She said, “Yes! Got a smile.”
Between the spots I was seeing floating in my vision, I saw she was holding an old-fashioned Polaroid camera. Before I could ask, she was looking at the developing picture and saying, “For our wall in the back. We have all of our regulars back there.”
I blinked rapidly, as my vision came back to me. “Alrighty then.”
She chuckled and disappeared into the back for a moment then came back out with a still hot bagel. It smelled heavenly, just like the smell of fresh baked bread wafting from the back kitchen. She dropped it in a bag and grabbed a thermal mug with my name on it from the back shelf and filled it with black coffee. Then she said very loudly, “That'll be four dollars and fifteen cents.”
I swear I heard Liya giggle at her table as I contemplated the odd pricing. That barely covered the coffee. I passed her six dollars and looped my finger around my temple to let Eve know I believed that that her short self was the coo-coo missing from a clock somewhere. This got friggin' chipmunk giggles from her that had me smiling again.
I was feeling a bit better as I saluted her with the coffee cup and then headed out, giving Sparky and Liya a nod as I passed. I think that may have been Eve's plan and I'm glad I could count her as one of my friends. Like I said, we all had each other's backs here in the Market.
I stepped out into a light drizzle and took a sip of the heavenly smelling java. Ahhh... now that hit the spot and woke me up better than any cold shower could. I may or may not be a coffee junky. I continued walking my beat, heading to the stairs that lead down to Alaskan Way as the drizzle started to increase. It was going to be a long day.
I glanced over to where people were starting to gather at the far end of the Arcade for the opening bell ceremony less than an hour away. I knew that Maddie would be there, and my chest tightened. At least I was able to talk Johnny into not dragging her down with him, it was my last hurrah for her. Now it was time to move on and mend my broken heart.
Before long the drizzle was getting insistent, and I pulled out my poncho and donned it. I had to chuckle at the little cover for my hat which looked suspiciously like a clear shower cap to me.
I had to don the silly gear more often than I'd like, but hey, this is Seattle, what do you expect? It was better than getting sopping wet as you trudged through the showers, especially since I spent almost half of the day walking the outside streets of the Market.
I may or may not have avoided the areas I saw Madelyn's cart through the crowds during the day. I just needed time. It was an uneventful day to that point, I had to break up a couple of arguments on the lower levels and helped one elderly lady find where she had parked her car. I wondered if she were cognoscente enough to still have a license.
I had the third lunch shift that day, and Officer Giles, then McMerit had already coded out. I was down on the second level near Golden Age Collectables a few minutes before McMerit was due to code back in so I could take my lunch. A call came out from dispatch. “4623, 4672, 130/141 at Waterfront Park. Multiple reports of a man disturbing the peace and knocking over trash cans. Male Caucasian, black hoodie, and jeans.”
I sighed, 4623 was my badge number, the other was Giles'. I leaned toward the radio's microphone clipped on my shoulder and activated my bodycam then keyed the microphone, “Officer O'Brien en route 130/141. Eta five minutes.”
I paused as I heard dispatch acknowledge and Giles confirm as well. I glanced instinctively down at the floor in the direction of Waterfront Park then toward the stairs up. My gut was screaming at me that this was just like the other diversionary calls when Johnny was running a misdirect for Bradley, and as of last night, we hadn't located the man. A warrant was out for his arrest and he was still out there.
I went with my gut feeling, and I took off running up the stairs, the Post Street Alley buildings were the farthest away from Waterfront Park. I reached for my radio as I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, yelling out as I went, “Make a hole! SPD!”
People were moving quickly aside in alarm or curiosity as I ran past, three steps at a time. I spoke into the radio as I ran, “Officer O'Brien, negative on 130/141 in Waterfront.” I gasped a breath and continued, “I believe it to be a diversion for a 030 in the Market.”
I panted and called out to the crowd again as I burst out of the fishmonger's area and started dashing down the Main Arcade, “Make a hole! SPD!” People moved as I panted then continued in the radio, “Giles, detain the 141 if possible.”
I got confirmations from dispatch and my fellow Officer. Damn, we could really use McMerit just then. Neither of us would have backup. The timing was circumspect too, right when we weren't at full strength. I was just blindly running to the farthest point from the disturbance.
My lungs were burning as I tore down the street when just ahead of me, a man in a dark jacket and a black baseball cap came running out of the Market Creamery. The old ice cream shop. He had a bag in his hands and ran the opposite direction from where one of the Market cameras was located. This was the guy!
Mrs. Travers ran out of the creamery shouting at the man. I sprinted past her saying, “I got this ma'am!” I unclipped my taser and rested a hand on it at my hip as I ran, yelling out, “SPD, McGill! Stop!”
This seemed to surprise the man, and he looked back at me, and I got a good look at his face and almost growled. He looked very similar to Johnny's friend Mark, with stringy reddish hair and a five-day growth of silvering red whiskers on his face.
I hesitated as I ran past a startled Madelyn by her cart. I shot her an apologetic look as I drew my Taser. I whipped past so fast I couldn't read her expression. I shouted again, “Stop, Bradley! You're under arrest, don't make me use this!”
My lungs were on fire, I had already run a quarter mile and he was fresh, but I was gaining on him.
As we approached Pine, I poured on the speed to get close enough to tase the bastard. But then a figure stepped forward and with a sweep of their cane, took the man's feet out from under him.
I skidded to a stop as Sparky stood over Bradley with the end of her cane pressed firmly on his chest, pinning him down. Liya was standing off to the side with fear and surprise painting her features, as she clutched a half empty tub of popcorn firmly to her chest with one arm. She held an adorable ducky umbrella in her other hand.
Sparky pushed hard when he tried to grab the cane, and she growled out, “She said, stop.”
I smiled at the woman. Damn. The cane didn't slow her down a bit. She still outmuscled most of the people I knew. That was sort of hot. I said, “Thank you miss, I can take it from here. I'll need to take a statement.” She grinned at me as I grabbed McGill's flailing arm and twisted as she released him.
She said, “Of course.”
I continued to twist, forcing him to turn face down on the sidewalk to avoid the pain. I knelt on his back as I cuffed his wrist then grabbed his other hand and yanked it back, cuffing it.
I growled out between panting breaths, “You're under arrest dirtbag. You have the right to remain silent...”
I hesitated as I saw Madelyn step up beside Sparky and Liya. A pained look of... of hope? On her face. God, she looked beautiful with her red wig matted down by the rain, her cute wide-brimmed hat keeping most of the drizzling rain off of her. She was dressed to the nines today, and it made my heart ache.
I looked back down as I yanked Bradley to his feet. “Anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law.” I moved him to the curb and said, “Cross your ankles and sit on your legs.” He did so, and I grabbed the bag that had landed nearby, I glanced in to see a wad of cash. “You have the right to an attorney.”
He got lippy as I returned to grab the chain on the cuffs to make sure he didn't try to get up. He challenged, “What am I being arrested for? You got nothing on me.”
I showed him the bag. “We'll start with grand larceny, conspiracy, and just generally pissing me the hell off, to begin with.”
He said
, “I've never seen that bag in my life.”
I rolled my eyes and continued, “If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand the rights I have just read to you?”
He muttered, “Fuck you.”
I lifted his arms behind his back a bit, and he winced and leaned forward to avoid the pain as I repeated, “Do you understand the rights I have just read to you?”
He muttered, “Yeah, yeah.”
I keyed my mic, “Officer O'Brien requesting backup on Pine and Pike Place, suspect in custody.”
I glanced around as dispatch confirmed backup en route. I made sure my bodycam got a full sweep of the people standing around. Then I hesitated. Sparky was pulling Liya close to her, and the poor girl looked confused and terrified. I glanced over at Madelyn and asked, “Maddie, can you get them inside out of the rain?” I noted we were a stone's throw from the Pike so added, “The Pike?” Then I nudged my eyes toward Liya and Maddie's eyes widened in understanding.
God her voice just set off a tuning fork deep inside me as she said, “Of course. Come on sweetie, let's get you inside.” She and Sparky led Liya away. I spoke to the crowd next, “Anyone who witnessed this, could I please get you to follow them and wait for an officer to take your statements?”
A couple people followed, but most stood around recording everything on their cells. Just great, it was going to be all over the internet in minutes if it already wasn't. So we sat in the rain until a squad car rolled up.
After a discussion, we put the perp in the back seat of the cruiser, and I turned off my bodycam. The officers joined me to take statements and get the contact information from some of the people recording on their cells.
I'd have to accompany the cruiser to the station when we were done since it was my collar. I heard the good news on the radio that Giles had the other guy. Some good Samaritan had detained the guy. I grinned when I realized the description of the guy matched Mark. All in the family I guess. I bet he wasn't too happy he made the trip up from Portland to harass Johnny now.
The moment we stepped into the building into the corridor, I paused looking at the crowded Pike. I felt bad for disrupting their business yet again, but I was sure the people waiting to be talked to would be buying some of the amazing food. The tantalizing aroma of the culinary creations there virtually called out to your stomach.
It was the currently red-headed imp who stood just outside the door of the bakery who had caused my hesitation. She stood there staring at us with her arms crossed over her chest looking both perturbed, frightened and... hopeful?
The other two officers went in, and I stopped in front of the reason for my heartache. I wasn't prepared for her outburst when she shoved my chest, and I took a step back. She had tears welling, “Why are you ignoring my calls and texts? Did I totally fuck up my chances that much?”
What? I... my hand shot to my pocket, and I pulled out my cell, muttering more to me than her as my mind went over all the possible ramifications of the word 'chances,' “My cell's been off all day. Low battery. I threw it away last night.”
She hesitated. “You what?”
I turned it on, and it showed six missed calls and eight texts from Maddie. My heart started beating faster. I asked guardedly, not letting my hopes get up, “What did you want to say? I waited last night when you didn't call, I... I threw my phone in the trash.”
She smiled a bit at that then her smile faded as she said in a serious tone, “I wanted to let you know how sorry I was for how stupid I was acting. My insides have been in knots since I lost you. My heart hurts so much all the time now. I know all you were doing was trying to protect me and I was a bitch about it.”
Her heart hurts? ... I swallowed, and I tried to read everything in her eyes as she searched for something in mine. Did she feel the same? She laughed as tears started down her cheeks, “Damn... I hated you as much as I wanted to ask you out. I was so selfish and stupid, and I ruined everything.”
I looked past her to everyone in the Pike turned our way except the officers taking statements. I whispered, “I've fallen for you hard, and it broke my heart to have to take Johnny in. You have to know, I had to. I...”
Her tears stopped as she looked up into my eyes and smirked, “You what? You've fallen for me?”
I chuckled trying to hold back my own fear and tears, “You seem awfully pleased with yourself suddenly.”
Her smirk became a full blown smile that seemed to light up my soul and fill it with a warmth I can't explain as she said, “Says you.”
My smile was so big it was hurting my cheeks as I countered, “Yes, I did. Just now. You were standing right there when I said it.”
She lost her smile and her gaze intensified suddenly, igniting a fire inside me that had been missing the past couple days. She whispered almost desperately, “I want to live for me. I fell for you the fist day I saw you. Just... just kiss me you stupid cop!”
Oh, dear fuzzy and kitty eyed lord, I can follow orders! I leaned down and kissed her desperately. I barely heard the cheering inside the Pike as I sank into the woman who held my heart. Her soft lips pressed against mine in need, her tongue teasing, my heart melting. I sobbed once and brought myself back under control. I never knew you could feel so many emotions so strongly for one person.
We broke the kiss, and she giggled ads she released the back of my neck from her hot hand. I looked back in the Pike to see one of the officers taking a picture with his cell. Oh god, it was going to be plastered all over the station now. I'd never live it down.
I took her hand and nudged my chin toward the door and said quietly, “I've a job to do, statements to take, including yours, then I have to take McGill in.” I swallowed and asked, “Tonight? You and me? A proper date?”
She chuckled. “It's about time, you move so glacially slow.”
I held the door open for her, and she passed through under my arm as I said, “Says you.”
I almost giggled at her expected response and wondered beyond hope if everything was going to work out.
Chapter 15 – Right To Remain Silent
Things at the station were far worse than I thought, They already had Xeroxed posters plastering the station. A picture of me kneeling on the back of McGill and another of me kissing Maddie. They caption read, “Officer O'Stud, nailing the perp AND the girl.” Please Lord just take me now. They had cheered when we walked in just to needle me more.
That night I took Maddie out. Again she was dressed to wow me. She knew all my weaknesses, and I realized that is why she had dressed so provocatively at the Market earlier that day, she had hoped to see me and to entice me if her apology didn't work. And here I was worried about my own apology.
God, we were both pathetic, but it was a shared condition, so it just made me smile all the more.
After I held the chair for her when we reached the restaurant, I adored her blush. She said, “Only you would have us wear nice dresses to eat pizza at Soprano's.”
I smiled and shrugged, then bit my lower lip. “It gave me a chance to see those marvelous calves of yours.”
She rolled her tongue in her cheek as she grinned and said, “As I said, only you.”
I reached over and took her hand, she immediately laced our fingers and started stroking my extra pinky with hers as I whispered, “Only you,” with all the promises in the world dripping off my words.
She closed her eyes and sighed, it was quite a sight, then she tried to be defiant. “Does that work on all the girls?”
I said, “Dunno, is it working on you?”
This got me a chuckle, and she said, inclining her head and looking embarrassed and hungry. “Maybe.” Yes! Score one for me... she looked at me through hooded lids. Damn. Ok, maybe we could call it a draw? I swallowed. The heat in there would be able to cook the pizzas from where we sat.
The waitress started over to us, and we hadn't even looked at the menu yet. Madelyn looked desperate and a little scared at the same time as
she looked at the woman and me as she approached. Then she whispered, “What's on the menu isn't what I'm hungry for.”
Ok, match set point, I was a goner. She raised her exquisitely painted brows in question. I nodded, and we stood quickly as the waitress arrived. I apologized as I moved Maddie's chair back so she could step beside me. “I'm sorry, we just realized we had someplace to be.” Get out of our way, get out of our way...
The woman nodded and said, “Thanks for coming.”
We waved at her as we hustled to Courtney. I started her and looked a question at Mads, and she shook her head. “Not my place, Johnny is there for the next day.”
I nodded and headed home, she kept the fire stoked by absently dragging her nails along my thigh over the black dress I wore for her. Concentrate on the road, concentrate on the... good god.
We got to my apartment, and I held her up against the door, kissing her as I fished my keys out of my purse. I unlocked it, and we almost fell through. I kicked backward, and the door slammed shut.
She put a hand on my lips to stop me, and I backed off, scared I had pushed this too hard. She shook her head and grinned. “I just need to catch my breath.”
This got me to smile too as I reached up and placed my hands on her cheeks, then leaned in to give a feather light kiss as I ran my hands up her cheekbones and up around her head as I pushed off the curly red wig she had worn to drive me wild.
Her smooth head was such a turn on. She grabbed both my hands and started backing toward the hall asking, “Bedroom down there?” All I could do is nod.
Her cell started ringing, and she pulled it out to look at the screen. If Johnny was going to ruin this, I was going to kill the man myself. They'd never find the body, I'm a cop so I'd know how.
She scrunched up her expressive face in confusion as she asked, “What the heck does a Missy Hannigan from the Downtown Gallery want from me?”
She held the phone out with two fingers and made a show of dropping it onto the carpet with a thud. Then she dashed down the hall as I said, “Oh, about that. We need to talk.”
The Pike_Right To Remain Silent Page 15
