Page 38 of Beyond the Badge: Crew

“Thanks for clarifying. I thought he was panhandling,” he said dryly.

“You know, that’s a good idea. I should teach him to do that. I can hang a sign around his neck and have him guilt people into giving him a buck. He really needs to start chipping in toward his bills.”

“I bet his dog food alone costs a fortune,” Decker said from where he sat in front of one of the desks on the other side of the room.

Cabrera shrugged. “He’s worth it.”

Crew headed over to the coffeemaker, thanked the coffee gods for the full, fresh pot, grabbed his mug and filled it to the brim. After taking a long sip, he turned and almost tripped over the big galoot. “Can you keep him contained?”

“Murphy!” she called out and pointed to his fleece bed.

The big, fuzzy gray dog glanced around unbothered, then lumbered his way back over to her, before turning three times in place and settling with a loud groan.

Life must be really fucking tough for that dog.

Crew headed back over to her. “Are you still reading the daily reports?”

When she turned her deep brown eyes up to him, they held a gleam he wasn’t sure he liked. “Since I want to be a team player and until the boss gives me another assignment, I’m doing what the boss told me to do.”

“Stop calling me the boss,” he growled and downed another mouthful of much-needed caffeine.

She leaned back in her chair, locking eyes with him. “Isn’t that what you are?”

“Calling me Crew is fine.”

“Crewella, J. Crew, Crewser, Motley Crew, any of those work, too,” came from Finn, scrolling through some recorded footage. “Or come up with your own.”

“I’m sensing a theme around here. Is it a competition to come up with the craziest nickname?”

“You could say that,” Decker answered.

“I guess we need to come up with one or two for you,” Finn told her. “Cami-sole is a good start.”

“It’s not a task force thing,” Crew clarified, glaring at Finn, “it’s a Blue Avengers thing.”

“Aaaah. So, once I become a Blue Avenger, I’ll qualify for the fun nicknames.”

“Are you thinking about getting a bike?” Mullins asked.

“I’m thinking about it. Joining a law enforcement MC sounds like fun.”

“It’s not fun,” Crew said quickly, hoping to discourage her from joining the BAMC.

She lifted an eyebrow. “Then, why would you belong to one?”

“It’s a brotherhood,” he explained.

“We have loads of fun,” Decker countered. “How about Camshaft? Cam-omile.”

“Or just Camo,” Finn suggested.

Mullins decided to join in. “Cameo. BodyCam. Camelback. Camel toe!” burst from him on a laugh. “I could do this all day.”

“But you won’t,” Crew told him, shooting him a scowl. “We have work to do.”

“Yes,boss,” Mullins teased.

Crew closed his eyes and shook his head. A few snorts made him open his eyes. Heknewshe would disrupt his team.

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