Page 7 of Laying it Bare on the Run

“Hey, you’re getting out of here on time tonight? No run ins with juvenile delinquents?” His lips quirked into a grin. “You probably saw a few and turned in the other direction and sped off. I did get a call an hour ago about a cop car squealing tire in one of your areas.”

“Ha ha. Not that the thought hadn’t crossed my mind a time or two but I didn’t see any trouble tonight. They must be taking the night off. So good luck tomorrow night. I don’t have to deal with that shit again until Sunday at seven. Have a good one.”

“You too. Enjoy your rest.” Greg ran his hand over his bald head and fixed me with his blue eyes. “Now with Kurt starting and our part time guys hired on as full time, you guys shouldn’t have so much overtime. I mean it will still happen, it comes with the job, but it shouldn’t be as excessive and constant as it has been these last few weeks. We knew Wade was retiring but when his knee blew out on him and he had to go sooner, we couldn’t get Kurt here any earlier. He was tying up loose ends at his other station.”

I was a little curious about what kind of loose ends considering I had thought he was just a regular officer like the rest of us but I was too busy worrying about the stowaway in my back seat to give it much thought at the moment.

“Kurt just left a little bit ago. I think he’s going to be a real asset around here.”

I gave Greg a quick nod and good bye and then rushed out to my car. A strange, uneasy, niggling feeling twisted up my stomach. Outside, I caught sight of someone walking briskly toward my vehicle. I sped up my pace to cut him off before he got there; suddenly very thankful Harper had suggested lying in the back seat rather than sitting up front.

“Hey, what are you doing at my car?” I yelled to the figure, even though I had a good idea who it was, so I could warn Harper and give her a heads up to keep her head down.

Kurt stiffened – not startled – ever so slightly before turning to greet me.

If I hadn’t been trained, I might have missed his reaction.

“I was hoping to catch you, Cannon.” He glanced over his shoulder briefly before returning his gaze to mine. “I’ll be working some of your area the next few days and wanted to know how you handle the teenagers. Are you assertive and aggressive even though they are youngsters and does that work or make the interactions even worse?”

Okay, maybe he didn’t deal a lot with young hoodlums and I should cut him some slack. But I just couldn’t completely shake the feeling that his intentions weren’t pure. “I’m always tough but I try not to come across as tyrannical. And I always explain to them about making good choices and that eventually they are going to make a bad decision that they aren’t going to be able to bounce back from and end up ruining their life. Usually they roll their eyes at me and make ridiculous noises but at least it makes me feel better making them aware of that. And once in a while you do get the one punk who you don’t see out causing trouble anymore. So don’t take it easy on them just because they aren’t adults.”

“Thanks, I won’t keep you. I just wanted to catch you before you left.” He gave me a quick nod before strolling across the lot to what I guessed was his car. Who knew? Maybe he was in the practice of scoping out other peoples’ vehicles.

“Oh my God, where am I?” Harper’s raspy voice met me as soon as I hopped in the front seat. The sound of her rustling around in the blanket preceded her jerking up into a sitting position. Then she stared at me, wild eyed for a moment. “How did I get in here?”

“It’s okay, Harper. It’s me, Cannon. You’re in my vehicle. You’re safe. Hey, duck back down a minute.”

A car’s headlights beamed across the front of my vehicle just as she flattened herself onto the seat. “Are they gone?”

My eyes followed Kurt’s jeep as he turned left out of the lot. “Yeah, you’re good now. Hop on up front with me.” I patted the seat.

After a moment’s hesitation, she joined me. “I must have fallen asleep and then I didn’t know where I was. It was quite unnerving.” She rested her palm against her chest. “But then again, it’s what my life has become. You’d think I’d be used to it by now.” She twisted her head slightly to eye me. “Why can I not stop saying shit around you?” She huffed in annoyance.

“I guess I have that kind of face.” I shrugged. I really didn’t know the reason but was just thrilled she was finding she could share little bits. Even though I wanted a lot more, but maybe that would come eventually if I was patient. So I could wait her out taking baby steps.

“A handsome face does not equate a trustworthy one.” She mumbled. But I heard every word and couldn’t help grinning.

“Are you ready?”

She nodded her head, uncertainly, anxiety still clouding her features.

After I shifted into drive, I steered in the direction of my place.

Before realizing what I was doing, I had stretched out my hand to take hers but quickly brought it back. She hadn’t noticed and I was relieved. I had only wanted to offer comfort but my action very well could have sent her leaping and sprinting from my moving vehicle.

The drive to my place was quiet. I hadn’t even bothered to click on the radio, thinking she was probably used to the quiet and maybe found some sort of peace with it. We’d talk more after I got her settled in.

After I pulled in front of my small home, I turned off the engine and shifted in my seat to face her. “Please don’t think I’m trying to talk you out of this because I’m not, I really want you to stay with me. But I want to make sure you are sure. I can tell you’ve been through the wringer and I don’t want to add to your tension. You made the right decision coming home with me.” I gave her my most engaging smile, hopefully without coming across as creepy.

“I’m sure and I think he believes I made the right decision too.” She got lost in her thoughts for a moment.

While my own thoughts drifted back to wondering if she was in fact an escaped mental patient. But hopefully she was a churchgoer and that was the He she was referring to. I shook my crazy thoughts away. I was the one who pretty much begged her to come home with me. She really didn’t want to at first.

We stepped out of my car and I led her to the tiny porch at my entrance and unlocked the door. Then I ushered her inside before closing and locking it behind us. After stepping into the small entry way, I slipped off my boots.

She hesitated for a moment before following my example. “You might want to toss these outside. I don’t want them stinking up your house.”

“How about if my sister’s shoes fit you, we throw these away?”

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