I looked up the number for the 855, and after speaking with Ralph, he got the phone out to Jamal.
He answered with that deep rumble of his, “Umm... This is Jamal Stone?”
I found myself smiling as I said, “Hi Jamal, it's Finnegan. Finnegan May.”
His voice was smooth as silk when he responded with a smile in his tone, “Well I'll be. I've been meaning to give you a call Fin.”
Was it wrong I was comparing the thrill of him speaking to me with how confused Jane was making me feel? And it just confused me more when I realized it was pretty much the same. I squeaked out, “Really?”
Being the flirty smooth talker he was, he said, “I sort of been wanting to see if you'd like to maybe go to a show, or coffee with me sometime.”
I sounded like a schoolgirl when I squeaked again, “Really?”
He was so confident with his, “Really.”
I smiled down at Calvin when he wandered back inside from the balcony, and said, “I'd love to.” Then my smile faded. “But right now I have a favor to ask...”
After a quick explanation, sharing the confrontation in the alley, a mad Jamal assured me he'd get the word out on the doorman vine. It sounded like they had a network similar to ours, but they had a union. There may possibly have been a promise to have coffee with him on Wednesday evening if the threat of Tanya to Calvin and me had passed. I absently wondered what I'd wear.
A little guilty voice inside me supplied that Jane liked me in jeans.
I inhaled deeply and centered myself. Now that we had cast our net, I had to contact the Apple store to see if they could messenger a replacement phone over to me before they closed at six. Take that Garrett, the hundred dollar replacement insurance you teased me about, wound up being worth it.
And I also had to get to the corner market. The meals I had been making for Jane and me meant I was clearing out my stores fast. It was sort of nice to cook for someone again.
Would that break Jane's order for me not to leave the apartment? The uniformed officers were right across the street, and the market was on the corner.
Then I looked down to my ruined dress and the two big Hello Kitty bandaids across the cut. I absently wondered why they had hello kitty bandages in their first aid kit at the station.
First, I needed to change. I felt so defiant just then because instead of just saying it, I knew – I was not a victim. I muttered, “We're coming for you Tanya... you ruined my dress!”
I grinned at my closet, and I pulled out the solid black dress without any complimentary color trim and sash. I took out the matching solid black bonnet. This was my power outfit.
After dressing and putting on the flat heeled calf-high boots to complete my all black outfit, I strode out to the balcony and waved down to the officers in their car across the street. One got out of the vehicle and looked up at me. I waved at him again then called out, “Is it ok if I go to the market on the corner?”
The man looked at me and the market dubiously, then I shot my biggest smile to him with a pleading look. The man slid his cap off and then seemed to deflate. He waved me down with a small smile. Men were easy, now all I had to do was find one who wouldn't run away or one who wouldn't 'accidentally' sleep with someone else.
I hesitated at the door after I harnessed an eager Calvin up. I looked at Jane's light leather jacket then grinned and slid it on over my sundress. Where it stopped just shy of Jane's waist, it hit my hips. I rolled up the sleeves then inhaled the lilac and leather deep into my lungs, and I felt wrapped in safety.
I bet I struck an odd picture, but I thought it gave me a badass look. I smirked and grabbed my bag and stepped out with Cal. Then the heroic music playing in my head died out to my giggling, as I ruined it all by obsessively locking the door behind me... again and again.
Then I sighed, easy come easy go. “Come on boy. Let's grab some groceries.”
I sighed again in exasperation this time when the officer from across the street was waiting at the door on the sidewalk when we emerged outside, his partner stayed in the car. So much for my independence.
He tilted his cap. “Ma'am.”
I looked at the nameplate over the man's badge on his uniform, “Finnegan, please, Officer Garcia.”
He straightened his cap and did an admirable job of hiding that he was looking me over as he offered, “Jorge.”
I inclined my head and beamed. “Jorge. Just needed to pick up some groceries at Kim's.”
He smiled back. He looked like a kid, probably fresh out of the academy. Heh, a kid? That would make him only a couple years younger than me. But truly, with a clean-shaven babyface like that, it was sort of disconcerting to see that gun on his hip.
He looked at Calvin. “Nice dog.”
I nodded and agreed enthusiastically as we started walking. “Yes, he is.” I glanced over, and the older officer behind the wheel of the police cruiser had his eyes trained on us. I waved to him. He looked a little awkward when he hesitantly waved back. I know they have such a hard job, and many people don't respect what they do for us, so I suppose it would be out of the ordinary for someone to be friendly to them.
Jorge snorted. “So Kennedy actually does have a weakness.” The kid seemed amused that his partner was human.
When we reached the corner, I hesitated and looked at Calvin. I hadn't been thinking, he wouldn't be allowed inside. I looked at him sheepishly then Garcia, and shrugged, offering him Calvin's leash, “Would you mind watching Cal here? I'll just pop in and won't be but a minute.”
He looked at the leash then me, his face taking on a large helping of worry as he furrowed his brow and looked around nervously. Then he started, “Ma'am...” I gave him a narrow-eyed glare, and he corrected, “Finnegan, Detective McLeary would have my hide if I let you out of my sight. We were threatened with grave bodily harm if we did. Everyone is scared of her.”
I smiled warmly at that. I didn't know Jane had done that. I felt like she was protecting me even here. I pointed and countered like I was being covertly sneaky, “Big windows, I'll never be out of your sight.” Then I added with a conspiratorial wink, “I won't tell Detective McSnarky if you don't.”
He snorted then nodded. Yup, Jane's coat made me a badass. I stepped in and quickly got a few things to tide us over until I could do a proper shopping trip. The walk back was uneventful, then Cal and I settled in for the day after the iPhone was delivered.
I texted Raife that I was available at my old number now and I went about cleaning the apartment to keep my mind off of the memory of the knife at my side. If I didn't busy myself, I knew I would go over it again and again in my mind.
Cal heard the keys in the lock around seven before I did and he went rocketing to the door to greet Jane as she stepped in, looking exhausted. I was coming to realize that was normal for her, she worked so hard and put in long hours. When did she take time for herself?
I waved from the top of the step stool where I was cleaning the curtain rod at the french doors. She did a double take then cocked an eyebrow when I scurried down the stool to the floor. “Well hello there, Fin.”
I furrowed my brow then realized I was still wearing her jacket. I blushed as she crouched to say hello to Cal and his waggy tail. I shrugged as she stood and started walking toward me. I blurted, “Sorry, I was just... it made me feel safe.”
She stepped right through the invisible personal space bubble like she always did and smiled down at me as she straightened the collar of the jacket. “You look like a Mary Poppins renegade.”
I wasn't sure if that was a compliment or not. It was sometimes hard to tell when Jane was teasing. The tips of my ears warmed along with my cheeks. I said, “I'll go hang it up.”
She shook her head and said almost smugly, “No, don't on my account. Use it as long as you like.” Then she sobered a bit and adjusted the shoulders of the jacket a bit. “How are you doing, Fin?”
I nodded and found I kept nodded and fought tears, No, I wouldn't be a vict
im. She pulled me in and hugged me, and I buried my face in her arm and mumbled, “She pulled a knife on me, Jane.” She nodded and shushed me. I soaked in her warmth, her strength, and I felt so – safe.
When I got control over my emotions again I straightened a little, and she let go, and I looked up at her with watery eyes but and growled, “She ruined my dress.”
Jane gave me one of her genuine laughs as she stepped back, then moved back to the door to lock it and take her shoes off to place under her peg. “We'll add that to the list of crimes she's responsible for.”
I gave her a sour face which just got her more amused. Fine, I smiled back.
I asked hopefully, “Any luck?”
She exhaled and deflated a little. “Not yet, she's gone to ground, but we'll find her. Don't worry. Kennedy and Garcia are assigned to you for the duration.”
I wasn't worried about that. Maybe I should have been. I just wanted the woman who killed Cal's mom brought to justice.
I asked, “Hungry?”
She grinned and slipped past me to stow her gun. “I feel spoiled.”
I muttered in fun, “I'll spoil you right up side the head.”
She chuckled and started a pot of coffee as I started prepping for dinner. I had to cock my head and reflect upon how we were already slipping into a comfortable pattern in these few days as she pulled out Cal's food and filled his dish and then got him fresh water.
I called out as she headed to her room. “Salad.”
She grimaced, and I said, “You'll eat it, and you'll like it.”
She played with her earlier Mary Poppins quip and curtsied as she vanished into her room calling out, “Yes mum.”
Calvin slipped in with her, and she shut her door. I was a little jealous, he had a front-row seat when she... changed... her... what was I thinking? I blushed and basked in that blush. What? She was sexy, and I could appreciate that couldn't I?
I went back to preparing our Chef's salad, baking some eggs instead of hard boiling them. If you baked the eggs for thirty minutes then drop them into ice water, you get perfect hard boiled eggs that the shells virtually slide off without any sticking. I made a couple extra to slip into our lunches tomorrow and may or may not have added one for a certain Border Collie who shall remain unnamed.
When Jane came back out and made a beeline for the fresh coffee, she was in a pair of jeans and a tight-fitting black tee. She looked more – her – and less boardroom professional; Neither of which was necessarily a bad thing mind you.
I asked in an almost whiny tone, “Will I be allowed to walk Calvin tonight after dinner?”
She glanced at me over her cup before she headed to the couch and the TV remote. “I'll walk him.”
I cleared my throat and looked at her expectantly when she glanced back. She sputtered in exasperation, “There some psycho bitch out there gunning for you and you think I'm going to let you...”
I cut her off in exasperation. “Let me? By the lord of the swishing tail, I'll do what I want. I'm not a victim, and I won't be locked away like some porcelain doll. I'm not going to let her take my freedom away when it is her who needs to be in a cell.”
She looked equal parts amused and concerned when she said, “Nice cell,” as she looked around the apartment then hid her grin behind her cup as she took another swallow. I glared at her, how had she ever had me questioning my sexuality. She was a mean grinch.
She set her cup down and teased. “Lord of the...”
To her endless amusement, I quipped, “Fuck you.”
Then she suddenly sobered and said, “Good, McKnight didn't take your fire. I think you're going to be ok.” Then before I could respond, she added, “But I'm going with you.”
I snapped loudly, “Fine!”
She raised her voice over mine. “Fine!”
I started chopping ham, muttering, “Fine.”
Cal punctuated our argument with a happy bark, and I grudgingly smiled.
She grinned and settled into the sofa saying softly, “Fine.”
I asked, “You always have to have the last word don't you?”
“Yup.”
“Jerk”
“That's what my label says.”
Ok, the woman was fun.
Then I asked offhandedly, leaving the question open, “And tomorrow... ?”
She turned back slowly. “You're not thinking about traipsing around through the city tomorrow with her out there?”
I stared at her, as I sliced the turkey into tiny strips with purpose, the knife striking the cutting board solidly. She relented. “Jesus woman, you have a death wish.”
I defended, “I have a job to do, and my clients depend on me.”
She nodded slowly. “They're dogs.”
I nodded right back, eyes wide to punctuate the point. “Dogs are people too.” Then I grinned at her with Calvin laying across her lap as she absently rubbed his ears. I doubt she even realized she was doing it. “Tell Cal differently.”
She looked down and shook her head as a smile grew. “You're about as easy to contain as the wind with a butterfly net, Miss May.”
I smiled smugly at the turkey that was sliced maybe just a tad too thinly and said smugly to it as I cut some the right thickness and shoveled the thin stuff into Calvin's bowl. “That's a yes.”
She sounded amused as she pointed out, “But Kennedy and Garcia keep you in sight at all times.”
I nodded. Fair enough. Then I grinned. We both knew I had just won and it seemed to amuse her even more as she flipped on the news.
When her back was to me, I dipped my nose and took in the lingering scent of lilac and leather from her jacket and relaxed.
Maybe she wasn't totally evil after all.
Chapter 13 – Pursuit
She was totally evil! The woman had smirked at me this morning when I wandered out to give her her jacket back when she tried to leave the apartment to go back to the station at five in the morning.
She seemed almost pleased when she draped it over my shoulders over my cat pajamas and said, “You keep it. You make it look good, Finny.” Her eyes seemed to linger a moment, and I felt a warm stirring below that just made me swallow, before she was kind enough to release the hold her eyes had on me by looking away.
I had to growl at her so she would hold on a moment while I prepped her lunch. She wouldn't be at her best on an empty stomach, and she didn't have time for breakfast. She almost whined, “I'll pick up a breakfast burrito at the golden arches on the way to the station.”
I pointed at her, my nose almost touching my finger as I squinted my eyes until she rolled her eyes and said, “I promise.” See? Humans really can be trained.
She crouched at the door and ruffled Calvin's ears and thumped his sides and said like I wasn't there, “At least someone here appreciates me.”
She looked at me, and I stuck my tongue out at her and smiled. Then she was gone. I hugged myself under her jacket then wandered back to bed. It was almost time to get up, but I could still laze about for a few minutes.
Calvin was all for that and burrowed in under the covers. We really spoil him, and the silly boy didn't think I knew when he hopped off my bed in the middle of the night to pad through the bathroom to Jane's room to suck the heat out of her feet too.
As usual, I sat up ten seconds before my alarm went off. I often wondered if I didn't set it if I would still wake up at the same time. I think I might since daylight savings time messed up my internal clock for a couple weeks.
After Cal and I got ready, and I prepped my lunch, I scanned my text messages. The network was already texting all clears in on the Broken Leash. I don't miss the early and late walks I had to do the first few months I was in the city when I was first starting out. I was up at all hours and not getting decent or consistent sleep. I much preferred my current work week. Some people would kill for full-time pay on a part-time job like this.
We headed out, and as we were passing the mailboxes in the lower hall, I wa
s hoping we could get out without the boys across the street seeing. I stepped out, but Garcia was leaning against the car across the street. I sighed.
I crooked a finger at him, and he timed the traffic and ran across to me. I asked, “Jorge? Were you two here all night? Didn't anyone relieve you?”
He shook his head as he looked down at Calvin who was wiggling around, winding around him as I passed the leash around, so he didn't get tied up. He yawned and supplied, “Not enough manpower. Most are out looking for McKnight. It's all good, Finnegan, we spelled each other in the car.” I absently wondered where they went to the bathroom but then decided I probably didn't want to know.
I was glad I had packed a little something in my bag. I pulled out two Tupperware containers, labeled neatly with their names and handed them to him. “Here, I made you a little something. You must be starving.”
His eyes widened in surprise, and he smiled genuinely, making him look so much younger again. “We have the other guys drop stuff by, or one of us hits the corner store.”
I chastised, “Well this is healthier for you and will help keep up your energy.”
He looked at the containers then inclined his head. “Well thank you. It was very sweet of you to think of us.” Then he said cryptically, “Detective McLeary is a lucky woman.”
She was a... oh. I felt my cheeks warm and smoothed out my orange sundress. They thought we were together. Well, of course, they'd know her sexual preference. I felt flattered that they thought I'd be in her league if I weren't so into guys. She'd be a catch for anybody.
I squeaked out with a smile, “We're just roommates.”
He shrugged. “I still stand by my words either way.” Ok, now he was just being charming.
I shared, “Heading through the park then to my client's places before the morning walk session.”
He shook his head. “Sorry, Finnegan. Detective McLeary and the Captain says we have to have an eye on you at all times. Just a second.”
He wove through traffic back to the squad car, passed the food in and said something then thumped the top of the cruiser and ran back over to me. He made an ushering motion down the street, and I cocked an eyebrow. He said, “Just keep where we can keep eyes on you from Center Drive or East Drive through the park.”
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