charges,” he sputters through the cotton stuck into the side of his mouth to quell the bleeding. He bit his tongue when I punched him. Bev hands me a printed out report sheet which I fold in thirds and tuck into Derrick’s pants pocket.
“It’s a complaint form for the mayor,” I inform him. “So you can press charges.”
“Fuck the mayor!” Derrick screams. “Like he’s going to do jack shit about you.”
“It’s she and she probably will, don’t you think, Bev?”
“Definitely a few days in the cell,” Bev agrees.
“Worth it,” I announce cheerfully as I get to my feet. The EMTs wheel an unhappy Derrick out of the station so that he can have x-rays taken of his jaw. I don’t think I hit him that hard.
I glance at the clock again. Time’s a ticking, plus there are all those women at my house.
“Before you go, you might want to take a look at this. It might save you some time today.” Bonnie thrusts a piece of paper into my hand.
I shake my head. “Yeah, it will.”
A few minutes later, I walk through the door of the hardware store.
Don, the owner, gives me a chin nod of acknowledgement. “Chief.”
“Got a minute?” I ask.
He eyes me warily. “Kind of busy now.”
“We should talk.” I tip my head to the part-time worker standing a few feet away who is supposed to be stocking shelves but has stopped to listen.
Don’s shoulders slump in defeat. He calls Keith over to watch the register and then leads me to the back room.
“What is it?”
“I think you know.” I direct my gaze to his feet. “I got to ask, though, since when is your shoe size a ten?”
He lets out a long sigh. “Borrowed my brother’s.” He lifts a foot and squeezes the toes through his tennis shoe. “Hurts like a mother even today.”
“Dumb ass. Why are you sneaking around Tina’s house?”
I listen to him stammer through an explanation about how he didn’t mean to be lurking, but she wouldn’t answer the door so he was trying to check and see if she was safe. I write him out a ticket and tell him he needs to apologize to Tina or sit in my jail cell overnight. He says he will and that he’ll buy her flowers and chocolate, too. That sounds good to me so on my way out of the store, I buy some candy bars for Khloe.
I radio Bev that I’m heading home since the Peeping Don case is closed. She tells me that the coast is clear, which I find out later means Khloe is alone.
“Where is everyone?” I ask, tossing my hat near the back door and shucking my boots. The gun belt goes in a locked drawer and my leather coat on a hook.
“Your mom came and herded everyone out,” Khloe says.
I drop a kiss on her mouth before spreading out the candy in front of her. “They didn’t sell flowers at the hardware store,” I say by way of explanation.
“I don’t really understand what that means but thank you?” She unwraps one and takes a bite. I go fetch a beer.
Leaning back against the counter, I take a moment to appreciate how great it is that she’s here when I come home. I didn’t realize I’d like that so much. I’ve been alone for a while and figured that was the best way to live, but now that Khloe’s around, I’m starting to realize how empty my life has been.
“At the station...the visitor…” She hesitates.
“You mean your ex?”
She nods. “Are you going to get in trouble for hitting him?”
“Nah.” One or two nights in a cell isn’t going to hurt me or my standing. “But if I do serve time, are you going to come and visit? Maybe we can exercise my conjugal rights.” I wink.
She lets out a gasp of outrage. “They are sending you to prison for punching a guy? That’s not right.” She jumps to her feet and moves toward the door. “Who do I have to talk to about this?”
I catch her before she can grab the handle. “It’s all good, baby.” I swing her into my arms and hold her so she can’t run out. “Hitting him is worth a day or two behind bars and I’ve got a good jail cell. We keep it clean.”
“It’s not right.” Her lower lip juts out and it’s so fucking tempting I just have to swoop in and kiss her. It’s not meant to be a distraction, not