Case of the Gold Retriever

by Erik Schubach

  I was mortified as I stumbled, to their snickering pleasure, but the joke was on them as Calvin and Goldie joined me at the door in a show of tail swishing solidarity. Or maybe it was because they were ready to pop, they had been holding it in so long. I prefer to believe it was a show of unity against the mean ones.

  I harnessed and clipped up my fuzzy cohorts and headed off to the park with them. I glanced at my cell when it buzzed just as we crossed into Central Park. It was a text from Garrett. “What's the surprise mom is hinting at today? She won't say.”

  I shrugged to the air as the boys started sniffing everything, searching for the ideal place to, ummm... you know. I texted back, “Joined an alligator wrestling club”

  His quick response was, “Joined the circus?”

  I grinned. Mom wasn't that bad... ish. True she was the Liberty ladies amateur arm wrestling champion, as well as captain of the Rolling Pins bowling team, among other hobbies. So maybe... I texted, “Is packing up and heading to Oklahoma to be a rodeo clown?”

  I had to snort at Gar's, “Vegas, to be a blackjack dealer?” Then I froze and sent back, “Gotta go, see you at mom's.”

  He shot a thumbs up in return.

  I tried to be nonchalant as I pulled out a plastic bag to pick up the gifts the boys dropped on the lawn, then said, “Come on boys, the ladies await.” I dropped their offerings into a trashcan on the way back out of the park, not looking back at the old man who was watching us from behind a tree. It was the same old man from the Ramble yesterday.

  I may be making something out of nothing, he was likely just a homeless man who decided to wander the park, and it was a coincidence. Maybe I should bring a sandwich for him with me next time I walk the boys, in case I see him again... and other people are around, since the way he watched us was pretty intense.

  When I returned, I saw that the girls were sitting on the couch. I wondered when watching news had become something Jane, and I did every morning and evening. I was never much into the news before her, since most of it was sad and depressing. It was likely one of her habits I had picked up, and it was as natural as breathing now.

  I set the boys free to go get some attention from the ladies. I waved at them as I went to go get cleaned up for the day. Then I could whip up a light breakfast for us all. It wasn't prudent to stuff oneself when a visit to mom's was in order. The big meals she prepared on Saturday for the early afternoon would feed a small army.

  Once I got cleaned up, dressed in the darling new sundress, and joined the ladies. I growled at Jane as I took a moment to sit beside her for a cup of coffee. She knew the rule, no cop work at home. She had the Broadway Cat file strewn across the coffee table and her tablet in her hand as she cycled through the buildings of the burglaries over the years attributed to the Cat.

  She had the common sense to look sheepishly at me as she shut off the tablet and started gathering the files. I smiled at her, stole a quick kiss and stood. “Let me whip up a light breakfast for everyone. Then we...”

  Jess held up a hand to stop me as she bounced to her feet like her butt was on springs. “None for me, Finnegan. I best get home to clean up and change if I'm going to join you at Winnie's today.”

  She inclined her head at Jane. “Five-O.”

  Jane smirked and responded in kind, “Red.”

  Then as the woman passed me, I squeaked when she placed her hand over my mouth, as she wrapped her other around my waist and dipped me deeply. Kissing the back of her own hand, miming like she was kissing me. I squeaked again as she stood me back up, almost twirling me. She smirked. “Fin.” The boys were weaving around us in excitement over this great new game.

  I felt a blush heating my cheeks, and the tips of my ears as Jane growled out, “Don't think I can't make your murder look like an accident, J-bird. I'm a cop.”

  This just got Jess chuckling as she opened the door and said with panache, “Freeman out!” Then with a flourish of her hand, she was gone.

  I looked over to see Jane's look which equal parts amusement and jealousy was. I teased as I started pulling things for scrambled egg bagels out of the fridge. “I bet Jess wouldn't be hesitating ravishing me in bed.”

  She pouted. “I'll ravish you right upside the head, pipsqueak.”

  Then I stopped what I was doing, my eyes seeking hers out as I spoke the truth, “I love you, Jane Marie McLeary.”

  Her deep brown eyes were twinkling as she said just above a whisper, with emotion that seared its brand directly onto my soul, “I love you too, Finnegan Temperance May.”

  Le sigh.

  I went back to preparing the meal with what was probably a dreamy smile on my face. I absently bounced on the balls of my feet and said as I saw her sneaking her tablet back into her hands, “I love old buildings like those. They all have operable windows like ours, to let in the evening breeze, unlike the modern glass towers where you only get the recycled air.”

  She went stock still, then three heartbeats later she looked over at me as I beat the eggs in a bowl. “You're a genius, Fin.”

  She was on her phone in an instant. What? Did I help? I mean, yeah, of course, I helped.

  What did I say?

  I caught snippets of what she was saying in a low tone. It was the dispatch operator at the station, Tammera. She said something about sending someone to check for safety anchors for boatswain chairs.

  She ended with, “Thanks, have them get back to me after they've checked.”

  Then she was beaming at me as she made a show of putting away all her cop stuff as if to say, “I'm all yours now.” Glad I figured into her schedule somewhere.

  I gave her a playfully chastising look, then said as the eggs sizzled when I poured them into the pan. “Ok Detective McSassy Pants. Go get cleaned up while I finish up here.”

  She saluted and moved past to plant a kiss on top of my head on her way to her bedroom. We really just needed to move her stuff into my room. Which, just as soon as the paperwork is all settled for the purchase of the upstairs studio, we'd have to do anyway.

  I smiled over the fact my thoughts were all of us or we, instead of she and me. By all that is good and fluffy in the world, I've got it bad, don't I? Hey, stop nodding your head, it was a rhetorical question. Shut up.

  By eleven, I had cleaned the bathroom... and the curtains in all the rooms... and swept the patio, again. Even through all of Jane's prompting that the place was sterile and you could eat off the floors. I told her, “Fastidiousness is a sign of intelligence.”

  She begged to differ. “Or insanity.” Then she mouthed “OCD” as I homed in for a kiss. No matter how much of a jerk she could be, the woman could kiss and make you feel like the only woman in the world for her.

  I grabbed the leather jacket I stole from Jane when we first met from the peg at the door and hung it over my arm. It was going to be cool tonight.

  Jane rolled her eyes at the pink and white, wide-brimmed hat I put on, and I smirked at her as I put on some oversized sunglasses. “I'm ready for my closeup.”

  She parried, “You're so weird.”

  “Am not.”

  “Fine.”

  “Fine!”

  We stopped our banter as we exited into to the heated fall air which held a tinge of a chill in the breeze, promising the cooler weather which was on the way. I mean we had to stop, because Jessie, to our amusement, was waiting on the sidewalk. She was wearing an old retro airman's jacket and a vintage leather flight cap.

  She slapped down some vintage flying goggles and said, “Let's do this, biotches.”

  I pointed at her as I looked at Jane and asked, “I'm weird?”

  Jane nodded as she screwed up her face at Jess, her lips squished to one side. “You do have a point.”

  Then I chastised the redhead as she looped her arms in both mine and Jane's as we marched down the sidewalk behind the dogs, “We're going to Liberty, not the 1940s.”

  “Says you. We're head
ing to the land that time forgot.”

  My Detective took my side. “Red, you're such a city-snob.” Then to my chagrin, she added, “Love the bombardier jacket? New at the store?” The shapely redhead nodded with a grin.

  Jessie was the manager of the City Kitty alternative attire boutique, so she was always wearing the hip and edgy merchandise.

  Jane looked at the leather jacket over my arm in amusement as she mused, “Hmmm... I'll need a new jacket this winter.”

  Hey, It's mine now!

  Normally my group looked gooood, but just then, we looked like a bunch of goofs. Only Jane looked normal, though the shoulder holster, the badge on her hip, and that tight black tee which did nothing to hide her female assets, did make her look badass.

  As soon as we loaded into Jane's car in the underground parking garage a block up, Jess chirped from the back seat, “Lock and load!” Pointing forward as the dogs mauled her with their tongues.

  I... got shotgun, even though the surly interloper kept calling it as we walked. Jane ignored her. I get shotgun for all eternity... well, at least for as long as Jane will have me.

  She prompted from the back as we headed out onto the road. “So, shrimp, do you know how to drive? You're always in my or Jane's beast.”

  I sighed. “Yes. I just think it is silly to own a car when my job and apartment all revolve around the Park. Everything is within walking distance for me. And if it isn't, there are plenty of public transport alternatives.”

  She nodded sagely and deadpanned, “Handsome cab.”

  I grinned and shook my head at the troublemaker. Well... yeah, I'd love to be brought around the city in a horse-drawn carriage, but that's beside the point. I asked Jane, “Does she ever shut up?”

  Jane snickered, and Jess whined out, “Hey, it's one of my endearing qualities.” Then she added, “Though, now that I think about it. The most common phrase I can remember from my time dating Jane is...”

  Jane sighed at the prompt and supplied helpfully... “Shut up, Red?” Jess touched her nose as she pointed at her with the other hand. As amused as I was by them, a tiny insecure part of me saw just how good they were together. They'd surely be married by now if Jess could have lived with the uncertainty of Jane coming home every night.

  I understood the anxiety of it as I worried about Jane too, but my pride for what she did overshadow it. I'd never want her to give up part of herself to be with me. Was that why Jane picked me over all the girls out there? I... got, her.

  After an interesting time filled with banter, and oddly, serious questions we took turns answering, we pulled into mom's two hours later. I cocked an eyebrow. Becky and Gar's red Land Rover Defender was in the drive, but there was also an Indian Scout Bobber motorcycle in the drive, so we parked on the street.

  I wouldn't know an Indian from a Kawasaki if not for the fact that Jane had been shopping around online for a replacement for the Harley Davidson Softail Breakout that she had parked in the basement of our building. It took up almost every square inch of our storage cage there; the four apartments on the second floor each had a storage cage to go with the full sized apartments, none of the studios on the third and fourth floor did.

  I thought her bike was sexy and dangerous looking, like her, but it was one of a matched set she and Jess had bought. So I sort of understood her desire to ride a different bike. It was sort of sad to me. You'd think she'd like it more since it represented so many good memories.

  Sorry, I digress.

  The bike had Texas plates, so it wasn't mom going through a mid-life crisis... again. What's she had now? Three? And she's not even fifty till later this year. Moms are silly.

  I shrugged at Jane's prompting look.

  Puddles was going crazy at the living room window as we unloaded. I just let Cal run out of the car to the gate, but I kept Goldie on a leash. I didn't want to chance him running from us, though I think we had his trust now. No need to tempt fate.

  The front door opened and Puddles and the little long-haired Dachshund, Oscar, bounded out before the door shut again. The old girl was so excited to see Calvin, her butt swinging frantically with her tail. Hey? Don't I get any love?

  I opened the gate with the women in tow and unclipped Goldie when we shut the gate. The three dogs went round robin, sniffing at each other's butts in the game of introductions that dogs do. I rolled my eyes, and we left them to it. “You kids have fun, the grownups are going inside.” I'd police the yard later for any gifts they may leave mom.

  I squeaked when I opened the door, much to the double J's chuckles when the dogs almost plowed me over to get in. Well, I guess the introductions were already done. I chastised the overexcited canines, “No running in the house children!”

  By the holy tug rope, I was turning into mom.

  I hung up my jacket on the hook by the door that had an old worn label which read 'Finnegan.' Then put a hand out toward Jess. She cocked an eyebrow then took off her jacket and flight cap and bypassed my hand to hang them on the hook labeled 'Mom.' Then she just sauntered past calling into the house, “Oh Winnie, I'm home.”

  I called after her, “Snot!” Then hung her stuff on the proper hook labeled 'Guest.' That label was peeled half off the wall. I'd have to make new labels to replace these ones I had placed here when I was fourteen after mom bought me my first label maker.

  Then my traitorous... girlfriend, called out after giving me a patient smile, “Oh Winnie, I'm home.”

  I marched into the living room after her and whined out as Mom let go of Jess and hugged Jane, “I don't know why I put up with these two.”

  Jane looked sufficiently uncomfortable in the hug. People touching her made her feel uncomfortable that way. I had noted it before and brought it up. It was one of those rare moments I learned that Jane was human too. Under all that armor and bravado, she admitted that things like hugging made her feel... vulnerable. She hated feeling vulnerable.

  I leaned over when mom offered an arm to me, and I joined their hug. I... love hugs. So I didn't have the same hangups as my detective.

  Then she released us and looked us up and down like every mother does when they are appraising the apparent health of her children. Then she quipped, “Because dear, they have the good taste to like a May girl.”

  I whined out, “Mooom.”

  Then Garret chimed in from where he sat on the overstuffed couch with Becky as they greeted Calvin and Goldie who had run over to get some scratches, “And May men.”

  Mom countered as she rolled her eyes, “You're married to a May girl now, so shush, honey.”

  Bek grinned cheekily at that. “What she said.” A rumble of laughter ensued at Garret's mock hurt expression.

  With that settled, we all moved to settle ourselves in turn. Mom issued a warning to the redhead in our midst as she trundled toward the kitchen, “Jess, dear, as much as I love you, I will have to kill you if you sit in my chair. Justifiable homicide and all. Jane will back me up.”

  Jess, who had her hands on the arms of mom's chair, and had her butt half lowered into dad's old chair, froze and then stood back up, angling for the couch to make my sister-in-law into a Rebecca sandwich.

  I had to grin at her as Jane, and I took the loveseat, my girl lazily draping an arm over my shoulders possessively. I reached up and laced fingers with her as I asked mom before she disappeared down the hall. “Whose motorcycle is that in the drive, mom?”

  She stopped and turned slowly, her sly grin spreading wide as she asked coyishly, “Oh... didn't I tell you I had a surprise?” She backed up a step to look around the wall and up the stairs, nudging her chin.

  Then a woman came walking confidently down the stairs. She was dressed head to toe in bike leathers, with a US Air Force leather and denim jacket. Her blonde hair was in a short pixie cut and tattoos were visible at her neckline. She owned the place with a surety and charisma in her crooked smile that commanded the room. This... was a warrior, and damn if s
he wasn't almost as sexy as my personal Detective.

  I swallowed. Who the...

  She said just two words and my entire childhood came rushing back to me, almost flattening me with the sudden realization that I knew that voice, “Hey, Tempe.”

  Chapter 7 – Old Friends

  My jaw about dropped as I stood and almost tripped over all the dogs when I moved quickly to stop in front of the woman, my voice and odd mix of excited and haunted as I asked, “Kerry?”

  The woman just grinned and held her arms out, wiggling her fingers in invitation. Her smile bloomed as I squealed and hugged her tight. The dogs all thought that was great fun so swarmed around us with wiggling tails.

  She held me at arm's length and looked me up and down, “Dayum girl, you turned out goood.”

  I shoved her shoulder lightly, unable to stop the smile on my face as I looked up at her and babbled out, “And you got... well, all sorts of badass. Air Force? When did you get back? How long are you here for?”

  She shrugged and said, “Just following in Pop's footsteps. Last night. And just for the weekend, I gotta get to my new posting on Monday.”

  I realized everyone was standing and watching us. I stepped back, nervously smoothing down my skirt at the jealous but curious look on Jane's face and the almost smarmy appreciative look on Jessie's.

  I grabbed Kerry's hand and dragged her to everyone. The smug looks on Garret and Becky's faces told me they already knew she was here. I said, “Jessie Freeman, this is my best friend growing up, Kerry Stevens. Kerry, my current best friend, Jess.”

  There was a hint of surprise on Jessie's face when I proclaimed us besties, but it was true, as weird as having your girl's ex be your friend. But that look was replaced by a look of appreciative sensuality as they shook hands while Kerry said, “A pleasure.”