And, in some way, some of the animosity I had towards him vanished, although the words I overheard back in college are still nagging at me in the back of my mind. But we talked. A lot. About everything and anything.
We even laughed sometimes. I know, shocker, right? Because even though we’re getting along, I’m still growing anxious every time I know I’m going to spend time with him alone. And I’m scared that the little crush I briefly had will come back with a vengeance now that I actuallyknowhim, on top of his good looks and heavenly smell.
“Hey, Prudence, right?” A man asks behind me, and I turn to face him.
He is one of the detectives. Matthew, maybe?
“That’s me,” I smile.
“I’m Matthew.”Nailed it.“It’s nice to formally meet you,” he says kindly as we shake hands. “Are you free by any chance? I need a sketch. I have a womanhere because she saw her dog being taken from her by a man in the park. We actually have a few cases that might be linked but no suspect at the moment. There are only two of you on call today and Mitchel went to a crime scene. It should be quick though, she seems to remember a lot of details about the guy.”
“Sure,” I smile, standing up and taking my tablet on my little cubicle desk. I leave my phone and my bag hanging on the back of my chair and follow him towards the interrogation room.
Quick, my ass. That woman was completely over the place. She remembered the guy having veiny arms but not the color of his shirt—’but it was silk, I’m certain of it’. She was able to tell me he had flip-flops, but was not sure about the color of his hair—after all, who would wear flip-flops? That’s a crime against fashion—nor if he had a beard or any distinct features. We’re looking for a man between eighteen and seventy-five, who had either brown or ginger hair, really pale skin, with veiny arms, and a terrible sense of fashion.
And I’ve been stuck there for nearly three hours.
“I’m sorry, it was such a waste of time.” Matthew sighs.
I force a reassuring smile as we walk back together towards my desk. “I know it happens. I don’t understand how she could remember all those things, but nothing actually useful. If I had a dog and someone stole it from me in front of my eyes, I never would have focused on flip-flops.”
“I know, right? Flip-flops, of all things. Like he’s the only person in L.A wearing flip-flops. Just go to any beach, and you’ll find him among thousands of other suspects.”
I chuckle, picturing that woman walking on a beach with a detective and pointing to every flip-flops guy she sees swearing that it might be the thief.
“So, um, I was wondering… Me and a few other detectives are going out tonight to celebrate a case we closed yesterday. There will be a few of our sketch artists too. Do you want to join?”
We stop a couple of feet from my desk and we’re facing each other. Hehas an alliance. He’s not trying to flirt, but probably just being cordial with the new girl. Maybe it would be fun to join them, some other time—when I don’t have other surprise plans.
“Actually, I—”
“She has plans. And she’s late.”
We both turn abruptly towards my desk, where Nate is waiting, his arms crossed over his chest, glaring at Matthew, a visitor’s pass hanging around his neck.
Matthew gives him a grin, and my eyes widen in surprise.
“Reed, what’s up man?”
Nate stays silent for a bit, while I try to process what’s happening. Do they know each other? Los Angeles is big, you can live for years next to someone and never learn their name. How would they know each other?
“How’s your back?” Nate asks, tilting his head once towards him.
“Better. I can’t ever thank you enough for that.” His smile broadens. “My wife too. She was getting a little tired of playing house nurse,” he chuckles, and Nate’s lips stretch slightly in what appears to be the beginning of a smile.
“Glad to hear that you finally got your head out of your ass.”
What the…
Matthew laughs openly now. What is happening? Did Nate treat him or something? For a back injury? But why is he talking to him like this?
“And I’m glad you’re still not scared of pulling our head out of it. Hard to find a physiotherapist who’s not scared shitless to put us in our place when we deserve to.”
Nate grins widely now. “And I’m happy to. You guys are just big babies playing with badges and guns. You need the occasional reality check.”
“Why are you here anyway? You know Prudence?” Matthew asks, sliding both hands in his pockets, his posture relaxed.
“I do. Her car still hasn’t been fixed?”
