Page 4 of Trigger

Itossed a piece of gum into my mouth before replying.

“Ididn’t know that what my dick does affects the entire NMPD, but hey, thanks forthe compliment.”

Hushedchuckles around the room didn’t help me out at all.

“Notunless it concerns the mayor’s daughter, you moron,” Chief Stensland exclaimed.“If you were dumb enough to stick your pecker inside her, you could have doneit without the cameras filming the sordid affair.”

“First,”I said, raising my index finger, “no woman ever complained about the size of mymanhood, nor did a man, for that matter. Second, I was a victim, too. I had noidea that we were being filmed. Come to think of it, I might press charges. Myreputation has been sullied.”

“Youhave no reputation,” Chief Stensland growled, slamming his hands on my desk.“And if it were up to me, you wouldn't have a job either. But the mayor isright. Firing you would be doing you a favor. No, no, no. You’re going down, myboy. You’re going down!”

“Down?”Levi said with a frown when we met an hour later in the local pub. “What thehell is that supposed to mean?”

“TheLD,” I replied matter-of-factly.

Hegawked at me, looking comical with beer foam on his upper lip.

“Noway.”

Inodded, reaching for the hair tie wrapped around my wrist and tying mychin-length hair into a bun. “‘Fraid so.”

“Theycan’t do that. Can they?”

“MayorBoggs sure can. That corrupt son of a bitch can do whatever he wants. And he’sthe real reason I’m going down, not my dick.”

“Oh,man. That’s bullshit.”

“Yup.The goddamn LD. But you know what? It doesn’t even matter. I always had afeeling I would end up there anyway.”

Levishook his head, disagreeing with me. “Nuh-uh. You’re the best detective in thecity. You don’t belong in the LD. Not you.”

“Don'ttell me you're leaving New Mesa, Tye?” Moira said, exchanging the empty beerbottles in front of us with the full ones. “I swear, all the good guys areleaving this town.”

I gaveher a crooked smile. “Thanks, sweetheart. But, yeah, I’ll be gone for a whilethanks to Mayor Asshole.”

Shecrossed her arms over her chest, and it made her big boobs pop out of herlow-cut white blouse.

“Itsucks,” she stated, her thin brows furrowing. “And I'm not saying it becauseyou’re a good tipper. You’re an amazing guy. I mean it, Tye.”

“Iappreciate it,” I said with a sigh. “But the powers that be have won yetagain.”

“You’llbe back,” Levi concluded, taking a sip of his beer. “We’ll figure it out. Theremust be something we can do.”

“Onlyif the bastard loses the election,” I mused. “Until then, bye-bye, New Mesa.Hello, Shitsville.”

Levilaughed. “Isn’t it Smitsville?”

“Samething.”

“Damn.The LD has the worst of the worst. Do you know who's going to be your partnerover there?”

Ifrowned, trying to remember the name.

“Carter,or something like that. I think.”

Levichoked on his beer. “Trigger? Is he your new partner? Oh, man.”

Inarrowed my eyes. “What is that supposed to mean? Is it like his nickname orsomething?”

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