“An egg roll and Hunan chicken.”
Harper sighed and picked up his legal pad. He liked to write everything down and draw diagrams to see if he could pick up any patterns. Tomorrow would be another day of canvassing the area, speaking to people in the neighborhood and maybe getting lucky. So many days he was left feeling like he was one step behind the bad guys, spinning his wheels.
“Problems?” Colson slid in next to him. “Care to talk about it?”
“Another day, another group who preys on the elderly and the vulnerable. This time it’s female perps, so it’s even more dangerous.”
Colson looked perplexed. “Why? I’d think the opposite.”
Harper tapped his pad with his pencil. “Exactly. Most people, if they see a young, distraught female on their doorstep, wouldn’t hesitate to help. These women count on that inherent good nature and capitalize on it for their bad acts.”
“That’s so sad. People can’t trust anyone anymore.” Colson frowned. “I’m going to text Hogan that Bea shouldn’t open her door, even if it’s a woman.”
“As much as I hate being negative, I agree.”
Colson kissed him on the nose. “You? Hate being negative? You’re funny.”
The notes and criminals forgotten, Harper wrestled him to the couch for a kiss. The doorbell rang, and Luis walked by, snickering.
“Don’t mind me. You can always reheat the food if you need to get busy.”
“Are you kidding?” Harper pushed Colson off him. “I’m starving.”
“It’s already come to this, huh?” Colson lay on the couch, face flushed and eyes dancing. “Second fiddle to spareribs.”
Harper held out his hand. “Don’t be such a drama queen.” He pulled Colson up and kissed him. “I’ll save my personal sparerib for you later.”
“Oh, for God’s sake, do not give up detective work for stand-up.”
“I’m standing up right now. Want a peek?” Harper snickered.
“What’s gotten into you tonight?” Colson groaned. “It’s like you’re intent on reviving bad jokes.”
Harper lifted a shoulder and gazed across the room. “I don’t know. I guess I’m just happy. And I’m not used to it, so I’m being silly.”
Colson held his arm. “Hey. I’m just kidding. I love it. And you. You can be as silly as you want as long as it’s with me.”
Harper leaned in and kissed Colson’s smile. “There’s nothing silly about how I feel when I’m with you.” How was it possible this man lit up all the dark, lonely spaces of a heart he’d given up on? Like everything else in his life, Harper wasn’t about to question his good fortune. He’d found someone to share his demons with, someone who didn’t run from the storm of Harper’s complicated life but rather toward the chaos, embracing the rain.
“I love you too, baby.”
“Flattery will get you an extra bite of my sparerib.” Snickering, he waggled his brows.
Together, hand in hand, they went to dinner.
***
“Another Monday, another happy Harper. I don’t know if I can stand it,” Nolan razzed him.
“Well, get used to it,Daddy,” Harper teased right back, and Nolan’s eyes grew soft.
“I can’t wait.”
“What can’t you wait for, Martinez?” Poole interrupted. “Not the next push-in, because we had a couple over the weekend. Check with Jankowitz and Leeds. They were on duty.”
“Will do, Cap.”
Poole frowned. “The neighborhood block association is very unhappy, and you know there are lots of judges and politicos who live in and around the area. The mayor is feeling the heat, which means they’re stepping up the pressure at One PP, and it all falls on us.” His smile was thin. “Let’s get moving.”
