Natural Consequences(228)
Lanier lingered. Alex gave him an accusing look. “She’s not gonna jump him in the open for everyone to watch, ya perv,” he said with feigned irritation.
“I am pleased to see you made it through the night unscathed,” Lorelei said to Bridger. She didn’t quite smile, but her words sounded genuine enough.
Bridger rose from his work, unsure of what to say. “I’m not sure that’s the word I’d use to describe it,” he shrugged, “but I’ll be okay. Does your, uh, boyfriend there, um… Am I in for another kick in the face?”
“No. We have an understanding,” she smiled. “Thank you for asking. And you? I would imagine your superiors will not be pleased.”
He threw a guilty look toward Amber, who pointedly kept her eyes on her camera and the ground. “I think I’ll be alright, all things considered,” he said.
Lorelei gave a little nod. She stepped closer to him, producing a small black business card from nowhere and slipping it into his shirt pocket. “Call me next time you’re in town. Perhaps I’ll be able to make it up to you.”
With that, she walked away, leaving him watching in awe.
Lanier had already slipped into the driver’s seat, wanting nothing more than to get on with this. “Shall we depart?” Lorelei asked Alex as she joined him.
“He’s got a goatee,” Alex observed.
“Yes.”
“I thought you didn’t like facial hair.”
“I don’t care for it, but it’s not a deal-breaker. You kicked him?”
“Yeah,” Alex nodded. “When they arrested me.”
“He remembers.”
Alex paused. “Are you telling me that to soothe my ego?”
“Perhaps. Does it need soothing?”
“Well,” he grinned, “you did fool around behind my back.”
“I intend to make up for it,” she nodded with a solemn smile. She accepted his hand as she stepped into the minivan.
Alone among the group, Jason looked back as they drove away.
* * *
“I demand to speak with your superiors! And my attorney! I’ll have both of your heads for this!”
“Christ, I’m seriously havin’ second thoughts about not gagging him,” Tyrone grumbled. He sat in the shotgun seat with his arm propped up against the door, resting his cheek against his hand.
“Cruel and unusual, buddy,” replied Kevin. He had to raise his voice a bit over the shouts of their prisoner, but past that he kept his calm.
“This is intolerable! Where are you taking me?”
“I told you, we’re taking you downtown,” Kevin shrugged. “Soon. Meantime, we need a bite to eat. The cliché kind,” he added with a snort.
He pulled the patrol car around the back of the donut shop, rolling past several parking spots until he got to the side driveway between the shop and the tall concrete wall separating the property from the nearby apartment block. “Chill out here for a while, buddy,” Kevin grunted as he turned off the car and got out.
“What? You mean to leave me here?” Wentworth fairly shrieked.
“It’s a safe neighborhood,” Tyrone shrugged. “You’ll be fine.”
Wentworth watched in horror as the pair strolled around the corner toward the donut shop. He could see them through the building’s side windows as they entered.
“We need to start eating healthier,” Tyrone said.
“Huh? What do you mean? Oh, hi, Orion,” he smiled. “Nice to see you.”
The skinny, curly-haired young man at the counter looked up at the two officers and froze long enough to let out a slow, annoyed breath. “Hello, officers,” he muttered.
“Could I get a maple-bacon and a chocolate glazed?” asked Kevin.
“Just a bearclaw for me,” said Tyrone. “And a mocha, no whip.”
“Sure,” Orion grumbled. He put down his guitar and rose from his stool to retrieve their orders.
“You know what I mean,” Tyrone said to Kevin as soon as Orion was out of easy earshot. “You ever do a calorie count on this stuff?”
“Just work it off at the gym,” Kevin shrugged.
“I’d have to live there to work this off. I can’t do that. I’ve got a wife.”
“Oh, sure, rub my bachelorhood in my face.”
Behind the counter, Orion rose with bearclaw and maple-bacon bar in hand to look out the window at the thrashing, panicked figure in the back of the patrol car. He shook his head in annoyance.
“You might try dating someone sane for once. I’m just sayin’.”
“Oh, are you calling Officer Esposito crazy?”
Tyrone shot him a deadpan stare. “Yes.”