Chapter Sixteen
Dominic
My mind was anywhere but on my job. Bradford and I were doing a sweep of the strip malls after several complaints of car break-ins. We walked around the area, spoke to shoppers and store owners, and met with the mall’s security to get the tapes for review later back at the station.
I walked to Mr. Ackerman’s store to see how he was doing and what he might know or have seen. But when we entered, someone new was behind the register—a young kid, about nineteen or twenty. Pale as if he hadn’t seen daylight in months, he nervously twirled a strand of long, ink-black hair.
“Is something wrong?” His voice came out scratchy and high-pitched.
“No, not at all,” I said and watched him relax. “Where’s Mr. Ackerman?” In all the time I’d lived here, I’d never seen anyone behind the register except for him.
“Oh, uh, he called my mom a few days ago—we live a few doors down—and asked if I could take over the store. He hasn’t been feeling well.”
“Has he seen a doctor?” My question came out sharp but for some reason, I felt protective of the older man and hated the thought of him being alone and ill.
The kid’s brow furrowed. “I dunno, man. I just did it ’cause I’m getting paid, and I’m saving up for an Xbox.”
I mentally rolled my eyes. Empathy wasn’t strong with this one. “Thanks.”
Bradford, who’d been walking through the store, returned. “You see anything going on in the parking lot? We’ve had complaints of car break-ins.”
His eyes grew huge. “Wha-what? N-no. Nothing. I don’t know anything.”
I could easily believe that.
“If you do, let us know.” Bradford gave him a stern look, and I swore the kid might’ve peed his pants a little.
“Yeah, of course, sure,” he babbled, and without another word, we left and went to pick up the tapes from the mall office.
“You think he knows anything?” Bradford asked as I started the car.
I snorted. “About the break-ins or in general? And no, I don’t. I think he just freaked out because of the uniform. I get the feeling the kid doesn’t have much social interaction beyond a screen.”
“Yeah. I don’t get it. You live in the country. Go outside and kick a ball or ride a bike.” Bradford shook his head. “When I have kids, I’ll never let them sit in front of a television or play video games all day.”
We drove toward downtown and waved at Clarke and Ross as we passed by.
In light of the jewelry store incident and the increasing drug activity all over the area, Simms had begun overlapping deputies’ shifts by two hours.
There was also talk of hiring more deputies, and an overall change in tours, with four deputies on at all times.
Even in this sleepy area of the state, crime was rising, and he wanted to protect us.
“How’re you and Lila doing?”
“We’re great.” He chewed his lip. “We’re moving in together. She owns her condo, and I’ll give up my lease when it ends.”
“Next steps, my man. I’m happy for you. She’s the one, then.”
Bradford nodded, relieved, it seemed, to have my approval. “Yeah. I’m already saving up for a ring. I wanna make sure she gets something special.”
I wanted to tell him that a woman who really loved him wouldn’t care about ring size, but kept my mouth shut. I wasn’t the one to lecture anybody on relationships.
“I’m sure she’ll love it no matter what you get her.”
“I have my sister helping me.” He pointed at the diner. “Coffee?”
“Sounds good.” I pulled into the lot, still thinking about Mr. Ackerman. We took a corner booth, and Mary Ann came by with the pot.
“Hey, you two. How’s everything?” She poured out the coffee.
“Good. I’ll have a cranberry muffin too,” I said, and Bradford nodded. “Make that two.”
“You got it.” She walked away but stopped at the door when Emmy walked in. “Hi.” Her tone was decidedly flirtatious, and my lips kicked up as I watched them.
“Hi, Mary Ann. I’ll just sit at the counter. Gonna grab a sandwich before my tour starts.”
“Your buddies are here.” She pivoted to point to us. I met his eyes, and a curl of lust hit me low in my belly. He wore a tight, white Henley that unfortunately covered his ink but clung to the sculpted muscles of his arms and shoulders. My grin broadened at his smirk.
“You gonna invite him to sit with us?” Bradford asked.
Instead of answering, I called out and waved, “Emmy, we’re here.”
“That was nice of you,” Bradford murmured as Emmy walked over.
“I’m a nice guy, Bradford.” I waited until Emmy reached our booth. “Were you gonna pretend you didn’t see us?”
Emmy folded his arms. “I couldn’t miss you, Starr. It’s like a rush of hot air hits me in the face whenever you’re near.”
Oh, he was so going to pay for that tonight, and the way his green eyes sparkled, he knew it too.
“We, uh, checked in at the strip malls about the car break-ins and got the security tapes. With Ross and Clarke out on patrol, we’re returning to the station to watch them for the last hour of our shift.”
“Good. No leads?”
I shook my head. “No, but hopefully the tapes will show something. If they do, we’ll leave you some notes and tell Simms.”
He nodded. “Well, I’m gonna got sit and get a sandwich.”
“Room for you here.” I moved over, and he hesitated. “Don’t worry. I don’t bite.”
He slid next to me, and his thick thigh pressed against mine. Mary Ann came by with our muffins and to take his order.
“Tuna on toast with tomato. Thanks.”
“You got it, hun. By the way, if you like old movies, they have some playing at the town center. I’ve got tickets if you’re interested.”
I decided to have some fun. “I bet you’d love that, Emmy.”
“Sorry, Mary Ann, I can’t, but thanks for asking.”
She walked away with a disappointed face, and once she was out of sight, Emmy retaliated by slipping his hand under the table and fucking squeezing my crotch. I shifted and grew stiff as he teased his fingers up and down.
“You okay, Starr? You got all red in the face.” Bradford peered at me.
Emmy snorted and, thank fucking God, removed his hand.
“Yeah. Just got a cramp from this morning’s workout.”
“Must’ve been a tough one,” Emmy remarked as I broke off a piece of my muffin.
“Eh. A little soft for my taste. I’ll have to ramp it up.”
A slight snicker escaped Emmy’s lips. “Yeah, I think you should. Don’t want to lose your touch.”
I didn’t answer and finished my muffin and coffee.
Bradford did the same, and at Mary Ann’s approach with Emmy’s sandwich, I tapped him on the shoulder.
“We’ve gotta go.” I rested my finger a second longer than necessary and pressed hard.
I took out my wallet and handed Mary Ann a bill to cover the food and tip.
“See ya,” Emmy replied casually and stood to let me out. I caught a whiff of his aftershave and inhaled deeply. Damn, I had it bad.
“Bye.” Without another glance, I walked out, Bradford on my heels.
“That was the friendliest you’ve ever been to each other,” Bradford mentioned when we were about halfway back to the station. “Maybe you’ll get to be friends yet.”
Friends and lovers. Something I’d never experienced before.
Lovers. Emmy was my lover. The words rolled around on my tongue, and I wondered why of all the men and women who’d passed through my life, he’d been the singular person to catch my attention.
I’d never had trouble walking away, but now I only saw myself with him by my side.
Fucking terrifying, not because he was a man, but because I wanted him there with me every step of the way.
The truth—now that I was willing to accept it—was that he’d been with me all the time, since those afternoons in the showers.
“Maybe so.”
We pulled into the station, and for the final hour of our tour, watched the videos. Not much to see, but there were hundreds of hours we’d have to go through. I wrote out my notes for the next group to come in.
“Got a date tonight? Gonna see your hottie?” Bradford asked as we changed in the locker room.
“I might.” I grinned at the thought, and Bradford hooted.
“Man, I think you got it almost as bad as me.”
I slammed my door shut. “See you tomorrow.”
I went home, took a shower, and decided to swing by Mr. Ackerman’s house on Poppy Lane.
The small, gray, weathered clapboard home had a wide porch and a redbrick path leading up to the steps.
The brown grass and wilted flowers disturbed me, as did the pots of dead geraniums. Mr. Ackerman had always talked about his little garden with pride.
My trepidation rising, I mounted the steps and rang the bell.
No answer.
I knocked on the door and still heard nothing. I pounded, calling out this time.
“Mr. Ackerman, it’s Dominic Starr from the sheriff’s office doing a wellness check.
” No response. I took a chance and turned the knob.
The door opened. “Shit,” I muttered and drew my weapon from my ankle holster.
“Sheriff’s Department coming in.” I soft-footed it through the small living room and kitchen, noting the staleness of the air and the dirty dishes in the sink.
“Mr. Ackerman?” The house was a ranch with the bedrooms in the rear. I peered into the empty bathroom. The next door was ajar, and my heart sank seeing the pale, elderly man lying in the bed, struggling to breathe.
“Mr. Ackerman.” I rushed to his side and felt his neck for a pulse. Faint and thready. I pulled out my phone and called 9-1-1.
“This is Deputy Sheriff Starr in Appleton Falls. I have an elderly man in respiratory distress. Address 64 Poppy Lane. Please send help immediately.”
“We’ll be there as soon as we can.”
Seven long minutes passed before the ambulance arrived. Appleton Falls didn’t have its own hospital—the nearest one was shared with Harmony Rock. The paramedics came inside, checked his vitals, and took him into the ambulance. The last I’d seen, they’d put an oxygen mask over his nose and mouth.
“I’ll follow you,” I told them.
They sped off, and I raced after them, breaking every speed limit and not giving a shit. I parked in an emergency zone and ran after the gurney.
An efficient-looking nurse stopped me. “Can I help you?”