“I’ll tell you something that’s going to happen. I’m going to find Grover, and I’m going to fine him for calling in a false report.”
“You will not.”
“Believe it.”
She took a quick step forward. “Don’t do that, Brooks. Don’t. He only did it because I asked him.”
“Then he’ll know better next time. And so will you.”
“Why do you act this way?” Tears sizzled through the temper. “You make it so I have to throw myself at you, and all you do is get mad. Back in high school, you couldn’t keep your hands off me.”
“This isn’t high school. I don’t want high school.”
“You don’t want me.”
He knew those tears. He’d swum through rivers of them before, and they were sincere enough. “Sylbie, you’re beautiful, probably the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. You’re talented, and when you make an effort, you’re an interesting companion. But I don’t want you the way I did back then. I don’t want what we had back then.”
“You didn’t say that a couple weeks back when you were on top of me in my bed.”
“No, I didn’t, and I’m sorry, Sylbie.” Plenty of sorry to go around, as far as he could see. “The sex was always good with you and me, but we never did have much else going on.”
“What do you care, as long as you get off?”
“Honey, you ought to think better of yourself. I do.”
“Something’s wrong with you.” Anger and embarrassment ran color hot in her face. “You ought to want me when I’m offering.”
“If that’s all you want, you know there are plenty who’ll be willing.”
“But not you.”
“No, not me.” They’d come to the end of that road, he realized, and felt little more than relief. “Not anymore. Maybe we’ll like each other better without the sex. One thing I can promise you, and you better hear me. If you ever pull a stunt like this again, you’re going to see the inside of our cells down at the station.”
Her color stayed high, but her face went stony and cold. “You’ve changed, Brooks.”
“God, I hope so. You’d best watch the shop until Grover gets back.” He started out, glanced back. “That’s a nice dress, Sylbie. Keep it on.”
When he stepped out, he spotted Grover—round-bodied, stoop-shouldered and balding—puffing on a Marlboro as he sat on the bench between his shop and the next.
“Oh, hey, there, Chief.”
“Hey, there, Grover. Come with me.”
“Ah…”
“There’s a fine for calling in a false report, and you’re paying it.”
“But I—”
“Next time a pretty woman asks you to do something stupid, think first.”
“But she said—”
“You take what she said up with Sylbie. I’m saying you don’t call for help unless you need help. You don’t waste my time, or the Bickford Police Department’s time. I could put you in jail for what you did.”
Grover’s face went splotchy, pink blooming over sick white as the man got shakily to his feet. “Jail? Holy God. I just…”
“Don’t just ever again. Fine’s two thousand dollars.”
