Page 3 of Laying it Bare on the Run

Chapter Two

~Cannon~

Two months later

“Hey, Cannon. Have you met the new transfer from Dyersburg, Tennessee, Kurt Billings?” Joe popped his head inside my cubicle opening, goofy grin on his face, cup of coffee in his hand. “Sarge wanted me to introduce him to everyone.”

Sighing, I swiveled in my chair and away from my desk and then stood. “No. Where is he? I’m in the middle of catching up on paperwork. I hate paperwork, especially on these bullshit calls with kids drinking and partying in, and vandalizing old abandoned buildings. Not that I’m complaining we don’t have major shit going down around here but filing paperwork after boring as shit calls is a nuisance. But I guess what do you expect in Claremore, Oklahoma? Even the name isn’t very exciting.”

I barely took three steps when I caught the top of a dark haired head as he neared my designated office space. “I guess I don’t have to go far.”

Kurt stepped in behind Joe. He stood almost a foot shorter than Joe, which put him about six inches shorter than me but Joe towered over everyone at six five. However, what Kurt lacked in height he made up for in weight. He was bulky like he used to wrestle in college or something.

I extended my hand. “Nice to meet you, Kurt. I’m Cannon. So what brings you to our boring little slice of life?”

Kurt shook my hand. “Change of pace and my girlfriend left me so I really didn’t want to stick around. I don’t have family there so it was time to move on.”

Something in his grip and dark eyes set me on edge. Call it cop intuition or maybe I was just grouchy from lack of sleep and running ragged chasing down mischievous teens. But I had a hard time forcing the pleasant smile to remain on my face. Something didn’t settle right but I didn’t want to play my hand at the moment. I would either look like a jerk for not giving the new guy a chance when he really deserved one or warn him of my suspicions before I had a chance to really learn anything and gain the upper hand.

“Don’t mind, Rush here. He’s just grumpy you’re replacing his buddy Wade. Anderson is retiring and Rush doesn’t like change. And I also think Wade was Cannon’s hero.” Joe snickered, his blue eyes lighting up with amusement.

“Fuck you, Joe.” Normally his ribbing didn’t bother me at all but I was running on empty. However it did manage to help hide my unease about the new guy, so it was perfect.

“Just kidding there, Cannon.” Joe swiped his hand over his cropped blond hair.

Well shit, I didn’t mean to make him feel bad. I put up my hand. “Sorry. That’s on me. I know you were joking. It’s all good. I’m just exhausted and tired of these punk ass kids and have pulled eight days in a row and can’t wait for my three day vacation.” I shook my head. “Once I get through this shift, which should end at eleven but that’s when the little jerks come out to play. So I may get stuck here until two in the morning again.”

“I won’t try to take Wade’s place and be your hero.” Kurt gave me a good-humored smile. “I just hope I can be someone you respect and appreciate working alongside.”

Giving him a quick nod, I headed back to my seat. “I’ll have to talk to you guys later. I want to finish this up before I hit the streets and end up with a few more to type.” I sat down and returned my attention to my computer, trying to shake the unease that had crept over me concerning the new guy.

About fifteen minutes later, heavy footfalls drew my attention to my cubicle’s opening again. Our sergeant Greg Foley stood in the doorway giving me a funny look. “When the hell are you going to cut that shaggy hair of yours?”

“No way, it gives the girls something to hold onto while I’m eating their pussy.” Smirking, I ran my hand over the brown mass. “And hey, it’s pretty tame today.”

“Grow up, Cannon. You look like the punks you’ve been dealing with lately.”

“Oooh, low blow there, Sarge. But still no way. And besides, you’re just jealous because you’ve been bald since you’ve been like five.”

“Thank fuck I don’t have to deal with you for the next three days. What are you still doing in here?”

“As soon as I’m finished with these reports, I’m heading out on patrol.”

“Good, get the fuck out of here.” And with those words, he headed down the hallway.

I chuckled to myself. If Greg didn’t give you shit, he didn’t like you.

Around nine o’clock, I headed out to my cruiser to make some final patrols of the area and hoped I didn’t have to deal with any more ill-behaved teenagers before I could clock out and head home for three days of sleep, drinking, watching television, and more sleep. I had pulled way too much overtime over the last week and a half and was in desperate need of a recharge. I wasn’t old – I had just turned thirty two – and maybe I wasn’t exactly tired in the physical sense but more in the mental sense. Tired of witnessing the downfall of teens today. Drug abuse and dropping out of school were only two of the tragedies that plagued our youth. I hated seeing our young who should have so much potential throw it all away like that.

Driving into the busier part of our city, I cruised up and down some of the main and side streets searching for delinquents up to no good. After a little over an hour, I sighed in relief when I hadn’t discovered any trouble makers. Then I circled back and parked in front of Benson’s Brews, a little bar that my buddies and I frequented after our shifts. After hopping out of my patrol car, I strolled into the bar and scanned the inside. Sure enough, Joe, Mike, and Ben sat at one of the tables at the front window slinging back some beers.

I plopped down in the empty chair. “Let me know if you guys will be here tomorrow night. I could definitely use a drink or several.”

“Why don’t you join us when your shift is done tonight?” Joe took a pull of his beer.

“I don’t want to make plans tonight. I don’t think I’ve clocked out on time all week so I don’t want you guys hanging around if I’m not going to be able to show.”

A cute red headed waitress strode up to our table and eyed my friends. “Do you guys need a refill yet? And can I get you something to drink.” She shot me a saucy grin. “You guys are so hot but when you’re in uniform, you set my panties on fire.”

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