Instead of answering, Otto just walked over to look at the computer screen. Trying to act casual, Hugh exited out of his most recent search, hitting the escape key until he was back at the home page. Only then did he look up at Otto. Way up.
“How’d you sneak in here without me hearing you? You’re so tall, but you move so quietly. It’s like you’re a cross between Paul Bunyan and a ninja.” When Otto narrowed his eyes, looking more annoyed than he usually ever got, Hugh raised his hands and plastered on his most innocent expression. “A Bunja. Or a Ninyan?”
Otto’s stone-faced stare didn’t falter. “You can’t be here. If LT sees you…”
The idea made Hugh wince, but he forced a shrug. “Don’t worry. Lex and I are in stealth mode. Besides, it’s three in the morning. The lieutenant’s fast asleep. Unless there’s a monster of a call, he won’t be wandering in here until eight—actually, five after eight, since he’ll get coffee first.”
Closing his eyes for a second, Otto looked as if he was in pain, too. When he finally opened them, he fixed his glare on Hugh. “You will go home. You will stay there for the next sixteen days. You will not show up on any of my calls.”
With a noncommittal hum, Hugh decided that a subject change was in order. “Hypothetically, if I were to bring you a set of prints, would you send them to the state lab for processing for me?” At their next Tattered Hearts viewing, he’d snag Grace’s glass or popcorn bowl or something he could lift prints from.
Even as he thought that, a tickle of guilt made him itchy. Watching the soap with Grace had been fun. Sitting so close to her on the couch, laughing at the cheesy parts, gasping at the shocking parts had made his favorite show so much better. He couldn’t get involved with her, though. The woman was obviously trouble. He just had to ignore the urge he felt every time she looked at him with those gorgeous, scared eyes—the need to protect her, to comfort her, to take away that terrified look and make her laugh…or want to smack him. Any reaction was fine, as long as it distracted her from whatever made her so frightened.
Otto cleared his throat, bringing Hugh back to the reality of his partner’s deadly glare.
“From the angry eyes, I’m guessing the hypothetical answer to my hypothetical question would be no?” He’d have to hit up Theo instead.
To Hugh’s surprise, the scowl disappeared. Otto’s face smoothed into an expressionless mask as he crossed his thick arms over his chest. “Hypothetically,” Otto said in an even tone, “if I shoot you in the other leg, will you finally stay home?”
Okay, so the blank face and the calm voice were misleading. Otto was pissed.
“Fine,” Hugh grumbled, logging off the computer and shutting it down. “I’m going home. But if I die of utter boredom, then it’s on your conscience.”
Otto didn’t look too concerned about future guilt. Instead, he turned abruptly, crossed to the door, and opened it just enough to stick his head into the hall. Taking advantage of Otto’s distraction, Hugh used the opportunity to stand, knowing that he couldn’t hide how much it hurt to do so.
“Hallway’s clear,” Otto said in a low grumble, standing aside to let Hugh walk into the hallway.
A flash of gratitude took Hugh by surprise. He was lucky to have Otto and Theo and Lexi. His partners had risked their lives to carry him to safety after he’d been shot. If he was honest, Hugh knew that he’d be just as big of a nagging grandma if either Otto or Theo had been the ones injured. In fact, he had been just as bad to Theo after their fellow K9 officer, Don Baker, had committed suicide the previous summer. Although everyone in the department had mourned, Theo had been hit the hardest. He’d retreated into himself and turned off every emotion except for anger. Hugh would rather get shot in his other leg than watch Theo go through that again. He’d rather get shot anywhere than see his friends hurting at all.
As he passed, Hugh squeezed Otto’s massive shoulder. “Thanks, Otto.”
Except for a slight tip of his head in acknowledgment, Otto stayed silent. With Lexi at his side, Hugh strolled down the hall to the stairway. Only when the heavy fire door thumped closed behind him did he allow himself to limp heavily. The first step down almost brought him to his knees. As much as he hated to admit it, he’d been overusing his leg, and now he was paying for it. Using the railings, he balanced on his good leg and swung down four steps at a time until he reached the door to the parking lot. His key fob for the parking garage had been confiscated by the lieutenant, so he’d been forced to park in the public lot and go through the lobby. Luckily, the desk sergeant had let him pass after inquiring about his leg. Apparently, she hadn’t known about the station-wide Hugh ban…yet.