Chapter 28
Chapter twenty-eight
Levi
Bright and early Monday morning, I helped Cammie file for a restraining order against her ex. His prior assault and possession charges, along with Cammie’s statement and medical records, were enough for the judge to sign off on a temporary order of protection before lunch.
As soon as the order was approved, I grabbed Tris and headed for Chief’s office. “Got a minute?” I asked in the doorway. “We have a potential development in the campus operation.”
“Please,” he said, motioning us both inside.
I slid the picture I’d printed of Bishop across the desk. “Last month, I recognized someone on campus who shouldn’t have been there.”
Chief glanced at the photo and back at me.
“He’s Cammie Gibson’s ex. She filed a temporary order of protection this morning, and Judge Lenbock granted it.”
“Good,” Chief said. “Send this out to all the deputies.”
“Already did,” Tristan said.
“With the order,” I continued, “we have grounds to question him if he’s on campus again. I asked campus police to watch for him and notify us if he shows up.”
Chief Fitzwilliam frowned. “Cammie Gibson isn’t a student at the college. Even if he’s there, he wouldn’t be violating the protective order.”
“He’s a South Carolina resident,” I said. “It’d be enough to question him.”
“What does this have to do with the narcotics investigation?”
“Officially, he has priors for possession and no good reason to be in town,” I said.
“Unofficially?”
“Cammie suspects he was part of a fairly large operation,” I said. “Unfortunately, she doesn’t have any concrete evidence. It’s worth taking a closer look at him.”
“You think he could be the supplier,” Chief said.
I nodded.
“That reminds me,” I said, pulling out my wallet and removing Professor Exton’s card. “The Criminal Justice Department wants to discuss an internship program.”
Chief took the card and tapped it on his desk a few times. “I noticed the park was filled with student volunteers on Saturday. Looked like you enjoyed working with them.”
“Yeah, I did,” I said. “I’d be happy to help with starting an internship program, if you need it.”
“Levi presented to Professor Exton’s class,” Tristan said. “He was better than any prof I had in college, including Professor Exton.” His cheeks pinked, and he looked between the chief and me. “Don’t tell him I said that.”
“That good, huh?” Chief asked him as though I wasn’t there.
“Professor Exton asked him back to teach his master’s class this week,” Tristan said. “Telling you, Chief. You ever got any training you need done, Levi’s your man.”
Chief Fitzwilliam smiled at that. “He might be too busy for that soon.”
Tristan’s face fell.
“Is that all, guys?” Chief asked, studying my partner.
“That’s it,” I said. “We’ll be spending a lot of time on campus this week out of uniform.”
Chief Fitzwilliam nodded. “Keep me posted.”
Tristan was quiet after we settled back at our desks. Too quiet.
“Everything OK?” I asked.
“Guess you’re getting promoted,” Tristan said.
“Chief didn’t say that,” I said, though he might have implied it. The event had been a success after all. “He probably just wants me to head up the internship program. At least I hope so.”
Tristan raised his eyebrows at me, and I thought back to what I’d just said.
I should have been hoping for a promotion, not more work with the college.
However, the thought of accepting a detective position while Everly and I were still building the foundation of our relationship made my stomach hurt.
I’d come so close to telling her I loved her on Saturday.
I’d almost been happy when she left Sunday afternoon to “prepare her family for meeting me” at Aiden’s wedding.
At the rate I was going, I was bound to blurt it out soon.
“There’s no way you’re not getting it,” Tristan said. “Shit, you’re probably getting the internship lead too. I need your help figuring out how to do this job without you, so we better start cramming in everything you want to teach me now.”
I gripped Tristan’s shoulder. “You have better instincts than any cop I know. You’ve got all the important things down, Tris. The rest is just experience. You’ll get that whether you work with me or someone else.”
He nodded.
“I promise, even if I’m not your partner, I’ll always be your friend. Because fuck if you and Wyatt aren’t the only ones I have now.”
He smirked at me. “Yeah, but you’re dating Everly Hendricks. You’re practically legend.”
I couldn’t stop the laugh that rumbled from my chest.