In truth, Ramsey’s libido had not been stirred until Sullivan Day. He didn’t know it, of course, which she counted as a good thing. The vague arousal she felt when she saw him was unsettling and therefore unwelcome. It rippled calm waters and it challenged her belief that she was wholly satisfied with the choices she had made. She had friends, she had interests, she even had fish. What she did not have was a man in her life.
When her thoughts turned to her ex, she was glad of it.
Sullivan Day saw heads turn as soon as he entered the station. His fellow officers regarded him with interest but none spoke. He sighed. “Yes, I stopped Ramsey Masters for speeding. That’s what you want to hear, isn’t it?”
“Hell,” said Karl Longabach, “weknowthat.” Karl leaned back in his chair and lifted his feet to rest comfortably on his desktop. He folded his arms across his chest. “We want to hear what in God’s name you were thinking.”
Chuckling under his breath, Jim Butz jabbed an index finger in Sullivan’s direction. “You know she doesn’t like you, right?”
Before Sullivan could respond, Buddy Conglose added, “You’re barking up the wrong tree there, Sully. Someone musta told you by now that she’s into girls. She hangs with a cousin of mine, and IknowMaggie’s a lesbian. That woman can bench press a refrigerator.”
Karl said, “I don’t think that’s an indicator of sexual preference.”
“I know that,” said Buddy. “I’m just sayin’ she can do it, is all.”
Sullivan pushed aside some papers on Butz’s desk and sat hipshot on the edge. “I can’t believe I’m going to ask you three stooges this, but why do you think she doesn’t like me?”
Buddy shook his head in a parody of sad disbelief. “Are you listening to me? You have a dick. She doesn’t like dicks. She doesn’t like me either.”
Butz swiveled his chair until he could point at Buddy. “She doesn’t like you because youarea dick. You see the difference?” He swiveled back to Sullivan and lowered his hand. “Ignore him. Look, my baby sister is a cashier at Southridge. I know more about the people that work there than I do about these guys, and it’s not because I want to. Heather can’t help herself.” He shrugged apologetically. “Here’s the thing: my sister has next to nothing to say about Ramsey Masters. That’s because the woman keeps to herself. She’s friendly but doesn’t mix. Contributes to showers and birthdays and retirement parties, but doesn’t appear at the events. Keeps her personal business out of work. I guess that makes her a person of interest in their circle. They’ve tried to fix her up now and again, but she doesn’t bite.” Butz looked back at Buddy. “That’s more likely an indicator of good sense than sexual preference.”
Buddy threw up his hands. “All right. All right. So she doesn’t like girls. I hear you.”
Karl said, “Could be she’s trying hardnotto like you, Sullivan. You think of that?”
Sullivan had, but he didn’t say so. Instead, he asked, “Why would she do that?”
Butz asked, “You ever show any interest in her?”
“I only see her when I’m on duty.”
“So?”
“So, I’m polite, professional, and—” He stopped because they were all staring at him as if stupefied.
Buddy was the first to break the silence. “Hah! I knew it. You’re scared of her. You can admit it. I thought I’d ask her out a while back, but every time I hinted around, she gave me frostbite. Some women can be real nice about it and still shrivel your balls.”
Butz sniggered. “How could you tell?”
Buddy picked up a pen and threw it at the other officer.
Karl ignored them and said to Sullivan, “She was pretty cool with all of us in the beginning. We’d go out to the store, she’d have someone she stopped with the goods waiting for us, and if anyone heard more than a few dozen words from her, he’d count it as a real conversation. Eventually she warmed up, so you have that to look forward to.”
“Eventually?” asked Sullivan. “Can you define that?”
“Three visits,” said Butz.
Karl held up two fingers.
Buddy said, “She eased up with me once I told her about my cousin Maggie. I figured Ramsey realized I knew she was gay, and it relieved her mind that I was okay with it.” He shook his head, sighing. “Don’t know what to make of that now. Do you think I should—”
“No!” they said in unison, cutting him off.
Buddy’s smile was doleful, his slow nod accepting. “Yeah. I suppose not…”
Sullivan made deep furrows in his dark hair as he pushed his fingers through it. “I’ve made seven visits out to Southridge, four when she’s been the caller. Seems to be taking longer than your definition of eventually.”
Butz made a steeple of his fingers and tucked them under his chin. “Sure, but then none of us ever pulled her over.”
