wanted to dominate. To scare her. But she hadn’t done anything wrong. What was wrong with him?
He gentled the kiss and coaxed her mouth open. She tasted of peppermint toothpaste. She went up on tiptoes and met his lips with fervor. Still, he kept up the sweet assault. He couldn’t help himself. She got into it too, grabbed onto his shirt. For balance?
He delved deeper. Explored the inner recesses of her mouth. She moaned. He groaned.
They drew back and with gazes locked, they undressed. Then he scooped her up. She said with a voice full of desire, “The bed’s right there.”
He said, “I know,” as he eased her down gently. Covered her with his body. Buried his face in her neck and inhaled her. Worked his way over and took tiny love bites out of her lips.
She shook her head wildly, forcing him away. “Will, we can’t. Not this way.”
“Oh, yes, baby. We can.”
She pushed him off with a force he didn’t expect. He fell to the side.
She swung her feet to the floor. “I won’t do it. Not this way.”
“Katie.” He didn’t even recognize his own voice.
She grabbed her uniform pants and poked her legs in them. Yanked on her shirt. Stuck her feet in her boots. She scooped up her underwear and socks, put them in her pocket. And bolted for the door. Got it open some. He leapt out of bed and slammed his hand against it, closing her exit.
She leaned her head on the wood. “You broke our deal.”
“It was time.”
“No, I don’t want more from you. From anybody. Now back off.”
Softened by her ragged tone, he stepped away and let her get the door open. But he caught her by the arm. “If I go back to just sex , can I see you again?”
“You can see me for just sex. But don’t call for a while.”
“Fine. When you’re ready, you call me.”
She hurried off.
He went back to the bed and sat down. That was a close call. What the hell was he doing, making this relationship more than just sex?
* * *
Katie got outside and realized she didn’t have a car. She walked about a half mile to escape from the view from Will’s house when her phone rang. She fished it out of her pocket. “Hello, Chief.”
“Donovan. We called in the forensic team to determine what happened. The results will be here in an hour. Can you get back here.” He hesitated. “I could send a patrol car.”
“No, I’ll take an uber. I’m not far from the precinct.”
“Donovan, are you okay? Don’t you have someone to bring you.”
I did. “No, I’ll be all right.”
She grabbed a hamburger, though she wasn’t hungry. But she was feeling weak. Because she hadn’t eaten. Not because of Will. His actions had terrified her…
He worked his way over and took tiny love bites out of her lips.
“Will, we can’t. Not this way.”
“Oh, yes, sweetheart. We can.”
God, what had he been thinking? Was it time to end their just sex agreement? She pushed down the emotion that festered inside her at the thought.
Once she got back to the station, the chief met her at the door. “Come with me.” He led her to his office. It was the size of her whole living space. He said, “Sit.”
He went behind his desk. “A utility knife or a box cutter can easily slash a tire. In this case, I think it’s a box cutter.”
“That’s bad news. Everybody has a box cutter.”
“I guess. But if we had a suspect, we could check him out.”
“How on earth will you find him?”
“We have cameras in the officer’s section.”
“I can’t park there anymore.”
“Who told you that?”
“Nobody. When you demoted me, I assumed all privileges were gone.”
“Where do you park?”
“In the last two rows.”
“Where there are no cameras.”
This sucked. His tone was…accusing. Still, she needed this job. “Chief, it’s not my fault that I park where I should.”
“Yeah, I know. I guess I didn’t realize what the demotion did to your circumstances.”
She said, “I had to sell my house and my new car.” She didn’t know why she told him that. She was just so frustrated…
“Hell.”
She leaned forward. “Will I ever get to be a detective again?”
“If you handle your situation well.”
“It’s not my fault Landry is out to get me, either.”
“You think Landry slashed your tires?”
“I didn’t say that. But somebody left a dead bird in my front seat during one of my night shifts.”
“And mostly cops would have been around.”
“My conclusion. About the bird and the tires.”
“What did Kirkland say?”
She cleared her throat. “He agrees with me.”
The chief leaned back and stapled his fingers. “Let me think about all this.”
Kate left the office confused. When she got outside, her phone rang again. Oh, good. The garage. “Kate Donovan.”
“Katie, we put on four new tires. Your car is ready.”
“All right. I’ll be over soon, Larry.”
“Um, we can have somebody pick you up.”
“No, thanks. See you then.”
She called an uber again. Because the cost of it didn’t matter, compared to the cost of four new tires. How was she going to pay for them?
Once she reached the garage, Larry said, “That’ll be $500 for the least expensive tires. And Kate, you should have better ones than the least expensive.”
“I know, Larry. Thanks for doing this.” She pulled out a credit card she hated to use. Maybe she should get a second job.
* * *
“I got one.”
Wearing a Buffalo Bills cap and sunglasses, Diego stood at the edge of his boat, grabbed his pole from its perch and began to reel the line. The fish squirmed in the water but Diego held firm. As he reeled it out of the water, Will got the net and held it out for him. He detached the line and the fish fell in.
Will pushed back his own Buffalo cap. “A big walleye. She’s a beauty.”
“Dinner tonight. You come over.” Once Diego put the fish in the boat’s well, he said, “Time for a beer.”
Will got two bottles out of the cooler he’d brought and they settled on the padded bench. The setting couldn’t be any more perfect. Water lapped against the side, the air was cooler out here and he was with his best friend. “Your boat’s great. What made you buy it?”
“Annie loves the water. We go out whenever we can. We’re going to have a party to christen her.”
“What’ll you name her?”
“Take a guess.”
“Annette.” Annie’s real name.
“Uh huh.”
Will gave him a smile. This was just what he needed. Uncomplicated guy time. He stared at the water as the sun beamed off of it.
Diego asked, “Heard anything from the Secret Service?”
There was that hole again, in the pit of his stomach. It took him a second to answer. “No. I hate waiting. Most of the time, I feel like I’m about to combust.”
“You gotta find a distraction.”
He choked on his beer.
Diego off took his glasses and his eyes narrowed on him. “What’s up, Will?”
After he swallowed hard, he said, “I got a distraction. And she’s driving me nuts.”
“Wow. Will Kirkland, discombobulated by a girl.”
“I guess. It’s supposed to be no-strings-attached sex.”
“ Supposed to be?”
He sighed. “Yesterday, I…I think I wanted more.”
“Did you tell her?”
“Uh-huh. She got furious. Stalked out of my house.”
Diego hesitated. Then said, “Want to tell me about her? Do I know her?”
“I’m not going to do that. She’s a blip in my life.”
“How often do you see her?”
“A few times a week.”
“That’s more than a blip, buddy.”
Feeling rotten, he confessed, “Yeah, too much, I think.”
“What are you going to do about it?”
“I really don’t want to stop seeing her, D.”
“Then don’t. Enjoy what you have.”
Thinking of the horror on Katie’s face when he hinted he might want to take this further, he snorted. “Easier said than done.”
* * *
Katie returned home from a slow jog to give herself some energy and then put on a pot of coffee. She showered, dressed in summery linen shorts and a top to match. Mary had given the set to her as a present.
The doorbell rang. Huh. She wasn’t seeing Will today. She hadn’t talked to him in two days because he’d wanted more from her. Sighing, she went to the door and opened it. “Mary, what are you doing here?”
Her sister-in-law scowled. “What the hell kind of greeting is that?”
Mary was the opposite in looks of Kate. Her hair flowed to her waist and her build was slim, even after having a baby.
“I’m sorry. I’m just surprised.”
Mary hugged her, and Kate clasped onto her solid, safe embrace.
When she drew back, Mary said, “You have my outfit on.”
“I do.”
“It’s too big.”
“What?”
“It’s too big on you now. You’ve lost weight.”
“Some.” She gave her a smile. “Hey, where’s the baby?”
“With Dad. Hank is away on business so I came home. I spent the night with my Mom and now we’re at his house. Your father’s raised several babies.” She plopped her hands on her hips. “Aren’t you going to invite me in?”
Kate was embarrassed. She’d shared everything with the woman standing before her: first kisses with a boy, then going all the way as they’d used to call it. They’d borrowed each other’s clothes and were unashamedly naked with each other to change clothes or right after a bath. But now…
“It’s…”
Mary brushed by her. Kate shut the door. “My God.” She halted, waited, then turned. There were tears in her eyes. “Is it all like this?”
Kate froze. Then nodded.
Mary checked out the living room and bedrooms then came back to the kitchen. “How can you live like this?”
Kate blurted out, “I don’t have money to rent anything else.”
“Ah, sweetie.” She grasped Kate’s arm.
“Sit down. I’ll get us coffee.”
Mary sat on a cracked vinyl seat and winced. “On second thought, I’ll go into the living room where I saw your good furniture.”
Kate followed soon with two mugs. Mary had dropped down on one end of the couch. She took the mug and sipped. “Hmm.”
Kate sat at the other end.
Mary cocked her head. “Katie, are you punishing yourself for what happened to your life by living here?”
“No! I told you I couldn’t afford more.”
“I don’t believe that. The rents aren’t that high in Westwood. But if it was true, you can afford paint, get curtains, rugs.” She glanced at the hardwood floor. “You could make this shine.”
“It takes too much energy.”
“What are you expending your energy on? Certainly not work. You sit at a desk.”
Though she hated this conversation, she blurted out, “I see some guy.”
“That’s an odd way to refer to him.”
“It’s pretty much no strings attached.”
“But you have sex with him, right?”
“Yes, lots.”
“Sweetie, I’m glad you have that in your life.”
“Me, too.”
“Who is it?”
“Does that matter?”
“I’m your best friend, damn it.”
“It’s Will Kirkland.”
“Will Kirkland? Sexy Will Kirkland. We used to drool over him in high school. The senior who had everything.”
“Yes. He’s having a hard time now too.” She explained about the Secret Service.
“So he might go back?”
The notion hurt. “If the investigation shows he wasn’t at fault. They’re interviewing all the agents who were there.”
“Poor Will. That must kill him.”
“It does.”
“Anyway,” Mary said, straightening. “You’ve got to clean and paint this place. I’ll stay extra days so I can help.”
“No, Mary, I won’t let you do that. You have a baby to take care of.”
“Dad’s going to give him a bottle. I’ll go home periodically through the day and nurse him. We can start now.”
She shook her head.
“Have Dad and Patrick seen this place? I know Hank hasn’t.”
“Um, no.”
After she set down her mug, Mary stood. “Let’s go change into some crummy clothes and we can clean today.”
When Kate stood still, Mary left the room.
God she’d forgotten how stubborn her sister-in-law was.