Page 41 of Hammer & Gavel


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Glancing at his watch, Oliver nodded when he saw it was only twenty past eight, and he had not yet had his morning coffee. Luckily for them, there was a public access canteen only a hundred or so feet away. Its beige prefab walls and barred windows made it look like an extension of the custody block, but inside it was surprisingly pleasant. Plus, it sold some cracking blueberry muffins.

“Sure,” Oliver replied, flipping the jacket over his shoulder and gesturing for Pember to follow.

Waiting in line, they made small talk about mundane things such as the weather and the rising price of car insurance. Oliver ordered a flat white and a blueberry muffin. Pember asked for a cappuccino and a chocolate croissant. Without thinking, Oliver tapped his phone against the card reader.

“Oh. I was treatingyou,” Pember said, brows pinching together.

Oliver shrugged, picking up the tray and carrying it over to a vacant table. “Sorry. Force of habit, I guess.”

“Well, then you’ll have to let me get the next one.” And Oliver did not miss the connotation of that comment. “So, what happened to your face?” Pember asked, taking a sip of coffee ashe looked at Oliver over the rim of his cup. “I know you said it's healed, but I can still see a bruise under your eye. W-Wait, you don’t have to tell me. It’s probably top secret or something.”

Oliver laughed at that, because the search warrant at the car dealership had made the local news. Much to the displeasure of Lucas and the Inspector. Shrugging, he said, “It’s not very exciting. Someone’s head made contact with my face. Multiple times, which was rather unfortunate.” It was clear that Pember couldn’t decide whether to laugh or be horrified. “But what about you? Are you okay after what happened at the Cock and Bull?”

Pember nodded as a deep blush spread up his neck. “I’m good. Thank you for asking. The truth is, I didn’t even want to go that night. My mum forced me to go out with some other omegas. She’s desperate for me to meet someone and settle down. Won’t stop going on about grandkids.”

Oliver nodded. It was an unfortunate—and persistent—expectation of the older generation. “But you’re not ready.” He replied.

“No! No, I’m really not. I mean, I just finished my degree in biochemistry and mathematics. Does she seriously think I want to throw all that away just to pop out a baby?”

“Wowsers,” Oliver said, sitting back in his chair. “Biochemistry and mathematics? I didn’t realise I was having coffee with a certified genius.”

Pember blushed. “W-Well, not a genius, but I worked my arse off to get through the programme. But don’t get me wrong, I want to meet someone. That’s the thing. Iwantto meet someone, fall in love and enjoy life. Not start a family. In fact, I’m not sure I even want kids. I want to build space rockets, for God’s sake!” Oliver bit the inside of his cheek as he struggled not to smile at Pember’s childish wonder. “But nobody wants that,”he continued. “All anybody ever wants from an omega is to get laid and reproduce. I just don’t want that. Is that weird?”

Oliver must have only been a few years older than Pember, but as he put down his drink and leant across the table, he felt like a wizened old mentor about to give a starry-eyed student a pep talk. He also felt like a fucking fraud.

“Pember,” he began. “You are more than your secondary sex. Hell, you are more than your primary sex. You are an intelligent young man that will have no problem finding love when the time is right.”

The omega’s eyes brightened at that, and Oliver worried he’d given the boy the wrong impression. Or, hewouldhave been worried were it not for Pember’s wide-eyed gaze suddenly shifting upwards. It was apparent from the shadow cast across the table that there was someone very tall, and very broad standing behind Oliver, and he needn’t have turned around to know who it was.

“Reed,” Lucas said, voice so low it made Oliver shiver.

Ignoring the reaction he tipped his head back and looked up at the alpha. “DS White, what a pleasant surprise.”

“We have a briefing in ten minutes.” Lucas’ eyes flitted to the coffee cups and half eaten pastries.

Oliver turned his gaze back to Pember, who appeared temporarily stunned. He couldn’t blame him. Lucas was looking dapper as hell that morning, in a grey waist-coat ensemble and black trench coat. He’d pulled his hair back again, which absolutelydid notmake Oliver want to climb him like a fucking tree.

“Sorry, duty calls,” he said, swallowing as he got to his feet.

Pember slowly nodded and shoved the last piece of chocolate croissant into his mouth. “My number. It’s in the coat pocket,” he said, cheeks puffed out. “Call me. If you ever want another coffee.”

Lucas’ nostrils flared at the blatant proposition, and Oliver had to nod politely and quickly grab the alpha’s arm to turn him away. He was still bristling as they walked across the car park.

“So…” Oliver began. “Is there actually a briefing in ten minutes, or are you just jealous that I was having breakfast with someone else?”

Lucas looked down at him, eyes dark but with a playful edge. “Can’t it be both?” He said, fingers brushing over the curve of Oliver’s back as they began their ascent through the station.

Oliver swallowed. Hard. “We probably shouldn’t walk in together. Otherwise the Inspector might get the wrong idea.”

“And what idea might that be, Reed?”

Oliver nibbled his lip before letting out an exasperated laugh. “You aren’t going to make this easy, are you?” Lucas only grinned as he held open the door to the briefing room.

NINE

BUSINESS ASSOCIATES

“Morning, love,” Nancy drawled from her usual position by the kettle. “Nice of you to join us.”