ELY
Kasper isn’t around when I get to work, but I find Jake almost immediately, hunched over his computer keyboard, practically steaming from the ears.
“That sonofabitch shouldn’t be working here anymore,” he mutters when he sees me. “After everything, Sarge, and he’s still rolling in power.”
“I know, Denny.” I raise my palms in the air and take a seat at my desk, booting up my own computer. “Believe me, Jami is just as happy about it as you are. We all are. Speaking of, where is the detective?”
“Out on a call, I guess,” Jake says with a shrug. “Who knows? I’ve tried to spend my morning avoiding him at all costs.”
“Did he say anything to you?”
“Nothing more than normal, although he looks pretty fucking smug to be here at work.”
“I bet.”
“How’s Tara and the kid?” Jake asks, whirling around in his chair to face me.
“Hanging in there. Jami found them a new place, and I think that’ll be great for them. Tara starts a new job on Monday.”
“Good for her. I’m glad she’s not letting Kasper pull her down.”
“Not yet, anyway,” I mutter, and Jake sighs.
“I hope this mother fucker pays for what he’s done. If I didn’t enjoy my life, I’d kill him myself.”
“I’d help you.”
“Thanks, Sarge. Hey, are you going to tell me how it’s going with Jami? I’ve heard you two have been spending quite a bit of time together.”
“How many times do I have to tell you that it isn’t your business?” I ask, and Jake snorts.
“Jami is Renee’s best friend, which means that Jami will always be my business, whether I want her to be or not,” Jake says, and I roll my eyes. I want to argue with him, but I know he’s right. Secretly I’m grateful that Jami has such good people at her back.
“You’ll be pleased to know that things are going very well with Jami, and I can see us having a future together.”
“Does she feel the same way?”
“God, I certainly hope so.”
“So are you gonna pop the question?” Jake presses, and I glare at him.
“Are you? To Renee?”
Jake is quiet as he ponders this, which isn’t the reaction I was hoping for. “I don’t know. Can she marry all three of us?”
“I dunno, Denny.” I turn my attention back to the computer in front of me, clicking on some folders to pull up files on the case I’ve been working on for years. My wife and son’s case. I don’t seem to be any closer now to finding the last culprit than I have been since they were killed six years ago.
A few hours pass before Kasper and Katie make their way back to the precinct after a call. Jake and I look up as Kasper saunters in, and my jaw tightens automatically. He’s smug as ever, and I want to put my fist through that manipulative face of his.
“Sarge,” Kasper says, winking at me. “Nice day, isn’t it?”
“It was until you showed up,” Jake mumbles behind me. Either Kasper doesn’t hear this or pretends not to because before I can answer, he goes to his office and shuts the door behind him.
“Asshole,” I mutter, and Jake nods his head in agreement. Katie, who is usually pouring after Kasper like a lost puppy dog, stands in the middle of the desks for a moment. She looks like she wants to say something, anything at all, but she doesn’t. Instead, her lips purse shut, and she walks away from us, out of view.
“Do you think she’s getting a clue yet?” Jake asks, and I shrug.
“Probably not. But maybe. If she is, she hasn’t said anything.”
