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“I’m on my way to work. Did you do your English homework?”
“Uh, I gotta go.” I hear the phone clatter.
“Marcus!”
He picks up again on the other end and he’s laughing. “I did my homework. I just like making you think I didn’t.”
“You’re a mess. Did you wear the wig?”
He bursts out laughing. “You’ll have to wait and see the pictures.”
His grandmother is in the background, “Let me talk, you’ve got to finish getting ready.” There’s a lot of rustling as the receiver changes hands. “Good morning, Hunter.”
“Everything going okay?”
“We’re doing fine. How are you?”
“Tired, but okay.” I definitely don’t mention why I’m tired. “There’s a ball game today after school, isn’t there?”
“Yes, they play the Bobcats.”
Marcus starts yelling in the background, “We’re gonna crush them.”
“Alright. I look forward to hearing all about it. Have a good day, you two.”
“You too, Hunter. Stay safe out there.”
“Will do.”
Sheila always tells me to be safe. We don’t talk about Ryan’s last day at work anymore. Now we focus on Marcus’s day-to-day life. It keeps us both sane.
The reminder that I’m responsible for the health and wellbeing for an eleven-year-old child snaps me right out of my groggy, post-sex fog. I’ve got to keep my shit together... more than ever.
I spend the next eight hours getting familiar with procedure manuals and regional information. Another day or two of this and I’ll be on the road with another detective. It feels like I have a world of information to cram into a thimble.
I do manage to text Rachel while I take a break for some fresh air.
How’s the ankle?
She sends a smiling emoji. Surprisingly good. Thanks to you.
That puts a smile on my face. Glad to know I could help. What are you doing?
Maddy’s picking me up and taking me to the shop.
Take it easy on that leg.
She sends back a winking emoji.
Gotta get back to work. Going to some kind of work dinner thing. Catch you soon.
Just before I put my phone away, I see her thumbs up emoji.
As I round the corner into the office building, I fall in stride with Detective Reynolds. He’s always got on a pleasant smile. Probably great at getting people to talk. He asks, “How’s it going?”
“Good, just reviewing policies and getting the lay of the land.”
He shakes his head. “No, I meant the bachelor auction date thing?”
