Center Mass

by Lani Lynn Vale

  I quite liked her making herself at home.

  This time, she was wrapping presents on the floor with the phone held in between her ear and her shoulder.

  “No, he hasn’t invited me to Christmas dinner yet,” she teased, making a face at me.

  My mother. Again. They’d been quite chummy lately. Yay…not.

  I shook my head and started stripping out of my shirt, shoes, socks, pants, and underwear before heading to the shower to wash the day off my skin.

  She followed me, watching my progress as she continued to speak to my mother, which was incredibly unnerving to think about.

  “I’m invited, you say? I’ll come as long as there’s an apple pie,” she quipped.

  “And pumpkin!” I yelled just before turning the shower on.

  She watched me step in, and I watched her watch me.

  “Alright, well I’ll see you Christmas Day. I know, thanks for calling. Sure. Bye,” She said quickly.

  She placed her cell phone down on the bathroom counter before hopping up.

  “Where were you?” She asked.

  There was no worry in her tone, just curiosity.

  I quickly explained what the chief had told me, and I watched her face take on a hint of sadness.

  “That’s awful,” she said, hands worrying the hem of her shirt.

  I nodded. It was.

  “But I don’t understand why they had to call you in to tell you that. Couldn’t they have just said that over the phone?” She asked.

  I shook my head. “The Chief wanted to warn us that there was going to be an investigation into the op, and if we could’ve done anything different. They’re waiting on an autopsy report to find cause of death before they do anything drastic, though.”

  Her eyebrows raised, and her eyes tracked my hand as I took the bar of soap and started running it over my body.

  I started under my arms, and by the time I made it down to my lower stomach, she was squirming on the counter.

  I liked what I saw, which in turn only made her squirm all the harder as I soaped up my rock hard erection.

  The soap made my hand slippery, reducing the friction of my rough palm on my sensitive dick.

  She licked her lips as she crossed and uncrossed her legs.

  “You play dirty,” she accused.

  I smiled. “Only way to play, baby.”

  Chapter 20

  That’s what.

  -She

  Luke

  My eyes snapped open revealing the blue screen that signaled the end of the movie.

  Frozen, for the third time in one day, was not fun.

  What was also not fun was waking up to a knock on your front door on Christmas Eve at ten o’clock at night.

  I eased myself out from under the pile of women and children who’d made my chest their pillow and walked to the front door, picking my Glock up from the hallway’s top shelf as I went.

  Flipping the light on, I glanced out the peephole.

  For some reason, I wasn’t surprised to see Detective Pierson Howell standing on my front stoop when I looked out the peephole.

  Annoyed, I opened the door quietly, then stepped out on the cold stone steps, closing the door behind me.

  “Can I help you?” I asked, raising my brow.

  The frigidness of the stone underneath my feet was extremely cold, seeping into my feet and causing goose bumps to break out over my shirtless body.

  Pierce stared at me with contempt for a few long seconds before his cop face slid into place.

  I heard my cell phone ringing from inside and I cursed, “Hold on.”

  I didn’t let him come in, shutting the door before he even realized I was moving.

  Moving hurriedly to my phone, I answered it as I saw Rowen stir.

  Her eyes fluttered, but fell still after she repositioned her little body.

  “Hello?” I answered quietly.

  The chief’s voice, just as quietly, said, “He was murdered. And he had a note. It was addressed to your woman.”

  I gritted my teeth and walked away from the pile of sleeping girls to the front door. With my hand resting on the knob I asked, “So that’s why Pierson is here?”

  He sighed. “I told him to go home. Goddamn him, but yes. That’s probably why. The note wasn’t specific. It was a note from the old man. Said he was sorry he couldn’t do more than what he did. When the man started shooting his door, he went to hide. Apparently, though, he’d gotten hit by a ricochet. Bled out in the six by six by six compartment. He had to remove all the stuff he had in there, which was why it was gone. In the note, he detailed exactly what was in there in case he didn’t make it. Nearly a million bucks, some family jewels, and a shit load of bonds that he couldn’t remember the number to right off hand.”

  I listened carefully to the chief’s hesitant reply. “He saw a glimpse of whomever it was from the window of his room. He said it was a really short, fat person. Whomever it was, was all in black, covered head to toe. He said it was an AK-47, what the suspect shot the house up with. He said whomever it was had military experience. The way the person acted and moved. It fits with the professional way the charges in the bedroom were set. The rest he figured out through a phone call that the suspect placed during the time he was in his room. He said that he heard your name being said more than once, and that it sounded like either a deep woman’s voice, or a high pitched man’s voice.”

  A knock sounded at the door, impatient and rough.

  “Alright, thanks for calling. I’ll want to read the note myself Monday. Anything you want me to relay to Pierson?” I asked, stepping back out onto the porch.

  “No. Have a good one.” The chief said, then hung up.

  “Sorry about that. How can I help you?” I asked Pierson tersely.

  He had his arms crossed tightly over his chest as he glared at me for a few long moments before answering.

  “The autopsy for…” I held up a hand, stopping him.

  “I know about the autopsy. What do you need?” I asked impatiently.

  His mouth thinned. “I need to ask Ms. Doherty some questions.”

  I shook my head. “Not possible. She’s asleep, and it’s the night before Christmas. You can ask whatever you need to ask come Monday.”

  I heard the door opening behind me and cursed silently in my head.

  When I turned around, though, it wasn’t Reese. It was Rowen and she was crying.

  I stooped down, keeping my side to Pierson, until I could see her eyes. “What’s wrong, sweet pea?”

  “Missed you,” she said, throwing her little arms around my neck.

  I wrapped my arms around her little body, gathering up her and her blanket and situating it before I turned back to Pierson. “If that’s all?”

  He didn’t answer, instead pinching his lips between his teeth and stomping down the steps.

  “You’re warm,” she said, snuggling into my chest.

  I laughed and walked back inside to find Reese awake and heading towards the door.

  Like a mama bear she was.

  Her cub was gone and she knew almost immediately.

  When she saw me with Rowen she visibly relaxed.

  “She used to do that all the time. I found her outside our old backyard one night, and it scared the absolute shit out of me. She was just swinging along on her swing without a care in the world while I was inside nearly about to call the cops.” She shook her head.

  I grinned. “I got your back, now.”

  She smiled. “You do.”

  I didn’t tell her about her neighbor. Not yet.

  I didn’t want to ruin Christmas for her, and I needed a few more days to think about it before I started explaining it to her.

  I, at least, needed to read the note myself.

  I knew one thing, though, I needed some information. I needed John Atoms to work his magic.

  Chapter 21

  I’m training for a marathon. A Netflix marathon.

  -T-shirt<
br />
  Reese

  Luke and I haven’t fought very much. In fact, we’ve only had two minor arguments to date since we’d started seeing each other and I’d temporarily moved into his place.

  I say temporarily because my place was ready for me to go home, but he told me I wasn’t allowed to go. And after I’d learned about my neighbor, hearing about the letter he’d written, I knew it was in Rowen’s and my best interest to stay, even though I was reluctant to put him and Katy in danger.

  He assured me, though, that he could take care of us. And I trusted him.

  The first argument we’d had was over me not staying the night with him in his bed.

  The second had been over Weston.

  He’d told me repeatedly that Weston still had a ‘thing’ for me, and that I was the one that Rowen had been talking about, not Lydia.

  After I’d filed the motion to have full custody of Rowen, Weston had gotten a lot more persistent, and it was taking a toll on not just me and Rowen’s relationship, but mine and Luke’s as well.

  I’d told him he was fucking nuts, that there was no way Weston was still interested in me.

  At least my ex wasn’t overtly obvious about it like his was.

  “You told him you’d think about it,” he growled, yanking his shirt over his head and shoving his arms into each arm hole with a viciousness that eluded to his lack of control.

  “I did,” I said calmly. “But only because I knew you’d help me. I didn’t realize by saying yes I was declaring something. Which I still don’t believe I did.”

  He glared at me and buckled his utility belt back in place. Armored in full.

  Perfect.

  “What else did he say?” He asked carefully, crossing his large, bulky arms across his chest.

  Weston had called me that morning, two weeks after Christmas, pleading for me to talk to him.

  And one week since a temporary motion to have full custody of Rowen without visitation had been granted.

  I shook my head. “He didn’t. Said that he needed help with the wife, and that was it.”

  My thoughts went back to earlier that morning when Luke had told me he’d seen Weston and Lydia, his ex, hugging outside her store again.

  And the multiple times we’d seen the two of them out to eat in the past month, or at the movies.

  We saw them together all the time; which in and of itself, was odd. Especially since Weston wasn’t being discreet about it…you know, since he had a psycho Sally for a wife.

  Then, it’d been a surprise. More of an ‘Oh, wow. That’s weird.’ Kind of thing. Now, though, it was on the verge of being a, “What the fuck is going on?” Kind of thing.

  “You think something more is going on than what they’re letting on, don’t you?” I asked, sure that I was reading him right.

  He shrugged. “It makes sense. When was the last time you saw his wife?”

  I thought about it for a few moments, then shrugged. “I hear her all the time on the phone, screeching about this and that. Rowen hasn’t mentioned her lately, though.”

  He nodded. “I was thinking the same thing. I haven’t heard Rowen say one thing about the ‘crazy coon lady.’ Since, at least, three or four weeks ago.”

  The ‘crazy coon lady’ was what Rowen called the wife. Mainly because Rowen said that she had dark circles under her eyes all the time, and screeched like an owl.

  “What are you thinking?” I asked slowly.

  His eyes lifted to mine. “I have no clue. I’ll need to think on it for a while. Give it some time.”

  ***

  “It’s really odd. Why did he come back when he did?” Luke asked Downy later that night.

  Downy sat at the kitchen counter where Luke had bar stools lined along the bar top.

  His big, scarred hands were tapping restlessly against the countertop as he listened to Luke talk.

  They were brainstorming, trying to come up with solutions to a few of their many problems.

  The conversation had degraded the moment Luke brought up my upcoming meeting with Weston.

  I sighed in exasperation. “I’ve told you already, it was because of Rowen. He wanted to be closer to her.”

  Downy wisely kept his mouth shut, but he was really enjoying the show.

  “Why would he leave the job he’s spent years at and move here exactly a month after you did if it wasn’t because he wanted you. Then, you were there anytime he wanted you to be. He could come see his kid anytime he wanted, even if it wasn’t all that often. Then he could leave the exact same way,” Luke said, gesturing with his hands as he did. “Now you move, and suddenly he’s all, ‘I’m going to be there for my child now.’ When before he wanted nothing to do with her?”

  I glared at him, poking my head out of the kitchen to make sure the girls were still watching TV before I turned on him. “I don’t fucking know, okay?”

  He didn’t react to my outburst.

  “If it was really because of the wife that he started to make an effort at bringing Rowen into their lives, then why wouldn’t they be happy? Why do I keep seeing Lydia and him together all over town if they’re so ‘happy’?”

  That was a good fucking question.

  I threw my arms up. “I don’t know; why don’t we just ask them? Pretend that you want to hook back up with Lydia, ask her if she knows what’s going on.”

  I wanted him to do that less than I wanted a hammer smashing all of my fingers, yet I didn’t see any other options. Not if he wanted answers.

  He shook his head. “I’ve already told her more than once that I wasn’t interested. In fact, she came by the precinct two days ago asking if I had time to talk to her. I told her no. It’s going to look suspicious if I all of a sudden strike up an interest in her.”

  “Well then, tell her to meet you when I meet Weston. That way you can keep an eye on me, and tell her you’re not interested at the same time. Maybe you’ll learn something. Maybe you won’t. But you’ll be there if I need you,” I tried.

  He glared.

  “She has a point,” Downy observed.

  Luke threw an unpeeled potato at his head.

  Downy caught it with a laugh, launching it back at him like a missile.

  “Just try it. What’s the worst that could happen?” He asked.

  Apparently, a lot more than we bargained for.

  ***

  Luke

  “Listen,” I said, rubbing my hands along my hair. “I know you’re upset, but you and I have nowhere to go. I don’t want you anymore. I don’t even like you. I’ve got a new woman. A woman that makes me happy.”

  I knew it’d be a bad idea to talk to her. Meet her.

  At least it was in a public place.

  “I used to be that woman,” she whispered brokenly.

  I shook my head. “You were never that woman.”

  She lifted her head, eyes brimming over with tears. “They’re over there eating dinner together. If she loved you so much, she’d never be doing that in front of you.”

  I turned my head in the direction of Reese and winked at her. She must not have been enjoying her food, because the entire plate was still filled to the brim with crawfish.

  Although, I’d asked her before, and I knew she didn’t like it. Which made me wonder why she’d ordered it in the first place.

  “Stop,” I ordered her. “You’ve got no fucking clue when it comes to anybody but yourself. Even then, I’m not quite reassured on it. So how about you take your fake tears, and your thousand dollar shoes, and find somebody else that’ll appreciate it. Because it’s definitely not me.”

  Lydia stood and walked around the table, staring into my eyes.

  If I’d known what she had planned next, I would’ve moved. In fact, I thought she was just going to say goodbye. The things I’d said to her hadn’t been nice. However, they’d been truthful, and I’d meant every word.

  “So,” she said, leaning on the table. “It doesn’t affect you when I do this?”
r />   Then she kissed me.

  It felt wrong. All wrong.

  And the smell of her made me want to gag.

  I yanked my head back, but there was literally nowhere to go since we were in a two person booth, so I had to push her away from me.

  Gently, of course, because it wouldn’t do to be seen ‘assaulting’ a woman. Because I knew Lydia was vindictive like that, and would use any advantage she could get.

  I wiped my lips free of her lipstick and glared at her. “Listen, Lydia. That was your one out. Don’t fucking do it again. Obviously, if you don’t comply, I’ll need to press sexual assault charges on you. Then I’ll need to call your daddy to tell him that you’re hanging with the trash again,” I growled.

  She stared at me like I’d just kicked her puppy.

  “You wouldn’t,” she hissed.

  It was Reese’s voice that spoke next. “Oh, he would. Then again, he’s not who you have to worry about. In all honesty, he’s not really allowed to do much since he’s an officer of the law. I, on the other hand, am just a poor soul who doesn’t know the letter of the law. I just saw you trying to kiss my man. I could use being under distress as an excuse when I’m questioned later by the cops on why I had to kick your ass.”

  I couldn’t see Reese, but Downy could.

  Which was why he moved so quickly to intercept the punch that Reese threw at Lydia’s face.

  He caught it easily, twirling Reese around until his front was pressed to her back.

  Sadly enough, then my emotions started to get the better of me.

  I wasn’t a jealous guy. Not usually. However, seeing my best friend holding my girlfriend like that did not inspire nice thoughts in my brain.

  Rationally, I knew he’d never do anything. We were best friends and Downy tended to lean towards women who were docile and meek.

  Which Reese was most definitely not.

  My irrational brain didn’t have that objectivity. It only wanted to kick ass and take names. It didn’t care about the fact that Downy had my back no matter what.

  “Downy,” I said quietly. “Get your goddamned hands off my woman.”

  “That’s not what she was telling me moments ago. She told me she was done with you. That you’d even moved on, dating someone else,” Weston replied angrily.