Page 16 of Shadows of Before

The guy behind the counter snorted. “Boy, Donovan, you sure do have shit luck.”

She noticed Will’s gaze narrow on him. Around here, she got no sympathy. No understanding. And she was embarrassed to have how she was treated so blatantly manifested in front of Will.

“Just give me the forms.”

They went back into the squad room and over to her desk and sat. He said, “I’ll talk to the insurance company and you fill out the report.”

She could feel her face flush. “I, um, don’t have the kind of insurance that covers tires.”

“Why the hell not?”

In harsh whisper, she said, “I can’t afford it.”

She got into the police report forms. She’d never realized they were so long, so encompassing.

The chief came into the squad room and walked over to them. “Hey, Will. What are you doing here?”

“I’m a friend of Kate’s.”

He turned to her. “I hear your tires got sliced, Donovan. Any idea who would do that?”

He started to answer but she kicked him under the table.

“No.”

“You’ve had some run-ins lately with other cops.”

“Nothing I can’t handle.”

“I’m putting an investigative team on this. They’ll want to interview you.”

She took in a deep breath and let it out. When Thomas left, she turned to Will. “I don’t want any trouble.”

“Looks like you got it anyway, sweetheart.”

Dismissing the endearment—it sounded sarcastic anyway—she said, “Just my luck.”

They stood. “I’ll give you a lift. Where to?”

She shrugged. “We had a…a…we were going to see each other this morning.”

“Still want to do that?”

Even though she hated his attitude, she asked, “Do you?”

“I’m always up for sex.”

Right now, so was she.

* * *

It took her a minute to realize they weren’t headed for her place. “Where are we going?”

“My house.”

“Why?”

“It’s better than that dump you live in.”

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