“Er, yeah. Listen guys, can we just move past this,” he said, gesturing to his mouth. “It happened. They’re here. I’m still the same person.”
The betas stared at him for a long moment, before a sharp shout cut through the awkward silence. “Reed! The boss wants to see you.”
“Oop, good luck,” Nancy said, sliding a few things into her bag.
Striding down the corridor, Oliver walked with as much confidence as he could muster.Teeth and tits. Teeth and tits. He was ashamed to admit that he rather enjoyed how the beta’s side-stepped around him, and the alpha’s gave a respectful nod as they passed.
Dear God, now he understood why the alpha’s all walked around with an air of arrogance. Checking himself, he dropped his shoulders and resumed his normal walking gait, because hedid notwant to explore that rabbit hole.
Drawing up to the Inspector’s office, he gave the door a soft knock. His stomach dropped as he heard laughter coming from within. It was a unique laugh that held a sharp edge, which he knew all too well. The sound ricocheted through Oliver’s whole body—a feeling akin to having a firework shoved up his arse. He was about to bolt back down the corridor, but the Inspector opened the door and ushered him inside. The familiar scent of tobacco and tea-tree soap hit him like a freight train, and he had to stop himself from recoiling as he looked up at the auburn-haired social worker.
Patrick stood where Lucas had stood on the day they met, but the feeling in Oliver’s gut was altogether different. They stared at one another for a long moment, and Oliver’s jaw clenched so tightly it was a wonder he didn’t break his teeth.
“Ah, DC Reed,” the Inspector said, glancing between them. “This is Patrick Coletta, Alfie and Helena’s new social worker.”
“We’ve met,” Patrick said, his mouth splitting into a too-wide and too-sharp smile.
The Inspector nodded and indicated for them to sit. “Have you really? My, my DC Reed. First DS White, now the social worker. You don’t half get around.” Oliver’s eyes dragged to the Inspector, entirely unsure if he knew what he was saying. “You must be more sociable than I realised!” Callahan smiled and spread his hands. Was he playing the comment off as a joke, or—it must be a joke.Definitely a joke right?
Either way, Oliver cleared his throat and looked out the window. “How can I help, boss?” He remained tight-lipped so as not to draw attention to his fangs.
“Well,” Callahan began, steepling his fingers. “I just wanted to introduce the two of you, as I know relations between the police and social services have been… strained, for quite some time. Low staffing, high workload, etcetera. But as you’ve already met, I’ll skip the pleasantries.”
Yes. Yes, please skip every last one.
“DC Reed, Mr Coletta has come to me with a suggestion for how we might move forward with young Alfie.”
Oliver’s gaze slid to Patrick, his lip involuntarily twitching at the alpha’s smug expression. He had the distinct feeling that whatever the Inspector was about to ‘suggest’ was the same thing Patrick had tried to discuss with him and Lucas the previous day. Underhanded bastard had bypassed a sergeant just because he didn’t get his own way.
“Yes?” Oliver replied, giving Patrick a venomous look.
“We think it would be prudent if you, Mr Coletta, and Alfie underwent a diffusion day. I understand from Patrick that the boy has opened up to his counsellor, and that he might be readyto disclose further details. Albeit, away from a formal police setting.”
“Indeed,” Patrick said, nodding triumphantly. “Alfie talks about you all the time. He’s constantly asking when he’s going to see Ollie again.”
Oliver very much doubted that. He’d only met the boy once, but the meeting had almost sent him spiralling into a trauma induced breakdown. Not only that—the switch in Patrick’s persona was unnerving him to such a degree that his knee began to bounce under the table.
Diffusion days were not uncommon in the child protection world. Oliver had arranged them several times to help build trust with a child, to allow them the space to make disclosures whilst in a less stressful environment. He had been to all sorts of places with Helena Cartwright, the most memorable being an ice skating rink where Nancy had followed along behind them, taking notes whilst trying to remain upright.
“And just where were you thinking of holding this ‘diffusion day’?” Oliver said through clenched teeth.
“Well, Alfie has expressed an interest in the National Aquarium,” Patrick replied, drumming his fingers on the Inspector’s desk.
The National Aquarium. Of course, it had to be the National fucking Aquarium. The place where he and Patrick had their first official date all those years ago.
Oliver almost scoffed. “And who’s going to be my second?” He glanced back at the Inspector.
“Well, Patrick feels that too many people will spook the lad. So he’s suggested that it just be the three of you.”
Fuck off.
“Right,” Oliver replied, voice quiet. Because if he wasn’t certain Patrick was manipulating the situation before, he certainly was now. “And when do you propose to do this?”
“Tomorrow,” Patrick replied, giving him a smile so soft that it made his insides turn. He could refuse. He could always refuse. But then he’d have to explain to the Inspector about his and Patrick’s shared past, and all the shit he’d been through six years prior. Callahan hadn’t been his Inspector back then, and hereallydidn’t feel like dredging it all up again.
And besides, what was one day? He could manage one day, for Alfie. However, that he was even considering it felt like a betrayal to Matteus and Lucas, which was why he felt like atotalpiece of shit when he finally said, “Fine.”
“Lovely,” Patrick said, clapping his hands. “I’ll pick you up at nine.”
