Page 91 of Hesi-Dating
"Really? I'm just a screwup that survived about the worst situations you could ever imagine when growing up."
"I'm sorry that no one helped you with reading. Let's see if we can figure out exactly what issue you have. We're going to do a bit of reading and a few puzzles that will help me determine what direction we need to go to give you the tools you need to read."
ChapterThirty-Eight
SETH
Breath in. Breath out. Breath in…fuck it. I was a wreck today.
I hadn't recovered from learning her overprotective brother had forced Joley and me apart. Now I was a mess. Before two nights ago, I'd spent the months pining for her. I had gone on a few dates to try to move on. I thought I had, but now I realized I hadn't.
"There's a problem with Clara."
I glanced up from my computer screen to see the rookie, Blake Rivera, settling into the seat on the other side of my desk. When wasn't there a problem with that damn car? I should donate it to the fire department to use for training. Part of me was surprised Blake made it so many months in the car without complaining. "Melanie runs the assigned vehicle program. Talk to her about it."
"Already did. She said I had to ask the boss."
"What's wrong with the car?" I sniffed, baffled by the sudden skunk smell.
"The car got skunked."
You too, it seems. "Wash it off. It'll wear off in a week or so. Sometimes it clings to the tires a bit longer."
"On the inside." Rivera swallowed and fidgeted in his seat.
"How exactly did a skunk foul theinsideof your vehicle?"
"I was on a domestic. I was riding solo since Jack has COVID. While on the call this guy was pissed at his girlfriend for taking his dog to the shelter. It was his dog, but she didn't take kindly to me siding with him. She screamed at me when I tried to leave. Had a pet skunk in her arms. It freaked out and sprayed."
I placed both hands on my desk, palms down. "Listen, son, if an angry woman is holding a pet skunk, you roll up the window."
"Looked like a cat, but…" He shifted in his seat and squeezed his hands into fists. "You know Clara has had a smell problem. I have to leave the windows open most of the time or the smell gets to me."
"By now the fart bomb has to have worn off."
Rivera's cheeks flushed bright red. "It's smelled like a rotten egg for at least two months. Took her in and they thought it was the catalytic converter, but after we fixed that and replaced the fuel pressure sensor and a few filters, the stench still isn't gone."
This is what my life had degenerated into. Managing stinky cars.
"Get her detailed. Get one of those hanging tree air fresheners. Or put Vick's under your nose and wear a mask." I turned back to my computer. "Why don't you take a bath in tomato juice or something? Baking soda and peroxide worked on my dog. Might work on people too."
"I got the car detailed. Didn't help, which is why I'm here. They said there's nothing that'll get rid of the stink. I can't be in the car. Makes my eyes water."
I covered my face and tried not to laugh.Deep breath in. Deep breath out. Do. Not. Laugh."What do you suggest?"
"Give her to someone else, put her in storage, donate her, or maybe you could sell her?" Blake leaned forward. "The car is cursed."
"They're setting up for the press conference in fifteen minutes downstairs." Walt waved from the door. "I'm supposed to tell you to expect to not only give a statement on closing the truck homicide case, but also to warn you the mayor lit into you this morning in a press conference about the ineffectiveness of our department in curbing gang violence like you promised last year."
I knew Sara would be out for blood after Joley masterfully shot her down.
"I'll be down in a few," I managed to say evenly. To Rivera I said, "Have Melanie assign you a new vehicle if we have one. If we don't, we'll partner you with someone else for a while."
"I don't want a new partner. Jack should be back later this week. The virus knocked him on his ass, but he's getting better."
I glared.
"Right. Thanks, sir." In his haste to depart, the chair fell over backward. He righted the chair. "Can you just not assign me to Chester if I have to partner with someone else?"
