“But what if Icouldmake a difference for the victims? What if I did something like become a cop? If this curse is something that is going to happen no matter what I do, wouldn’t it put me in a place to better secure justice for the victims?”
I stared at him. When I’d decided to become a cop, similar thoughts had rattled about in my head. I’d wanted to make a difference. Ihadmade a difference, from the very first day I’d put on my new uniform and my badge. It had burdened me, but I’d shouldered those burdens with as much pride as I could muster. Making a difference mattered.
Could he transform his curse into a blessing?
How would he react if I hooked up with a patrolling officer and dragged him along for the ride? Would the reality of the beat change his mind?
I wondered if my new chiefs would let me test him on a patrol to see if he took to the beat.
After several long, silent minutes, I said, “We could test that.”
“How?”
“I don’t know if it’s legal or possible, but perhaps you could accompany me and a partner on a patrol for a few days. We did that as cadets when learning the beat. A pair would take a cadet along for the ride to see what it was really like. It doesn’t take much to qualify as a cadet,” I admitted. “Perhaps it’s a little too easy, really. But I went out as a cadet my first day in the academy after hearing a long speech about expected conduct. The instructors wanted us to see the reality before we learned more about what it took to be a cop.”
“I thought it would have taken a lot longer.”
“Me, too. It was part of a pilot program to adjust how the academy trains cops. They wanted to sift through the washouts faster and get cadets promoted quicker. I think the washouts happening earlier did happen, but it didn’t really help get the cadets promoted quicker. There’s a lot to learn. Honestly, I don’t think the training is long enough. I had to learn a lot while on the job.”
Alec nodded. “So, you want me to accompany you while you work?”
“Ideally. If Lucifer is correct, all the curse does is put you where the crimes will happen—or draws the victim and the perp to where you are. I’m not sure which. I’m not sure it matters. We have to assume the curse is able to manipulatesomeonein this, otherwise is it actually a curse?”
“He could be lying about a curse,” Alec pointed out.
“While possible, I don’t think he’s lying,” I admitted. I eyed my laptop, which had evidence of my unsuccessful search for divines capable of creating such a curse without being involved with the Christians, Egyptians, and Greeks. I could only assume it meant some ancient divine held responsibility, one generally lost to history.
Without a few additional clues, which I suspected I’d have to wring out of the Devil, we returned right back to square one.
“Do you think my forensic accounting skills could translate well to police work?” Alec frowned. “I have a reputation of being a harbinger at work at this point, and there are a bunch of rumors spreading around.”
I bet. People expected cops to deal with death often, where accountants were expected to wage war with numbers without literal bloodshed being involved. “Having an idea of how many financial files I’ll be going through in my near future, if you otherwise qualify, I suspect your skills would be a good addition to the police force. We have interior officers, too. Not everyone works the streets, although it’s part of the job.”
“What sort of education do I need?”
“A high school diploma,” I informed him.
“That’s it?”
I understood; when I’d become a cop, I’d been horrified to learn I hadn’t even been required to take a single college-level legal course to be able to wear a badge and enforce the law. “That’s it. You go to the academy for a while to get your base education. I expanded my personal education so I had a better understanding of the laws I have to enforce. You’ll be an asset when it comes to the financials;youknow what crimes can be committed legally. We just look for connections in how money flows.”
“That doesn’t seem comprehensive enough.”
It wasn’t, and all I could do was shrug. “If you want me to inquire with the chiefs, I can do that for you.”
“I think I would. My prospects aren’t all that good because of my circumstances. I mean, I could move to another city and possibly get work, but I would feel better about it if I could turn the tables and do some good, despite my misfortunes. If I am really cursed, and I can do something to bring justice for the victims of these supposedly inevitable crimes, that’s better than just bearing witness.”
I’d witnessed my share of death as part of my job, but his circumstances reminded me that witnessing the end of a life truly became a burden one had to carry, often for years before time did its slow work. I’d grown used to it, although some nights I’d gone home in tears from what I hadn’t been able to change.
There would be more of those days ahead of me without fail.
“Yes, working in the force would let you pursue justice, as would becoming an attorney. But you’d do more good in law enforcement. We give testimonies during the case and aren’t penalized should we have witnessed the crime. Attorneys can’t try cases where they are witnesses.”
“I think I would prefer trying to be a cop first. I deal with enough attorneys as part of my job as it is.”
He wouldn’t escape the attorneys; the detectives from my former precinct dealt with attorneys on a daily basis, depending on how active their cases were and what was involved with bringing a criminal to justice. I’d let him discover that for himself, however. Rather than drag out a needless conversation, I grabbed my cell and dialed Mr. Chief Quinn, as he was the one more likely to give me a sensible answer.
“Is everything okay?” he asked, rather than give a proper greeting.
