“I figured.”
“I mean, I’ve got more stitches than I’d like.”
“That happens when you fall through a window. I would know.”
“And I ruined that shirt.”
“I’ll buy you a new one.”
He winced again. “And the job is really taking its toll on me. Can’t really claim I was injured on the job, so no paid time off.”
I rolled my eyes. “And?”
“Well, I’m down a person in the field. I like to get out there every morning, you know? Walk the town, be a good presence for everyone.”
“Sure,” I nodded, already knowing where this was going.
“Yep,” he sighed. “Looks like I might be laid up for a while. That’s a long time to go without someone walking around town.”
“I’m sure the town will survive. Was there anything else?”
“Of course, we’ve already got someone who would be more than qualified to take on such a role.”
“I know. His name is Remi.”
“Ah, he’s a good kid?—”
“He’s a few years younger than us. Hardly a kid.”
“But he’s busy with his patrol. Not sure he has the time to add anything to his plate.”
I chuckled at that. “Let’s get down to the real reason I’m here. It’s not because you’re injured. I know this because I had a much deeper wound than you and I was still functioning within a day. And it’s not because of Remi. This town may have a large number of people, but most of them live outside of town, and since you don’t patrol the roads outside the city limits, that doesn’t leave you with a huge area to cover.”
His eyes twinkled with mirth. “What’s your point?”
“My point is, it’s not gonna work on me.”
“What’s that?”
“Guilt. I’m not the one who shoved you through the window, and I sure as shit won’t take a job on the force just because a girl hurt you.”
“That girl is your baby momma.”
I cringed at the term.
“I could have pressed charges.”
“And I could have let her push you through another window,” I countered.
“Well,” he said, leaning forward to steeple his hands on the desk. “What do you say we call it square. You come work for the department, and I won’t hold a grudge against your wife for trying to kill me.”
“Sorry, not interested.”
I shoved to my feet and walked away, but he called after me.
“Come on! What’s it gonna take?”
“A hell of a lot more,” I laughed.
