Page 26 of Midnight Rules
Marric let out a watery chuckle. “Are you always prepared for everything?”
“You don’t want to know how often I encounter people in their most vulnerable and emotional state.” It was a daily occurrence, especially during domestic violence calls. “Last week Velma Horace wandered out of her house and got lost four blocks over. She was in her nightgown. I’m pretty sure she has dementia or something similar, considering that wasn’t the first time. And two days ago, Butch McGraff was naked in his garage with the door wide open, working on his motorcycle. I had to give a tissue to Cass after the call came in because he was laughing so hard.”
Marric chuckled again. “Not laughing at the lady with dementia. I feel terrible for her. But the naked mechanic is hilarious.”
Iven chuckled too. “Butch doesn’t even do it because he has memory problems or he’s just old. I mean, he is old, but he just doesn’t give a shit. He says it’s too hot in his garage for clothing and bitches about how he should have put AC in a long time ago. He rubs motor oil on his body.”
Marric playfully slapped Iven’s shoulder. “He does not.”
“Hand to the gods, yes, he does.” Iven laughed even harder. “I thought Cass was going to piss himself when he saw Butch all greased up.”
Marric shook with laughter. It took a while for him to sober up. “Thank you.”
Iven wasn’t sure what Marric was thanking him for, but it didn’t matter. It was his pleasure. “You’re welcome, honey.”
Marric buried his face in Iven’s neck again. “What if we can’t fix it?”
“I’ll solve this. I promise.” It was a lofty promise, but Iven would follow through. The alternative was unthinkable.
“But what if we don’t?”
“We will.” The longer they sat there, the more Marric played the what-if game. It would get them nowhere.
Iven lifted Marric onto his feet and stood. Marric was small enough for it to be easy for Iven to lift him. Iven could carry Marric around if he wanted to. He doubted Marric would like that. He had a feeling Marric was an independent and headstrong person who wouldn’t like help under normal circumstances. Being as sick as he was, changed him a bit.
Iven took down the dome and then pulled Marric along toward the library. He kissed Marric on his temple. “We’re taking actionable steps to put the puzzle together. That’s what’s going to save you and your sister.”
Marric smiled. “I believe you.”
“We’re not sitting around, hanging onto hope here, honey. We’re figuring it out.”
“By going to the library?”
“By gathering information.” Iven had a few more questions to ask Marric and he would, but after they finished at the archives department.
“We got a call about a stolen book recently. It was a book on dark magic. One of the oldest texts in existence.” Iven wasn’t sure why he dropped that little fun fact.
“So I’m not the only one who has ever stolen a book, then?” Marric smirked.
Iven chuckled. “I didn’t want you to feel alone.”
“Shouldn’t you arrest me or something? You never really did anything, even though you know I’m the one who broke into all those houses.”
Iven raised his eyebrows and met Marric’s gaze. “Do you want me to put you in handcuffs?”
Marric grinned. “Maybe.”
Iven had never been into the handcuff kink, but he might make an exception with Marric. “You don’t look like a criminal.”
“Yeah? Well, you don’t act like a cop. And you’re too hot to be a sheriff.”
“And you’re too pretty to be a criminal.” Marric had delicate features. His dark eyes had a soft quality to them. It was in complete contrast to Marric’s criminality. He wasn’t hardened enough. If anything, he was sensitive.
Marric’s cheeks turned pink. “We’re not very good at insults.”
“Was that what we were doing?”
Marric shrugged. “The sheriff part was supposed to be one.”
