Chapter 8
ZEKE
The sergeant finished our end-of-shift debriefing with a reminder to log any issues with our cruisers in a timely fashion, “And timely doesn’t mean two days later, Livingston,” and dismissed us. I pushed back my chair and headed to the locker room.
“Good to have you back.”
I turned and saw Olivia Tran at my shoulder. “Thanks. Good to be back.” The rhythm of a uniformed shift had been good, settling me back in my own skin.
“Been a hell of a long time since we got together. Want to catch a late-night snack after we change out?”
“God, I wish,” I said, realizing how much I’d missed her compact, practical, powerhouse presence in my life. “But I can’t. I have my little brother waiting at home.”
“I heard about your mom. So sorry.”
“Distant stepmom, so I don’t need much sympathy, but I have custody of my brother now. That’s tying my life up in knots.”
“I bet. How old is he?”
“Jos is twelve. It’s an awkward age. Too old for a babysitter, but I don’t like leaving him home alone in the evening like this.
” We’d worked the one to eleven-thirty p.m. shift.
“And then next week when we’re on five to threes, really not.
” Getting home around four a.m. meant leaving Jos on his own most of the night.
“Tough call,” Olivia agreed. “Twelve is right on that borderline age. I was babysitting at twelve, but if the parents were late getting back, I did get spooked sometimes.”
I ran a hand over my head, which reminded me my hair was still growing in weird and I needed to do something about that. “He says he’s fine, but I’m not comfortable.”
She nudged my shoulder. “And sadly, our magnificent salary is tight for childcare.”
“Have you and Nicole ever considered having kids?” They’d been married for three years now.
“We’ve talked about it and decided not anytime soon. Neither of us wants to stay home, and we don’t believe in putting babies in full-time daycare, even without the cost. At least you’re starting with a kid who’s half-baked. When does he turn thirteen?”
“He just turned twelve a month ago.”
“Meh. Sadly, I can’t offer to help out, since we work the same shifts. But if you’re ever desperate, Nicole might chip in a few hours.”
“I wasn’t angling for free babysitting. Just bitching, I guess. Actually, my neighbour’s helping some.”
“The old guy with the corner store?”
“Yeah, Mr. Fitzpatrick. And his grandson Callum too. He’s a hockey player.” Abruptly, memory of his mouth under mine and his hands on my head rose inside me. I felt my face heat and swiped a palm over my eyes to hide the flush. “Man, I’m tired. Not used to this shift stuff anymore.”
“I heard you were undercover. How did it go?”
My stomach rolled and my blush was no longer a problem. “Fine. We busted lots of nasty douchebags. Worth my time.”
Olivia caught my arm and peered up at me, as if something in my tone had alerted her. “If you want to talk about it, I’m up for listening.”
“Thanks,” I said, meaning no way in hell.
She didn’t need to hear that shit. I eased out of her grip.
“I’m gonna go get changed and head home to my twelve-year-old.
Odds are about equal whether he’ll be asleep, or watching something he’s not supposed to, or burning down the kitchen trying to make a midnight snack. ”
“Good luck. I hope you’re underestimating him. Although one hint from my teen years. If you’re not around for hours at a time, you’re not going to be able to restrict what he watches. So take off the controls he can sneak around anyway, but encourage him to talk to you.”
“I guess. My stepmom was pretty strict.” Aunt Heidi’s complaint that Krystal spoiled Jos was way off the mark. “I need to figure out how to loosen up without him running wild.”
“What does he enjoy? Are there things you could do together?”
“I don’t know.” I really didn’t know much about my own brother. These days, he retreated to his room whenever I tried to make conversation, and I wanted to respect his privacy, so I didn’t barge in or snoop. “He likes comic books, but that’s not something I can really share. It’s silent reading.”
“Maybe pick up a few and show some interest?”
“I guess. Maybe.” I’d been so overwhelmed with all the logistics of Krystal’s estate, I hadn’t even made a simple gesture like that. “I can try.”
She thumped my shoulder. “I have faith in you. And figure out a time when we can get together. I missed you.”
“I will.” As two of just a few out queer officers, we’d had each other’s backs in a way that went beyond friendship.
Vancouver was a liberal city, but the Frazer Valley just beyond the city limits had its share of Bible thumpers and rednecks, and a few of them landed here in our department.
We’d been each other’s like minds and listening ears who didn’t judge for bitching about the straights now and then. I’d missed her too.
Once I’d signed out, inspected and hung up my gear, changed out of uniform, tucked the shirt and pants in a bag to bring home for laundering, and dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, midnight was close at hand.
I drove home through the darkened streets, playing favourite metal bands on the speakers to keep myself alert.
Normally, I slept in on mornings after this shift, but with Jos’s bus picking him up at eight, I had to be up before seven-thirty to make sure he was dressed, fed, and had all his homework and a lunch.
Someday, I’d trust him to get his act together, or face the natural consequences.
But when I’d tried that, I got a call from the school that he had no lunch and wasn’t on the meal plan.
Then he was pissed that I brought him a lunch, and said he’d just thrown it away when they gave it to him because he wasn’t hungry.
Which made me grit my teeth, since I’d dropped everything to bring the kid a fucking sandwich.
I was in the process of getting him signed up for the lunch program, but they were running my guardianship papers through, and nothing seemed to happen fast over there.
When I pulled into my driveway, the Fitzpatricks’ house next door was dark, but several lights still shone from my downstairs windows.
I wasn’t going to bitch about the electric bill if it made Jos feel safer.
I opened the door quietly, noting that the alarm wasn’t set. Kid’s trying to give me ulcers.
Low-volume TV sounds carried from the living room, so I stowed my personal weapon in the safe under the kitchen sink and headed that way.
I expected to find Jos snoozing on the couch, or maybe watching a movie, but instead, the figure lounging in a corner of the couch, long jean-clad legs stretched out and head tipped back, snoring, was Callum.
I glanced around and didn’t see the kid anywhere, so I walked over and nudged Callum’s knee. “Hey, dude.”
He woke with a snort and blinked up at me. “Hey, you’re back. What time is it?”
“Just after twelve. Is Jos upstairs?”
“Yeah. Went up an hour ago. I think I bored him to death with hockey commentary.” He waved at the screen where a game played out, the commentators’ muted voices a background mumble.
“Who’s playing at this hour?” We were on the west coast, which meant we never got late games.
“Oh, no one. It’s recorded. We’re playing Edmonton on the weekend, and they have a hot new sniper they just brought up from the HLWNA. I wanted to watch him, get a feel for how he moves, his favourite angles.”
“I’m grateful you’re here,” I said, because the thought that Jos hadn’t gone to bed in an empty house was a comfort. “But I’m not sure why you are.” I’d been working up to ask for his help next shift, not this one.
Callum rose and stretched, giving me a glimpse of those abs as his T-shirt rode up. He grabbed a sweatshirt off the back of the couch and pulled it on, tousling his hair. I fought the impulse to smooth those auburn strands down. Or maybe shove my hands in his hair and muss it up worse.
“He wandered over to our place around nine,” Callum said. “Asked if we had any chores he could do for a bit of spending money.”
I smacked my forehead. “Chores. Allowance. Fuck.” One more thing I hadn’t thought of.
I mean, I’d told Jos he was responsible for cleaning his own room and putting his clothes in the hamper, and making his lunches, and heating up his dinners if I was gone.
But nothing formal, and we hadn’t discussed money.
“Don’t sweat it.” Callum gave me a sympathetic look. “If it helps, I think he was mostly bored. Maybe looking for company but didn’t want to say so.”
“Even so, I’ll put allowance on my to-do list. Doesn’t explain why you’re here, though.”
“I told him any chores we had were daytime stuff, but I asked if you guys had a decent TV. He said yes, and I told him ours was on the fritz and could I use yours to watch tape. He invited me over. Tried watching with me at first, but I don’t think sports are his thing.
He fell asleep three times and the last time I convinced him to go to bed. ”
“And is your TV broken?”
Callum gave me a grin that warmed me inside. “Not really, but it’s a lot smaller than yours. This is an upgrade. Even let me lipread what the winger was chirping in the corners. Dude has a nasty mouth.” He turned off the remote, then went and pulled his USB drive from the TV port.
I turned to watch him and when he straightened, he ended up close to me. Our eyes met, our bodies barely two feet apart. I didn’t back away.
He licked his lips. “Want to tell me about your day?”
“Not really.”
“Want to tell me something else?” His breath quickened, his blue eyes darkening.
I threw a quick glance toward the stairs. Jos slept like the dead once he was down, and he’d gone up an hour ago. I shouldn’t. I really shouldn’t. I said, “There’s a half-bath down here with a door that locks.”
Callum smirked. “Lead the way.”