Authors: Jennifer Conner
Chapter Three
Dev hated hospitals, even
Good Samaritan
ones. The antiseptic smell, the crying children and the monotonous metallic voice announcements over the intercom wore on his last nerve. He’d spent two weeks earlier in the year in a hospital bed recuperating from the gunshot wound to his leg. That was enough to last him a lifetime.
He looked down into his cup of coffee. It’d grown cold an hour before. Not wanting to leave in case they released Luci, he hadn’t gone to find food. The black sludge of the vending machine brew was eating away his stomach lining like acid.
She’s been back there a long time. I should have gone with her.
Dev glanced at his watch. Only an hour had passed, but it felt like days.
If he’d stayed at Luci’s window a few minutes longer, throwing more of his nightly bull-shit her way, he might have been there when the guy showed up to rob her.
If he’d seen him at the side door, he’d have known the difference between a dairy delivery guy and a possible suspect of multiple robberies. Luci was too innocent for her own good. Dev would have made him before he’d had a chance to break in. He’d have broken the jerk’s nose and given him the end of his Sig Sauer.
You were late.
Dev rubbed his hands briskly over his knees. She didn’t need him hanging around. What was he still doing there? A whiskey bottle was waiting for him at home.
Pain screamed through his leg from sitting too long on a hard plastic chair. He needed an Oxycodone chaser, not more hassles in his life by staying around to wait for this banged-up barista.
He’d be a gentleman and call Luci a cab. No, better yet, he’d call Mac.
Dev dug his phone out of the pocket of his jeans. Glancing at his watch again, he pressed the auto-dial number. He didn’t know why he hadn’t taken Mac’s number out of his phone.
“Hello?” A deep voice answered, sounding slightly annoyed by the disruption.
“Mac, it’s me. It’s before midnight so I know your ass isn’t asleep.”
The voice brightened. “Hey partner, what’s going on? Are you okay? I haven’t been able to get a hold of you this week.”
Partner. When was Mac going to drop it?
“I’m fine. Just dandy.” A muscle in his jaw twitched from tightness. “That’s not why I’m calling.”
“I didn’t figure it was to catch up on who
Judge Judy
had on today. Hey… hold a sec.” Mac swore loudly, barked an order, and then Dev heard the scuffle of metal against concrete.
When Mac came back to the line Dev asked, “Are you still at the station?”
“We busted a Meth lab. You know that hotel on Division we’ve been having problems with? For some reason the guys we brought in don’t want to be my best friends. I don’t feel their love right now.”
Dev smiled.
He missed Meth heads, and he missed Mac. That hairy-assed, rude SOB always found a way to get him to laugh. But Mac was in a different department now; he’d transferred out. Dev knew it was because of him. It was easier talking on the phone than seeing each other in person every day.
“What do you need?” Mac asked before breaking away again. “Jesus, would you grab that guy? He’s going to break my desk!”
When he came back, Dev said, “Nothing…” He closed his eyes, and tipped his head back. “Nothing.”
“You sure?” When Dev didn’t answer, Mac asked, “Hey, why don’t we go out after work tomorrow for a pitcher? The Raiders are on the big screen down at Joe’s. I’ll buy the hot wings, and I hear Monica’s going to be on duty.”
“Yeah. Call me.” Dev snapped the phone closed, quickly ending the call and shoving it back in his pocket.
Mac would call, but he wouldn’t answer.
He rarely did.
Mac tried this ploy whenever he got him on the phone. Feeding into Dev’s past weaknesses for football, hot-wings, and the hot waitresses at Joe’s. But that didn’t work any longer. When they got together, all Dev could see was the look on Mac’s face as he knelt over him on the floor with Dev’s blood draining out and a dead teenager lying next to him.
The double-doors whooshed open. Dev jumped, seeing Luci stride toward him with a nurse close behind.
“Are you family?” The middle-aged woman asked. Her graying hair matched the cat pattern on her nurse’s smock.
“No,” Dev answered shortly. He flipped open his ID. “I’m Detective Burke with Wilshire LAPD. I’ll need a copy of the hospital report sent to my division by tomorrow. Here’s my card.” He softened his tone, reading the woman’s name tag. “Rena, please make sure it gets to my desk.”
“How are you getting home, sweetie? Those stitches we put in are going to be painful for a while,” the nurse said, still holding Luci’s arm. “Is there someone who can come pick you up? You’ve been through a lot tonight.”
Luci shook her head making her short blond hair fly. “I’ve got a brother, but he’s out of town on business.”
The nurse met Dev’s gaze. “Could you find someone to look after her? She doesn’t have a concussion, but it would make me feel better.”
Dev nodded, taking Luci’s arm from the nurse.
Luci took a few steps, and then stopped, looking back at the front desk. “I need to tell them where to send my bill. I told them my wallet was stolen… but I just want to make sure they have everything they need.”
“I checked with them before you came out. They have all your info. You don’t need to worry about it.”
What Dev forgot to mention was that he’d insisted that Luci’s hospital charges be sent to him. He knew when she refused care and wasn’t brought in by ambulance, that she would be responsible for the charges. Luci said she didn’t have insurance. Working at the espresso bar, Dev was pretty sure it would take a month’s wages to pay for her ER visit. It wasn’t as though he was trying to do anything nice… he just had a little extra cash right now. It would be one less thing for both of them to worry about.
She twisted her hands in front of her and asked, “If you have a cell, would you call me a cab… or do buses run this late?” She looked out at the glass front doors. “I need to get back to my car.”
“I told you, you can get your car tomorrow. I’ll take you home. It’s not out of my way. I live close by.”
She eyed him. “How do you know where I live?”
That was a good catch. She’d make a good cop. He wished she’d been that cautious earlier before opening the back door of the stand.
He smiled. “I saw your address when I checked over the statement you gave. But you got me. I live in the San Fernando Valley. For once, could you let me be the good guy?”
“That’s right
…
you’re police,” Her mumbled words trailed off as she rubbed her hand up the leather sleeve of his coat. He hoped it was warm enough for her and didn’t stink like his pits.
“It says on my badge, ‘to serve and protect.’ I did a crap-ass job of protecting you tonight, so at least let me give you a ride home. If you want to see my Boy Scout card it’s in my wallet.” He motioned with his free hand to his cane propped against a chair. “Besides, you could outrun me in a second.” He forced a smile, suddenly wanting her to trust him.
“I guess it would be okay. Actually, it would be great. Since my bag’s gone, I don’t have any cash for a bus, or a cab. I would’ve had to borrow money along with your coat.” Looking flustered she added, “I can pay you something for your time and gas when I get to my place.”
“If I took your money then that would be bribery.” She didn’t get his joke, so he dropped it. “Come on, let’s get you home and put this night behind us.”
“I’ll second that.” This time she did try to smile.
Dev told her to wait until he steadied the damn cane and limped around to open the passenger door. Stiff legged he followed her up the gravel path leading to a large two-story brick house.
“I rent a room in the lower level. Mrs. Halloway, my landlady, is eighty-six and owns the house. She divided my apartment off into its own place. Her husband died a few years ago, and she says she likes having someone around. Even though it’s ‘technically’ the basement of the house, there’s outside windows or I’d never be able to live here.”
Dogs barked in the distance as Dev scanned the shadows of the side yard while Luci opened the gate.
Grasping the railing, they made their way down the half-dozen steps until they reached the front door. When she fumbled for the key- in her pocket and put it in the lock, he saw her hand wasn’t steady.
She turned and smiled.
“Well, here it is. Home sweet home. You sure I can’t give you some money for your time?”
“How about a free coffee next time I stop by the stand?”
He rotated his cane to leave when she spoke, her body half-way through the door. “You seem like a nice guy so I don’t want you to think that this is a come-on. Would you come in for a little while? I—you know.” He could tell she was embarrassed to ask.
“Luci.” Dev stepped to join her in the doorway and took her hand. “I’d be happy to stay as long as you need me.”
Like forever,
Dev suddenly thought as he lost himself in her wide blue eyes that were the color of sapphires.
She wants me to stay and protect her?
Was that a joke? She might as well ask a tree stump.
He could try Mac again, or he could just buck up and make it through a few more hours.
“So,” he said gruffly. “Are we going to stand out here on the porch all night, or are you going to let me in?” He paused long enough to watch her lock the door behind them after they entered.
They stood awkwardly.
Shit.
He didn’t know anything about this communication thing. He’d only been to a woman’s apartment for police business or sex business. If it was for sex, he never stayed more than three or four hours, and then he was out of there. He seldom called back a second time. Hump them and dump them was his usual MO. So what were you supposed to say to a woman when you weren’t there to jump into bed?
“Got anything to drink?” Dev asked, looking around her curiously decorated apartment. Asian-inspired prints hung in black lacquered frames against soothing mint green walls.
Luci mentioned she was in school. Was she studying to be a nurse? Over the desk were laminated posters of the human anatomy with colored dots and lines.
The rest of the room was done in rich warm colors with what looked like more her favorite knickknacks than IKEA matched perfection.
“Tea?” Luci asked, flipping on the kitchen light and crossing the tiled floor to the sink.
“Got any whiskey?” he asked with a chuckle as he picked up a carved wooden elephant from the fireplace mantle.
“Sorry. I don’t drink.” She eyed his cane. “Your leg looks like it’s hurting. Do you need anything for it?”
He sat solidly on the couch. “Yeah. That’s why I need the whiskey, unless you have some prescriptions hanging around. Children’s chewables aren’t going to cut it tonight.”
“You mix drugs and alcohol?” She shook her head. “That’s lethal. It could kill you.”
“Right,” Dev muttered, “I
should be
so lucky.” He crossed a long leg across his knee, and winced at the pain in his thigh.
Luci closed her eyes and dropped her head. “You shouldn’t say things like that.”
It just came out. Watching her react to his words, he felt like an idiot. He cared little about his own life, but tonight Luci could have been killed.
Jesus.
Thinking of her not being there made him swallow deep.
“I’ll make tea. I have a blend that will help your pain. I could use a cup myself; my shoulder’s still sore.” She kicked off the flip-flops. There was the whoosh of gas lighting on the stove, and then cups clinking lightly.
Dev leaned back. He stretched his arms along the back of the couch and looked around. The apartment was nice, homey. It looked like Luci. He could come home to this every night.
Whoa.
He didn’t just think that. What was he doing wishing for something he’d never have? He needed to keep this night formal, by-the-book cop’s work.
She returned with a tray and two cups. She set it on a coffee table— cleverly made from an old wood door with a plate of glass over it—-and dropped into the chair facing him.
When she handed him a cup, he noticed that her fingers still trembled. He sniffed at the contents of the cup and frowned.
“It’s not witch’s bane; it’s tea made with Chamomile and Blue Vervain. You’re not taking medicine for blood pressure, are you?”
His scowl made Luci smile as she took a sip. “Ancients used Blue Vervain in magical potions and the Romans used it to make their guests 'merrier.’” She paused. “Do you think it will work with you?”
“No.” Dev snorted. “That’s why I prefer coffee.” But he took a drink of the hot liquid and licked it from his upper lip. It didn’t taste as bad as he thought it might.
“Coffee keeps you awake at night?”
“I’m awake all night anyway.” He watched her through the steam rising from his cup. “Is there anything more you want to add to your earlier report? Anything else you might remember?”
“I really don’t want to talk about it. I told the officers everything I remember.”
“I understand,” Dev said. “But, I want you to come into the station tomorrow so I can re-interview you for a follow-up report.”
They sat for a long moment listening to the wind blowing branches against the side of the house. A large wooden antique clock ticked on the wall. It was close to midnight, the beginning of another day.
“I’m going to take a shower. You can leave. I’m feeling much better.” Pasting on a fake smile, she rose and set her cup on the table. “Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow?”
Dev nodded, and leaned back against the couch watching her walk unsteadily down the dark hall toward the bathroom.
Who’d she think she was kidding? He was the king of bullshit when it came to not telling anyone how he felt, emotionally or physically.
Not for one second did he believe that Luci was
fine
.