Page 9 of Stilettos & Whiskey
“Yeah, I really do.” He walked over to the vending machine.
I took a chair at the back of the classroom and wished I were in Hawaii with Gemma, and I didn’t have to deal with Bertha or Evans.
The other deputies rushed in and headed for the coffee pot.
“Damn, it’s empty,” Gramps complained.
Sergeant Bergman tossed him the coffee can. “Fix us some.”
“Yes, sir.” Gramps said happily.
Our briefing started at six sharp and anyone who showed up late was assigned to every garbage detail Sargent Bergman could think up.
Frank slid into the chair next to me and handed me a bottle of water. “The machine is out of that iced tea you like.”
I grumbled, “They just stocked it too.”
“Water is better for you anyway.”
“I need my caffeine, or I get really cranky and if it’s that time of the month, look out world.”
Frank stared at me in horror. “Is it?”
“Yep.”
“God, help us,” Frank muttered.
“Aw, c’mon, you’re married. You know how it is.”
“I do,” Frank replied with a shudder.
I punched him in the arm. “Knock it off. Your wife is wonderful.”
“And I’m the luckiest man on Earth.”
Sergeant Bergman walked up to the podium and surveyed the deputies crowded around the vending machine. “It’s six o’clock.”
There was a brief stampede as everyone grabbed a chair.
Slipping on a pair of reading glasses, Sergeant Bergman advised, “With Stone on vacation, Evans will be working her beat.
I loved the astonished expressions on everyone’s faces.
Huh? I looked around the room. Where was Evans?
Sergeant Bergman totally ignored the deputies’ reactions. “Sun City West is experiencing a high number of vehicle thefts. Edwards and Smith, I want you to concentrate your patrol time on that area.”
“Yes, sir,” they answered.
Evans strolled into the room munching on a jelly donut and acting like he didn’t have a care in the world. He took a seat and typed away on his cellphone.
Every deputy in the classroom stared at him in disbelief.
“Holy hell, this is gonna be good,” I whispered to Frank.
“Yep.”
The Sergeant looked over the top of his glasses. “Are we disturbing you Evans? Do you need more time to finish your text.”
