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“I don’t do nothing if I can’t be the best.” He peered at Vigiano's cards, then pointed at them and silently shook his head like it was the worst hand he’d ever seen.
“You’re the best at eating.” Brennan whacked him in the stomach.
“Just because none of you can cook, don’t take it out on me.” He smacked Brennan lightly in the back of the head.
“How does Hollingsworth put up with your ass all the time?” I looked through my own cards. My hand was crap too.
Burke turned around and shook his tail. “Nice, ain’t it?”
Poker chips, peanuts, napkins, and anything readily available flew in his direction. He laughed and wiggled his ass again for effect.
Crazy SOB. He cracked me up.
“Actually, I came to see you, Cal.”
“Whooooo!” All the guys called.
I stood and tossed my cards on the table. “Grow up, boys.”
But I didn’t want them to. This was our brotherhood. Acting like teenage idiots was one reason I loved them.
I pointed toward the door with my head, which got another round of cat calls.
Burke grinned and flicked them off as he followed me.
“What brings you over to this part of the world?” I led him though the garage, past the fire trucks, and out the back door.
“Just thought I’d see if I’d fall off the edge of the earth if I wandered over here.” He smirked and sat in one of the chairs by the back entrance.
“Experiment is a success.” I turned a chair around and sat backward. “Go figure.”
“Go figure.” He looked down, smirk gone. “How’s Joe?”
The department was like a small town. My family was well-known, not only because of Pop and my grandfathers, but when there were six of us, it was hard not to be noticed. Joe was a good captain. Respected.
I’d tried to call a few times and gotten no answer. Ma said he’d come by for dinner last night but wouldn’t stay. And wouldn’t tell her where he was going.
“About as good as anyone in his position.” The entire situation was shit. But Joe wouldn’t want people, especially anyone in the department, to think he couldn’t handle himself.
“Stanis got what was coming to him,” Burke said quietly.
A fight like that could divide, especially in our line of work. It wasn’t like a normal job. We depended on each other because it was life or death. We were brothers. And when two were fighting, sides were drawn.
But knocking up your best friend’s wife? Nobody would side with that.
“Maybe. Didn’t fix anything though.”
He nodded. “Don’t guess much would.” He leaned forward, putting his forearms on his knees. “Can’t believe they’d do that to Joe. He’s one of the good ones.”
He was. I’d learned a long time ago that life wasn’t fair though.
“He’ll be all right.” Maybe if I said it enough times, it would be true.
Burke knotted his fingers together, his gaze wary when he looked at me. “You know I’ve got a friend in the investigation unit.”
“The lab lady. Sorry, I forget her name.”
There was never quiet in this city. Not even after midnight. But somehow, when there was a little less noise, it seemed hushed. Almost peaceful.
