Page 26 of Captive

I ignore her and search for the jeans that I dropped purposely on the floor next to my bed for themorning.

"I hung your jeans in the closet," she says, leaning out of thebathroom.

I turn and look at her. "Why?"

She huffs. It's a sound I found adorable just six months ago, but lately I find it irritating. Mostly because I know a lecture willfollow.

"Just because you're a detective doesn't mean you have to show up to the station looking like a slob in wrinkledjeans."

"Yes, it fucking does." Her blue eyes flinch at my words, but that doesn't stop me. "That's exactly what it means. Why the hell else does anyone want to get stuck in the hell of being a detective if not to lose the stupid crisp uniform and be able to dress like a slob? It's one of the perks. Hell, it's the onlyperk."

Tiffany slams the door shut. Months ago, it was a move that would make me head straight to the bathroom door with an apology and kiss, but then months ago, I wouldn't have spoken so plainly toher.

I finish dressing, comb my wet hair with my fingers, adding weight to Tiffany's grooming comment, and head out the door. The fifteen minute drive to the precinct gives me enough time to work myself into a fucking lather about Ten. It's clear to me that Clark knows exactly where she is and I'm done with the dance. I can't function or think straight not knowing where she is or if she's all right. I've already convinced myself that my short temper with Tiffany this morning has more to do with Ten missing than with Tiffany not climbing into the shower withme.

I skipped coffee at home so I head straight to the break room to pour myself a cup. Silvana has somehow picked up a sixth sense about me and shows up at the break room before I finish filling mycup.

"Hey, Maddox, the captain just handed me a file folder on some guy whose neighbors think he has a meth lab in his backhouse."

I drink the coffee and stare at him over the top edge of the cup. My reaction seems to dampen his enthusiasm for the assignment. He waves the folder around weakly. "Just thought I'd give you the heads-up."

I need to stop giving the guy a hard time, but it's about the only fun thing to do without Tenaround.

"Should I get my badge and gun?" Silvanaasks.

"First I need to talk toClark."

"He's in a terrible mood today. I saw him tear Richards and Garcia a couple of new assholes this morning after they fucked up on a robberysting."

I drain the coffee cup, smack it down on the counter and head toward thedoor.

"If you ask me, I think it's a good idea to avoid the captain this morning," he recites quickly before I walkout.

"Didn't askyou."

Clark's office door is slightly ajar, my invitation to walk in. I skip the required protocol of knockingfirst.

"Christ, Maddox, since you refuse to knock, I might just require you to wear a bell around your neck like a fuckingcat."

I yank back the chair in front of his desk and sit down. "I need you to tell me where Ten is so I don't lose my fuckingmind."

"Can't do that, Maddox." Clark grabs a pen to write something down, but I'm thinking it's a ploy. When the subject of Ten comes up, he finds places to look so he doesn't have to look me in theface.

"Look, Cap'n," I resort to my negotiator's voice, hoping I can pry at least a few splinters of information. I resort to a few lies as well. "Ten and I were working on multiple cases. I need to talk to her about them. You just wiped out the team without even warning me. How am I supposed to effectively do my job if you keep me from mypartner?"

"You seem to forget that you asked me to give you a new partner. Which Idid."

"Fuck that request. I was temporarily out of my mind. I need . . . I want Ten back in the car withme."

Clark makes a show of dropping his pen on the desk. He leans back and crosses his fingers over his large belly. His double chin is getting large too, especially when he drops his face to give me his fatherly look. "Back when I was a fresh faced, nervous, skinny—" He looks down at his belly. "Yesskinnynew kid on the force, they partnered me with OfficerBrooks."

I sit back hard on the chair. "Am I seriously going to have to sit here and listen to you reminisce about your rookiedays?"

"Officer Brooks," he continues unabated by my question, "had pearly blonde hair that she kept twisted into a perfect knot at the back of her head. She had a long, creamy white neck and she filled out her uniform like a goddamn playboy bunny. When we were out on patrol, all I could think about was Officer Brooks sitting just a foot away with her long neck and her curves. But it wasn't just the way she looked, she was funny, smart, confident. I had no fucking choice but to fall in love with the woman. It was a given. Thinking back on it, I'm not entirely sure how the captain at the time didn't see it coming. I mean she wassomething."

"I hate to snap you out of your erotic daydream, Clark, but yourpoint?"

"I'm not thick-headed, Maddox. I know why you wanted a newpartner."

---