Page 6 of Small Sacrifices

When he does the same thing in line for the security check later, Reid immediately wants to scream.The ID.He clenches his jaw against the urge to scream. What is he even supposed to do now? Officer McNaulty had been very clear the day before.

"No," she says before Reid has even opened his mouth or thought of an excuse. "I went easy on you yesterday, but the rules exist for a reason."

"I'm sorry. But I have a very important meeting. Would it—"

"No."

Well, shit.The quiet discomfort swirling in Reid's stomach solidifies into a gnawing fear. This is bad. He can't be late for that meeting, not if he wants to prove himself. All the work he did to prepare won't matter if he doesn't show up.

As if that weren't enough, his headache flares up again. Reid pinches the bridge of his nose to concentrate the pain there so he can at least think, but that doesn't help much. There's no thinking his way out of this one, is there?

"Mr. Maxwell, I don't make the rules. I just enforce them. Please go home to fetch your badge if you want to be in the officebefore too long." Officer McNaulty's words are sharp, like she's expecting resistance.

"Is everything good here?"

A smooth voice cuts through Reid's spiraling thoughts so suddenly that he flinches. And the second he looks up, he has to stop himself from doing it again. Because that's…Oh no.Everett Mackenzie, the governor's older son. For a moment, Reid freezes. It would be difficult not to. Even a few steps apart, it looks like the guy is at least half a head taller than Reid. Not to mention his face. High cheekbones, square jaw, and the kind of lazy smile that tells of opened doors and easy getaways everywhere.

Sweat prickles at Reid’s temples. This is just what he needed. The governor probably doesn't even know Reid exists, but now his son can tell him all about how he saw him try to circumvent the security measures put in place to protect his safety.

"I forgot my employee ID badge. Officer McNaulty has just explained to me that I’ll have to go home to retrieve it so she can let me in," he tries to explain. If he's going to get in trouble, it won't be for trying to shirk responsibility for his own actions.

But Everett just laughs. "Bullshit."

"No, I really—"

"Nah, I mean that Beth here can let you in without your ID," Everett says.

Beth heredoesn't look like she agrees. Reid can feel his fingers grow clammy. What is he supposed to do now?

"I understand that procedure—"

"Screw procedure," Everett proclaims with a roguish grin. "Beth'll let you in. Right, Beth? I'm vouching for him."

"No," Officer McNaulty says. Reid is honestly impressed with her, even if it's not in his best self-interest. "You don't know him. You can't vouch for someone you don't know."

Reid can't help but agree. What is this supposed to be? Some sort of test? Even people who know Reid don't tend to do him favors. They either ignore him, or they take one look at him, decide he's weird, and are happy to have found a new target for their underhanded remarks. And they certainly don't smile at him this widely.

"Oh, come on!" Everett dramatically flops against the wall and looks up at Officer McNaulty through his dark lashes. "Can't you just let it go this once? Look at him—he's harmless!"

Reid is nodding before he can stop himself. While the officer looks at him, she holds herself just as tightly as before. But there's a softness in her face that Reid doesn't understand. How well do these two know each other? Well enough to actually be on a first-name basis with each other—or is Everett just disrespectful?

"No. He needs to learn his lesson."

Reid closes his eyes and resists the urge to scream. Hehaslearned his lesson. As soon as he gets home, he'll add a note about the ID to his sign by the door. But that's not what she means, is it? His parents were the same when he was growing up. Telling her it's never going to happen again won't achieve anything. She doesn't want him to learn; she wants him to suffer the consequences.

"I'm baking my famous cookies today. I could bring you a plate."

"You want me to risk your father's safety for some snickerdoodles?" The officer sounds more amused than insulted. Friends, then. They're bickering. Reid picks at his cuticles. He shouldn't be here for this.

When he chances another look at him, Everett's grin is impossibly wide. "Well, I could bring you donuts if you'd rather. Youarea cop, right?"

Reid needs to leave. Before this blows up, before he wastes even more time. This isn't good. But if he doesn't want to just run away, he'll have to interrupt their conversation to say goodbye, and that's not very polite. What's he supposed to do about that?

Officer McNaulty snorts a laugh. It sounds harsh somehow, dismissive. But that doesn't seem to deter Everett one bit. If anything, his grin broadens. Reid winces when the other man grabs his arm.

"Come on, we'll just make our escape. Don't worry about her, she'll get her cookies," Everett says and then proceeds to drag Reid into the building.

But Reid worries. A lot. He tries to pull away, but Everett simply slings his arm around Reid's shoulders. And that's… no. That's too close. He can feel the warmth from his body bleed through his blazer, can almost make out the imprint of four fingers on his left biceps. It's too familiar. Which makes the urge to throw the guy off even stronger, but Reid doesn't dare. It's clear that Everett has some agenda, Reid just needs to figure out what it is.

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