AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Of course, if he had been, I wouldn’t be all the way the fuck on the south side of the river, trying to decide if I should turn off into Forest Hill or keep going on Buttermilk Trail along the river in the growing gloom.
Even I knew that running trails in the dark was fucking stupid.
So I turned off the trail and headed onto the broader path of the park, intending to take streets and sidewalks back home when I realized I wasn’t far from Doc and Ward’s house.
And what Doc had said to me that one time came back.If you ever want to leave this shit-show and become a PI, we’ll take you in a heartbeat.
I wondered if he’d really meant it.
I headed through the park and into the neighborhood beyond before I could change my mind.
When I rang the doorbell, Doc answered, his expression surprised.
I mean, I’d be fucking surprised, too, if a drenched and sweaty elf showed up on my doorstep unannounced at like seven at night.
“Hart? Everything okay?”
“Did you mean it?” I asked him.
“Mean what?” he asked me, his brow furrowing.
“You told me once if I ever wanted to leave the RPD, you’d hire me.”
Doc stepped away from the door. “Come inside, Hart.”
“That’s a no, I take it.” I was surprised at how much like a punch to the stomach that felt.
“It isn’t a no,” Doc replied mildly. “But I am a bit concerned about your mental and physical well-being at the moment.”
“I’m fine.”
“Your muscles are shaking. When did you last eat?”
“The fuck does that have to do with anything?” I asked irritably, following him inside anyway. The house smelled like Italian food. Garlic. Tomatoes.
“Answer the question,” the big orc replied calmly.
“I—” I couldn’t actually remember if I’d eaten today. Probably? I had no idea. It had been a fuck of a day.
“Come on,” Doc said mildly.
“Come where?” I asked, trailing behind him.
“Hi, Detective Hart!” Doc’s eleven-year-old nephew chirped happily as I passed the kitchen. He was holding a stack of plates. “Are you here for dinner?”
I opened my mouth to say of course not, but Doc spoke first. “He is,” he answered. “Could you set him a place at the table, please, Jackson?”
“Yeah, sure!”
“I’m not—”
Doc pushed open the door to a bathroom. “You are. Shower, and I’ll drop off some clothes you can wear.”
I looked down at myself. I was pretty much coated in mud. Trail running in the rain will do that.
“I don’t—”
“Shower. Then dinner.”
