Page 68 of Salvation

I’m doing this for Hope…

To keep Hope safe. At the end of the day, that’s what matters.

That’s all that matters.

I can deal with the rest as it comes.

Sure, you can, Luke.

My thoughts take me all the way to parking at the station. As I pull up next to the street vehicles of the beat cops, I cut the engine and reach into the back seat to grab the evidence bag and my files.

Alan glances over at me. He looks like he’s about to keel over from exhaustion. Glancing at the dash, I see that it is almost midnight. I haven’t really slept in three days, but my adrenaline has me wide awake.

Chuckling, I say, “You need to get your ass to bed before your face meets the pavement.”

He flips me off and barely covers a yawn with his hand. “Nah, if you’re staying, I’m staying. We’re partners and we’re in this together.”

I mutter that he’s a stubborn son of a bitch and open the door to head into the precinct. He slowly follows. As we reach our desks, he stretches and looks at my hand. “That going to the crime lab?”

I nod. “Yeah, I have Ms. Smith’s phone in here. I want to trace the last known location from the phone Renald was using to text her. Maybe we can get a cell tower location and figure out where the meeting took place.”

He nods. “Good plan. I’m going that way anyway to grab some coffee from the kitchen. Want me to drop it off on the way?”

Shaking my head, I toss my keys on my desk and start walking. “Nah, I want to deliver it and see if I can get them to rush it. Maybe I can sweet talk the technician.”

Nodding again, he laughs and grumbles, “If anyone can, it’s you. Raven’s on tonight and she likes your face.” Grimacing, he shrugs. “Okay, you want some disgusting sludge disguised as coffee, too? I’ll meet you in the conference room and we can compare notes from this afternoon.”

Jogging beside him with all the energy singing through my veins, I whistle. I’m feeling good. We’re close as shit. I know it. “Yeah, Raven will probably do it for me.” I wink as he grumbles again. “Would you mind getting me a cup?”

He turns off into the kitchen and I continue jogging down the hall. He waves. “Sure, Energizer. Because you really need caffeine right now.”

I chuckle and salute him as I turn into the hall that leads to the lab. As I reach it, Raven looks up with a smile that clearly says she’s interested. I smile back, though not as flirty, and tell her what I need. She nods and says she can trace the phone and get the location of the last known cell tower the signal bounced off of. She asks me if I want to wait for it since even with a rush, she’s backlogged on other important cases. She smiles again saying she’ll do it for me as soon as possible, though it’ll be at least an hour.

I politely decline, telling her to call me when she has something for me. I let her know I’ll just be in the conference room. Her face falls, but she nods, and I take my leave.

* * *

I’m lookingover my notes from talking to Ms. Smith when Alan comes back in. He hands me a cup of tar black liquid and sips his own. Thanking him, I take a sip as I compare my notes from Ms. Smith to the files to see if anything matches. I cough at the bitter taste and grimace.

Alan laughs. “Told you it was shit. It’s the middle of the fucking night and has probably been sitting there for at least four hours.”

I grunt. “You’re probably right. It’s okay. I can stomach it.” I take another hearty sip and ask him a question about something Ms. Smith said. Taking out his own notes, he answers me. We go back and forth, jotting notes now and then for about half an hour.

I suddenly yawn and he smirks at me. “Crash and burn, Energizer?

Flipping him off, I look at my coffee cup. It’s empty, but I don’t want to stop to go refill it. I mutter, “I have been up for almost three days, you know.”

He laughs again as another yawn escapes me. Suddenly, I can’t keep my eyes open. He notices. “Hey, do you want to catch a cat nap or something? Close your eyes for a few minutes? We’re just waiting anyway. I’ll wake you when the results from the phone come in from your girlfriend.”

Fuck him. She’s not my girlfriend. It’s not my fault she likes my face.

Maybe I can just take a twenty-minute nap or so. Might refresh me.

I nod. “Yeah, I’ll lay on the sofa and just close my eyes. Raven should be calling in a bit with the location of the cell tower. Wake me when it comes in.”

He smirks. “Sure thing, buddy. Get your beauty rest. I’ll wake you when your girlfriend calls.”

Flipping him off, I lay back and close my eyes. Within seconds, I’m out.

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