“I’m scared to ask,” Blake mutters.
“An extra-large bottle of lube bounced off her head. But wait, there’s more. She looks up after it hits her, just in time for a jumbo-sized box of condoms to smack her in the nose, which immediately makes it start gushing.”
“Holy fuck, Marcus.”
“Tell me about it. The woman was so embarrassed that she ran off before I could help her. Worse, she left her basket on the ground where she dropped it, and it had been filled with tampons and chocolate, so I’m guessing she was already not having a good day.”
“Do you know who it was?”
He shakes his head. “She looked familiar, but a lot happened in a space of thirty seconds. Too much for me to pay her much attention.”
I turn and pour Marcus a coffee and hand it to him. “I feel like you need this more than me.”
He looks me over as he takes it. “Not so sure about that.”
“Alright, I’m gonna take my coffee to go. I’ve got an appointment in thirty minutes,” Arlo grumbles, nudging me out of the way while he fills his travel mug. He salutes us on his way out, leaving me with Marcus and Blake.
“Alright, back to what I was saying. How did things go yesterday with Sorrow? I saw the footage you sent me. What the fuck was that rookie thinking?” Blake starts with a sigh.
“I don’t think it was just the rookie. Sorrow pointed out that she doesn’t know the guy, so for him to have a grudge against her seems implausible.”
“Unless it’s not about Sorrow, but about women in general?” Blake plays devil’s advocate.
“I’d have maybe bought into that if I didn’t see with my own two eyes the way the chief of police acted toward her yesterday,” Marcus complains, sitting on the edge of the reception desk.
“That bad?” Blake looks between us.
“Worse. I knew the chief could be a bit…”
“Of a dick?” Marcus adds, making me huff out a laugh. “Prehistoric in his views. But I don’t know what the fuck that was yesterday. And it wasn’t just Sorrow, it was the way he was with Wade too.”
Blake sighs as the man himself walks through the door.
“Ears burning?” Marcus guesses.
“You whispering sweet nothings about me again, Marcus? I’ve told you I’m a happily married man.” He taps his wedding ring as he walks over.
Marcus sticks his middle finger up at him.
“Coffee?” I offer.
“Nah, I’ve just had one, but thanks.”
“So what brings you by so early, or do I even need to guess?” Blake questions.
“I need a favor. I’m not asking you to do it out of pocket, but I’ll be the one paying, not Tempest PD.”
Blake straightens and frowns. “That’s unusual. Okay, I’ll bite. Are you good to talk here, or do you want to come back to my office?”
“I’m good with these two knowing what’s going on, but a bit of privacy won’t hurt.”
“Alright, follow me.”
Blake goes first, and Wade follows him. I look at Marcus, neither of us saying anything, before we follow behind them both. As I’m the last one in, I close the door behind me and lean against it. Blake takes his chair behind his desk, and Wade takes the one in front of it. Marcus sits in the armchair near the window that Callie usually claims.
“Alright, fill me in on what’s happening.”
“I’m guessing the guys told you what went down yesterday?” Wade starts.
