Page 22 of All Twisted Up
He stared at me for a few seconds before nodding. “Okay, give me your report and then head out. I expect you to be at his place no later than five.” He turned back to his computer as Mickey and I stood. We both knew a dismissal when we heard one.
I tore open the plastic bag and extracted the wallet, flipping it open as my friend walked back to the bullpen beside me. Joshua Calder smiled in the picture. He was twenty-seven. That surprised me. He lived in West Hollywood not far from myapartment. I had to admit, he was a good-looking man, older than I expected. I would have guessed he was no older than twenty-one or two.“Huh.”
“What?” Mickey asked as we strolled into the bullpen.
“He’s twenty-seven,” I replied absently, still staring at Calder’s face. He looked kind but I knew from our brief interaction…the way he’d stood up to us, that he had a belly full of fire. The memory of the puny little knife he’d pulled still made me smile. “I would have thought he was younger.”
“The captain said he has a family,” Mickey said, sitting at his desk which faced mine.
“I heard,” I said, eyeing my friend as I pursed my lips thoughtfully. “Wife? Kids?”
Mickey smirked. “I guess you’re about to find out.”
I frowned. “How is it thatyougot out of babysitting duty?”
“Babysitting duty?” Smith asked.
I glanced over at him. The former Navy SEAL leaned back in his chair, looking thoughtful. Napoleon was an imposing figure with a chest as wide as the side of a barn and bulging biceps, probably because of the way he trained. We all worked out, but Smith worked out in freezing cold water. SEALs were impressive operators, able to swim like fish—even in the ocean—they could hold their breath for up to three minutes at a time, while fighting when necessary.
“The captain tapped me for babysitting duty,” I grumbled. “Can you believe that shit?”
Napoleon’s dark brows drew together. “Who are you babysitting?”
“One of those guys from the apartment this morning…he dropped this.” I passed him the wallet and Smith flipped it open, looking down at the license before handing it back.
“Where’d he drop it?”
“He left the wallet in the apartment, so the captain is arranging for his protection. Meanwhile, I get to go sit with him to make sure he’s protected if the cartel comes sniffing around.”
“It’s one guy, my man. It’s gonna be a walk in the park,” Napoleon said, shrugging. “Suck it up.”
“He has a family which is why the protective detail is taking some time.” I rubbed my face with both hands.
“Whine much?”
I looked over at Marshall Clifford. He was watching me with that lazy smile he often wore. “Who asked you, Brit?”
He shrugged. “I’m only saying I have a lovely camembert at home to pair nicely with that whine, should needs arise, mate.”
I rolled my eyes. “Should needs arise?” I waved my hand at him. “Go make yourself a spot of tea and leave me alone,” I said, doing my best to imitate his drawl.
He stood, stretching. “Smashing idea, mate. I could do with a cuppa.” He rubbed his hands together, glancing around. “I’ll put the jug on. Pot of tea, anyone?”
There were no’s all around as I looked back at the wallet in my hands. I set it down when I heard someone coming.
“I don’t see you typing, Hampstead,” Candy barked. “I want your report in half an hour.” He kept on walking, headed toward reception.
“Fine,” I muttered, before sitting forward and opening the half-written report on my desktop. Seconds later, I was doingjust what the boss wanted, making sure I’d crossed every T and dotted every I.
JOSHUA
Just after two in the afternoon, I parked my mini in the driveway, feeling tired as I looked at the small house I called home. It was old, needed a new roof and probably some paint, but I couldn’t help but smile. As rundown as it looked outside, the inside was comfortable and welcoming. I loved my home and the family I shared it with. It’d taken me all morning to get Billy checked into New Beginnings out in Palmdale, and all I wanted to do was relax. Unfortunately, the kids would be home in an hour which meant I had little time to tell Barbie everything that had happened. I didn’t want the kids to overhear us. They were too small to deal with those horrors.
I got out of the car, slinging my messenger bag over my shoulder before leaning in and picking up the wiggling black and white puppy. As I turned to walk to the gate, I noticed a black and white LAPD patrol car parked across the street. Two officers were sitting in the front seat, and I smiled at them before leaning down to speak to the dog.
“I wonder what that’s about.” The puppy looked up at me and wiggled. I chuckled, gripping him tighter so he wouldn’t fall. “Yeah, me too. Come on, baby, let’s go see Barbie. She’s going to love you.” I headed for the picket fence and opened the gate, setting the puppy down so he could do his business. He squatted almost immediately. When he was done, he looked up at me and wagged his little stump of a tail, toddling toward me on short legs in the tall grass. The lawn needed mowing, but I put it out of my mind as I headed for the house with the puppy following close at my heels. When we reached the three porch stairs, Ibent and scooped him up, carrying him since he was too small to climb them.
The front door opened before I reached it. My seventeen-year-old sister leaned against the door jamb with her arms crossed. “Two hours…no more,huh?” she said, repeating what I’d told her last night before leaving for dinner. I walked across the porch and leaned close, kissing her cheek as I smiled down at her.
