I nodded. “It was really nice you came out on a Sunday to give advice, Jayden.”
“We cops don’t like what you women are doing, but that doesn’t mean we don’t like you women, or the hearts you have that you’d do it.”
Aw.
How sweet.
“But stalking is some insidious shit,” he went on. “It gets in your head. It’s frustrating. It’s alarming. Just saying, Luna, you even feel anything hinky or think you see her, but aren’t sure, write it down or go right to a police department.”
“I promise. I will.”
Sensing his in-service was complete, Harlow asked, “You sure you don’t want a beer or something?”
He shook his head. “Got a date with a sports bar.”
I noticed Shanti bite her lip at this.
But Clarice narrowed her eyes on him.
“Later, ladies,” Jayden said, pushing away from the desk and starting out.
He got some laters, and a “Thanks again” from me.
The only one he directed any words to was Clarice.
“See you at the courthouse where you’ll be doing your best to put trash back out on the streets.”
Oh my.
“You got your place in due process, I got mine,” she returned.
“Only one protects and serves,” he shot back.
You could tell how good a lawyer she was when she had a ready comeback. “There’s all sorts of protecting and serving, and every citizen deserves their version.”
“Tell yourself that,” Jayden volleyed.
“I sleep fine at night,” Clarice fired off.
At that, Jayden aimed the single most panty-melting smile I’d ever witnessed at Clarice before he stated, “Yeah, but you do it alone.”
Oowee!
The women were all giving each other big eyes as Clarice stewed on that, surprisingly unable to come up with a retort, and Jayden sauntered out, all tall, loose-limbed hot guy who scored the last point.
We watched him go, then in unison, turned back to Clarice to see her shooting invisible laser beams out her eyes at the space where he disappeared.
Joey cut the tension by saying, “Uh…”
Clarice snapped out of it and looked among us. “After the news this morning, Arthur wants it made clear you women are done with the Chambers business. And he did that not even knowing about the feud.”
Confirmed.
They didn’t know about the feud.
“We already decided we’re out,” Raye told her. “And this blows, because if Jayden says we can’t engage with Cheyenne, that means we’re twiddling our thumbs with nothing to do.”
“Not exactly,” I said.
