Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Chase stepped out into the ring. He shuffled his feet and hit his gloves together, loosening up.
“How’s vice treating you?” he asked his opponent, though it came out slightly garbled through his mouthpiece.
“Raided a nightclub the other day. Girls’ dresses were so short their asses were hanging out.”
A couple of people on the sidelines laughed.
Chase rolled his eyes. How had he gotten stuck sparring with this douchebag today?
A lot of West Oaks cops belonged to this gym, which was about a mile from West Oaks PD headquarters. Chase got along with most everyone in his department. But there’d been extra tension lately.
Especially with certain people who liked to run their mouths.
Chase missed the days when Devon had worked out here all the time. Now, Devon was too busy with his job and Aurora to come by the gym much. He did his training with the other bodyguards at Bennett Security headquarters.
“I hear there’s been a lot of action in major crimes,” the vice cop said.
“There’s usually something going on.”
They circled one another. Jabbed. Blocked. Chase bounced on his toes.
“Yeah,” his opponent said. “But that murder? Guy got stabbed seventeen times? That was messed up.”
“Can’t talk about it.”
“Because you know the girl who did it?”
Chase tensed. The vice cop took advantage, landing a punch to Chase’s lower torso. He grunted, taking the blow.
“Where’d you hear that?” Chase asked.
His opponent shrugged. “Just something that’s been going around.”
Everybody had heard about his refusal to answer Detective Murphy’s questions. It didn’t help matters that most of the department hated Ruby’s attorney, Jane Simon.
Chase had hoped that things would settle after the initial excitement had worn off. But every day, somebody else decided to bring up the subject. Like they were testing him. Waiting for him to slip up.
Waiting for him to reveal he wasn’t on the same side.
“Surprised me though,” the vice cop said. “That you’d stick up for a murder suspect.”
“Let’s just fight. You talk too much.”
They traded blows. Bobbed and weaved. His opponent grunted when Chase landed a hook.
The vice cop got a vicious glint in his eye. “She your girlfriend or something? This Ruby Whitestone chick?”
“No. But she’s a friend.”
“Yeah, I’ll bet you know her real well.” He tried a jab. Chase blocked it, then followed up with two body shots. The guy rolled his neck as he breathed, like he was trying to shake it off.
They took a break, grabbing water.
The vice cop wiped a towel over his face. “Better be careful, though. She’ll probably knife you in your sleep.”
“Watch your mouth.” Chase took a step toward him. People on the sidelines were whispering.
He knew he should stop talking. Probably should get out of here. But his opponent wouldn’t fucking quit.
“They found her with the vic’s blood all over her hands.”
“Wrong place at the wrong time.”
“That’s what they all say, right before they demand a lawyer. We don’t arrest innocent people. You know that. So you’d better find someplace else to get your dick wet, because your girl’s going down. She’ll be some prison guard’s bitch in a few months.”
Chase threw off his glove and slammed his fist into the guy’s face. The vice cop went sprawling on the mat.
Chase wasn’t thinking. Wasn’t breathing. His arm pistoned back to hit the guy again.
“Hey!” Someone ran into the ring, pulling Chase away. “That’s enough, Collins. Stop.”
Chase shook the guy off. “I’m done. I’m going.”
The vice cop was moaning, putting on a show. Wasn’t like he’d gotten knocked out. Nose was barely bleeding.
Shit. What did I do?
He was already on thin ice at work, and was this going to help? No. It was not. He grabbed his gear and shoved it into his bag.
“Chase.”
Shelby was running after him. Chase pushed through the exit.
The sun was bright today, making him squint. Palm trees waved in the late afternoon breeze.
“Hold up.”
“Leave me alone, Shelby. It’s probably better for you if you’re not seen talking to me, anyway.”
“Don’t act like you’re some martyr. Plenty of people around here have your back and aren’t afraid to show it.”
“Yeah? Like who?”
“Don’t I count?”
He sighed, shaking his head. “Sorry. You’ve helped Ruby and me both as much as you could. I appreciate that.” He ran a hand through his sweaty hair. “But I don’t want you to get penalized for it.”
“I’m your friend. I’m worried about you.”
Another patrol officer pushed out of the gym exit, eying them as he walked into the parking lot.
“Let’s go over there.” Shelby nodded at a shady spot. “I don’t want a sunburn.” She was a pale blond with light skin. But they both knew she really wanted to move this conversation away from being overheard.
Chase tossed his gear bag at his feet and sat on the grass.
Shelby had been in his class at the academy. She was tough and beautiful and didn’t take shit from anyone. In other words, exactly Chase’s type. He’d even had a slight crush on her at first, but she’d shot him down when he’d asked her out.
Now, they were close friends and always had each other’s backs. They were both in major crimes, with dreams of making detective together. Hopefully, someday soon. If everything didn’t go to shit.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
“What do you think? One of the people I care about most has been charged with murder. CPS is threatening to take her kid away.”
“That sucks. You think that could happen?”
“I don’t know. They saw how well Haley is cared for. But it’s fucked up that they even could.”
“It’s their job. We see neglected kids all the time. I’ve called CPS on people, and so have you. This is the process.”
“But now it’s Ruby.” He knew how hypocritical that was. Yet it was true. She didn’t deserve any of this.
“You said she’s a friend, but it seems like she’s more than that.”
Chase’s insides burned. “I asked her to marry me.”
“Jesus. Are you for real right now? You’re serious?”
“As a punch to the head. But it gets worse. I’m in love with her. Even though I keep trying not to be.”
Shelby groaned. “Chase. No.”
“She doesn’t feel that way about me, and she doesn’t know my real feelings either. But if I can help her, I will.”
“Ruby was arrested for murder a week ago. If you suddenly marry her, how’s that going to look for you?”
“Why would anyone assume it’s not genuine?”
“I’m not saying they’ll suspect. Dude, the problem is they’ll think you’re a head case.”
“Because I love someone, and she happens to be in trouble? Because I won’t abandon her?”
“No, because you choose to make a wild, grand gesture that’s basically a ‘fuck you’ to our entire department!”
He refused to view it that way. He could be loyal to Ruby and still be a good cop, and someday a good detective.
“There are plenty of people who support you,” she said, “but if you do this? Marry her? They’re not going to understand. Don’t do something stupid that’ll tank your career.”
Chase was afraid his career could be tanking already. If he didn’t fix things now, he might not get the chance later.
But compared to Ruby or Haley’s wellbeing? He wasn’t sure he cared.