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I know sooner rather than later I’m going to make him mine with both a real collar around his neck and a gold band around his finger.
Too soon, we’re being forced apart by my incessantly ringing phone. I reluctantly tear myself away as he tries to grab for me, so I end up just taking him with me as I lumber over to the annoying device and smash it against my face. I don’t even look to see who it is or give them a chance to speak.
“I’m coming.”
Then, I hang up and disprove my words by taking him one last time against the wall.
???
By the time I finally make my way to the barn’s crime scene, I have to pick my way through both the boys in blue and federal agents before I find Estrella and the last face I expected to see.
“Detective Green?”
His cherubic face brightens as he takes me in. “As I live and breathe. I heard you might be here.”
I grin. “Here as in Piper Falls, or here at this crime scene?”
He chuckles. “Both.” He looks at my Captain. “Sorry you have to deal with this ball buster.”
She laughs. “Tell me about it.”
The three of us shoot the shit until we’re joined by the police chief. “Well, I hate to say you were right, Green, but from what little evidence we could find, all fingers point to the Mexican cartel. Unfortunately, we couldn’t gather enough evidence from the gas cans to figure out who set the fire.”
Green shrugs. “It could be a number of people from a warring gang, some kind of idiotic do-gooder, or even the cartel themselves trying to erase evidence. The feds aren’t willing to give up anything, so that leaves us back at square one.”
“Meaning?” I ask.
I remember Green well from back in Kansas City. After he lost his longtime partner to a supervising desk job, he’s gone off the rails. Which is nuts, considering he used to be the one keeping Detective Morrison on the straight and narrow.
I imagine it didn’t help that he was completely in love with her and she went off and married a priest. It’s especially strange because the girl was gay, and so was the priest. But love is love. They must’ve found something special within each other.
Unfortunately, that left ‘ole Jack Green with a broken heart and no way to relieve the ache. He buried himself in his work. He couldn’t find a partner willing to take Page’s place, let alone deal with his crazy ass in the aftermath. So, he became a lone wolf, and it seems not even Page could keep him out of trouble. So, he followed trouble all the way down here.
How far was detective Green willing to go? It’s a question I’m not sure I want answered.
“Meaning I’m back to following whatever breadcrumbs I can find.”
I glance at the Chief who’s eying Green in a way that lets everyone around us know that he’s tired of his shit. “If you expect to keep your job, you’ll follow protocol and do what you’re told.”
Green smirks, but it’s riddled with irritable fury. “As you say, Chief.”
The chief appears to believe that as much as he’d believe the sun refusing to rise again come morning.
But he lets it go. “Your next course of action is to follow up with any leads that’ll help you figure out how none of us knew that the damn cartel was right under our nose.” He looks at me and Estrella. “As for you two, I’d say your job here is done. It’s been well and proved that this was a blatant case of arson. Both of your expertise in the manner has been vital to this case, and we thank you. Are there any other concerns?”
I look at the Captain, and she shakes her head. “Nothing that I can think of, but we’ll let you know if anything comes up.”
The chief nods succinctly before turning on his heel and walking away.
“Don’t worry about him,” Green adds. “He’s upset the feds showed up and took over the biggest crime this town has seen in a long while. He doesn’t understand that once the cartel gets involved, it becomes a federal case. He just thinks they’re undermining him.”
Essie chuckles. “I’m sure it doesn’t help that every agent that opens their mouth calls everyone here a good ‘ole boy.”
I nod. “The biggest bunch of assholes think they’re superior to everyone.”
“Tell me about it,” Green adds. “Well, I suppose I’ll see you two around.”
Once he’s gone, Estrella turns on me, her face covered in fury. “You know you weren’t the only one that was pulled from your lover’s bed.”
