“Beautiful night,” he said. “Though some of these people probably should’ve stayed home.”
“Don’t be mean.”
He shrugged. “Not being mean. Telling it like it is. Look at that guy.” He jutted his head toward a guy sitting on a bench. The man held a camera out in front of him as he talked to it. “Came out here just to talk to his damn self.”
“He’s probably a vlogger or something.”
Don grunted. “Someone should’ve told him he has a face for podcasting.”
“Oh, heavens above.” I burst out laughing before covering my mouth. I was so loud that a few people turned to stare at me. “You are so wrong for that.”
“Tell me I’m lying.”
I peeked over at the man again and tried to form the lie, but Don was right.
“See?”
I elbowed him, causing him to chuckle.
“I see why Corey says you’re the jokester of the squad.”
He raised his chin. “Guilty as charged.”
The conversation between us flowed like a river downstream. It came easily, naturally. I listened as Don told me about the different pranks he pulled at the station, between the cover bands’ performances.
The deep baritone of his voice lulled me into a stupor, making me forget about anything besides that moment. Nothing mattered. Not my ex or the way he’d broken my heart.
“I can’t believe it’s almost two in the morning,” I said as we circled the outer loop that ran a three-mile perimeter around the park.
“You should be used to late nights, Ms. Undercover Detective.”
My smile dipped. “Not quite a detective.”
“On your way to becoming one, though.”
I shook my head—a knee-jerk response.
I felt Don’s questioning gaze, so I gave him a sheepish expression. “I should want to make detective, but…” I sighed and didn’t finish my statement.
“It’s not for you?”
I nodded. “There’s so much red tape that comes with the job. Not to mention,” I chewed on my lower lip, thinking about all the bullshit that came with being a woman in the police force, “other things.”
“Like what?”
I looked up.
He stared at me intently as if genuinely concerned about my reasoning.
I released a breath. “I love being a cop. Helping people. But dressing in short ass skirts and parading around in the red light district three nights a week takes its toll.”
Sure, it had led to the arrests of many men who’d had no business paying for sex. Most of the men I’d arrested for solicitation of sex hard worn wedding rings. The thought of those scumbags leaving their wives and children late at night to have sex with a woman they didn’t even know angered me in a way I couldn’t describe. It felt like a betrayal, and I wasn’t even married to them.
Don’s expression was contemplative. “I say...legalize prostitution.”
I stared at him wide-eyed.
“I’m serious.” He held up his hands. “Think about it. If a woman or man is of legal age to consent, why shouldn’t they be able to offer their services in exchange for payment? It would reduce crime and allow the police freedom to investigate real crimes.”
