22. Reid
Chapter 22
Reid
T HERE’S ANOTHER RABBIT’S foot on my doorknob after my run on Friday, the white of it almost blending into the door.
I slow to a deliberate walk, checking my surroundings for clues I know won’t be around as the high I’d been on dissolves into frustration and anger. I bag the foot even though I know there won’t be fingerprints, then pull up my phone to check the camera feed. The asshole is good. Professional. Covered head to toe except for the eyes, and they don’t so much as glance in any camera’s direction.
Fuck.
My gut twists. It’s bad enough that he’s been at my house, but even worse is that Willa, innocent and completely unaware of the danger she’s in by virtue of being connected to me, was sleeping in her own place not thirty yards away.
I get ready for work, then meet Willa to grab Midnight as she’s leaving for her shift. I lean down for a kiss. “Isn’t this better than using Agatha’s car as a hiding spot from me?”
She reddens. “You saw that?”
I chuckle, the adorableness of her blush calming me a little as I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “Willa. I saw everything. Including your beautiful tits that first day you undressed in your house when I was in my backyard.”
She shoves at me playfully. “Rude.”
I hold my hands up. “It wasn’t on purpose, I swear! How was I supposed to know you were giving strip shows to your neighbors on the daily?”
She twists her lips. “Uh-huh.”
We walk to our separate cars and she gives Midnight a scratch beneath her chin. The kitten launches her motor purr. “See you later?”
I grin. “Of course.” As I turn away, she calls my name. I look back.
“You okay?”
Damn this woman and her perceptiveness. “I’m good.”
She’s unconvinced, that much is clear, but she nods and smiles at me anyway.
I’m on patrol with Ox today and am far too distracted, my thoughts swinging between the Bunnies and Willa. The Bunnies, who clearly know I’m here and are letting me know they’re days from trying to kill me, and Willa, sweet Willa, who I’m more anxious about the Bunnies getting to than me.
It’s honestly more concerning that they haven’t targeted her. I’m missing something critical in this entire thing. Like there’s a thread dangling in front of me that I just can’t grab.
Ox and I leave the coffee shop with today’s haul: lemon poppyseed muffins and a special blend dark roast that is killer with a splash of vanilla cream, when he says, “Okay, man. Spill it.”
I look up from giving Midnight a crumb of muffin. “Spill what?”
“Spill what’s got you so oblivious to literally everything except whatever’s right in front of your face. And don’t tell me it’s Willa. It’s more than that. What’s going on with the Bunnies? ”
I sigh heavily. “I told Chief Mac you were too smart for your own good.”
He grins. “That’s why I’ll be the next Chief. But seriously. What is it?”
“You know I can’t tell you, Ox. It’s bad enough you got the fact that I was undercover with them out of me.”
He snickers. “I’m good. What can I say?”
I roll my eyes. “The less you know—the less everyone knows—the better.”
He finishes off his muffin. “You and I are both aware that’s complete bullshit, but if you want to play pretend, then fine. We’ll do that.”
I don’t get even a second’s worth of relief, though, because his next sentence is, “So, how are things with Willa?”
“You are such an asshole, you know that?”
He laughs. “Pretty sure you’ve called me that before.”
“Willa’s…she’s great,” I admit.
He turns a shit-eating grin on me. “Yeah?”
“You are the worst ,” I huff. “Yeah. She’s great. And I’m the asshole who’s leaving soon.”
“You could stay, you know.”
We turn toward the pier. “Nah.” I wave the thought away, even though I’ve considered it more than I should.
“Why not?” Ox asks, his eyes sweeping the surrounding scene. I gotta hand it to him; he does not behave like a small-town cop. Then again, it’s been clear since I got here that I have no clue what it means to be a small-town cop, anyway.
“Because I’m a fill-in. No one wants me here permanently.”
“Says who? Because Chief Mac seems awfully happy these days, and that’s a damn miracle.”
“Thompson is not my fan.”
“He’s not a fan of anyone. Besides, he’s a prick.”
I snort. “Glad to know I’m not the only one.”
He shrugs. “He’s been an ass my whole life. Well, I take that back. He was fine until I came out. Then he turned into a bigoted prick. Though I guess he was always a bigoted prick; he just hid it.”
“You’re gay?” I can’t hide the surprise in my voice.
“Uh, yeah man. No one told you?”
“No, but also, it’s not their business to tell your business.”
Ox chuckles. “You’re clearly not used to living in a small town.”
“Maybe not.” I realize I’m not acting any better than Thompson. I stop, and Ox turns. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be so surprised. I’m from Miami. I know better.”
His face softens. “It’s good, Reid. But you really gotta drop the whole ‘I’m from Miami’ thing. You sound like a douche.”
I laugh and give Midnight a pet. “Fair enough.”
Betty’s voice comes through the radio clipped to Ox’s shoulder. “Break in over on Pier Boulevard. Short-term rental.”
Ox sighs. “Here I was thinking we were going to have a quiet shift.” He presses the button. “We’re on it, Betty. What’s the address?”
“4450.”
“10-4.”
We hustle to the car, and Ox hops in the driver’s seat and punches the ignition on with far more force than usual.
“You gonna throw the lights on, too, little buddy?” I joke.
He shoots me a glare as he hits the gas. “Shut up.”
The owner, a man in his mid-sixties or so with pale skin and a look of utter bewilderment, is in the front yard when we get there, wringing his hands.
“Evening, Jesse,” Ox says, sticking his hand out for a shake.
Jesse takes it, then swings his glance to me. “This the new guy?”
“Officer Reid MacKinnon.” I shake his hand. “Tell us what happened.”
He pulls his ball cap off and wrings it. “To be honest, guys, I’m not even sure that ‘break in’ is what’s been happening. I think I’ve had a squatter.”
“Wanna let us in to take a look around?” Ox asks.
Jesse leads us to the front and opens the door for us. I scan the living room. It’s a standard beach rental, decked out in white and pale blue with framed beach art on the walls. “What made you think you’ve had someone here?”
“Bathroom,” he scoffs. “Squatter can’t hit the toilet for shit.”
Ox huffs a laugh. “Fair enough. Let us check it out, okay? You stay outside.”
We step inside and Ox shoots me a look. “What are you thinking?”
“You mean besides wondering how a grown-ass man misses the toilet?”
He snorts.
“Is this normal?”
“Squatters? Nah. Especially right now, when the season is still pretty high. I’m surprised Jesse didn’t have this place rented out.”
We go through the motions, but after a while, I know it’s a dead end. This is where my Bunny hitman has been staying.
“Ox.”
He glances over. “Yeah?”
“We’re not going to find anything. No prints, no nothing. Nothing’s gonna be missing, either.”
He stops and looks at me, assessing. “And how would you know that, MacKinnon?”
“Because I know who’s been here. Well,” I hedge, “not the exact person, but I know why they’re here.”
“And are you going to share that information with me?”
I shake my head sadly. “No.”
“Come on, Reid.” He blows out an exasperated sigh. “How am I supposed to do my job, man?”
I hold my hands up. “I know. I’ll tell Chief.”
“You better,” he grumbles, pulling off his gloves and muttering under his breath. “And you get to be the one to talk to Jesse. And file the paperwork.”
I gesture for him to exit before me. “That’s fair.”
Later, after I’m back on patrol on my second shift of the day, I pull over to text Willa.
Did you lock your doors?
Willa
I swear, your obsession with locked doors is unhealthy.
I mean it, Willa.
Willa
You gonna punish me if you come home over and find it’s unlocked?
I’m not joking.
Willa
I’m huffing.
I’m serious.
Willa
Hang on.
Okay, the door is locked. Happy now?
Very.