Page 22 of Rent Free

“Bro,” I looked over to find my brother, Quaid, heading toward me.

“What’s up?” I asked, trying to hide my exhaustion.

It wouldn’t do to let the entire family worry about my sleepwalking.

I’d get it under control.

Hopefully.

“I have something to talk to you about,” he hedged.

My brow rose and I waited, knowing I wasn’t going to like what he was about to say.

“Sage,” he started.

Quaid was in command of all the beat and patrol cops in the central station of DPD. He was the one who coordinated the front lines, so to speak.

He was also the officer in charge of Sage.

Sage Solomon was also the woman I’d saved from a serial killer two years ago.

My involvement in her life saving had inspired her to ‘make a difference in this hard life.’ She’d applied to become an officer at DPD the moment she was better from the kidnapping and brutality that she’d suffered at the hands of two mad men.

“What’s up?” I asked warily.

“She’s not doing well,” he said. “I just don’t think she’s cut out to be a cop, bro.”

I blinked. “What do you mean? She passed the academy with flying colors. Isn’t that something that helps weed them out if they’re not fit?”

“You would think,” he scratched his head. “But I have a theory about that, too.”

“What theory?” I wondered.

“Well,” he looked hesitant to share it with me. “So here’s the thing, Atlas. I know that you like the girl and all, but she seems quite manipulative. And she lies, for no fuckin’ reason. I’ve caught her in a few. In fact, she was supposed to be in a certain neighborhood yesterday during her shift, and I don’t know if she just didn’t pay attention to the department shit she had to agree to when she signed on here, but she didn’t seem to remember that I have a LoJack on all the patrol cars. I know exactly where she was or wasn’t yesterday. And, just sayin’, but this is something I can’t let go. If it were anyone else, she’d already be fired. She’s done this no less than five times in the short period she’s been here and been caught lying about it. I’ve talked to her about it. Dad’s talked to her about it. And if it happens again, I’m not going to be able to stop the inevitable.”

I scratched my head.

I had noticed that Sage was… scatterbrained.

I’d also noticed that she lied about stupid stuff. Though usually it was harmless and didn’t affect me any, so I didn’t see any reason to confront her with it.

But this…

“I’m not going to be mad at you for protecting DPD,” I said. “If you feel she’s not the right fit, I’m not going to argue with you.”

Quaid let out a relieved breath, then slapped me on the shoulder. “Thanks, bro. I’m sorry, for what it’s worth.”

Then he was gone, jogging across the parking lot where employees parked their cars behind gated fences to his truck.

Sage—and inevitably her sister—stayed in my head the entire shift.

By the time I finished off the last schedule for the week, I had this itch that needed scratched.

I glanced at my watch.

Ever since I’d taken over the SWAT team from Scott, I’d started to make my own hours.

And since I made my own hours, that meant I could go home and make it back to the bakery in time before it closed…

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