Page 69 of Rules

My phone rings again almost immediately. Finally, someone who will understand me.

"Clark?"

"Tobias!"

Despite my mood, I find myself smiling slightly. Joel and I go back over twenty years to our days at the academy. Our families were close, our wives used to be best friends. Now he's the Police Commissioner for the state, a position that suits his political savvy and outgoing personality.

"What tears you away from the Governor to call little old me?"

"I'm sorry it's been a bit."

"Good to hear from you. How's the family?"

"Good, good, nothing to complain about." There was a noted pause and I get the feeling this wasn't a random catch up call. "Listen, I heard through the grapevine that you've had some troubles. Serial break-ins with increasing violence. The FBI has a high level wanted for your area and it sounds like you've had some trouble in your personal life."

"Word travels fast," I mutter, leaning against my kitchen counter. "Did your godson let me get to my car before he called?"

"I believe he did, in fact. He's concerned about you, and now so am I. What's going on?"

"I've got it under control."

"This isn't one of your deputies you're talking to. We're cut from the same cloth, you and I. Spill it."

Something about hearing his voice whisks me to one of our many early years garage conversations where we would download our days to each other. Before I can stop myself, I'm spilling everything from the break-ins we can't solve, Michael's potential return, my team handling calls without me, and even a sanitized version of the Ruth situation.

"—and now my own son thinks I'm an idiot. Dianna won't speak to me because she thinks I hate plus size girls. My deputies are playing a game of let's not tell the boss. Law's out to do his own thing, like that's a shocker. Evelyn thought she would be safer with him here, thanks for the vote of confidence. And to top it off, she yelled at me in the grocery store so now the gossip train's at full speed and the whole town thinks I'm a judgmental asshole!"

There's a moment of silence when I finish.

"Damn. Tobias, I'd be lying if I knew what half of that meant." Clark lets out a low whistle. "Sounds like you've got more than your fair share on your plate right now."

"Yeah, well. It is what it is."

"When was the last time you talked all of this out with someone?"

I bite back the frustration. "I just did, with you."

"That's not talking it out. That's info dumping and I'm not even sure what you said could be called that." Clark sighs. "Listen as your friend, would it really be that bad to havesomeone in your life? Who cares if she's younger? Hell, at our time of life, no one keeps track of ages."

"Fuck, my son has a big ass mouth."

"Yes, yes, he does, and I'm glad. Thirteen years is nothing. Date the woman, marry her, whatever. Just have some fun. You're too uptight." Clark takes a breath and slowly blows it out into the phone. "Shit, when was the last time you had sex? Never mind, don't tell me. I can guess it's been years. Tobias, ask her out, get your penis wet. You'll feel better, sex is great cardio." His voice changes to a more serious tone. "Now, as a fellow cop and commissioner, you have a lot of stress on you. I think you should talk to someone, it can help, especially if you're not going to have the aforementioned sex."

I've closed my eyes and am shaking my head. "You're an asshole, you know that."

"Yes I do. But I'm serious."

"Fine."

"Fine, you'll ask her out and talk to someone?"

"Sure, whatever."

"Why do I get the impression you're just blowing smoke up my ass."

Walking to the front door I quietly opened it. "Maybe because I am?" I rang the doorbell. "Oh shoot, someone's at my door. Gotta go, let's talk later this week." I hung up.

With a heavy sigh, I reach for my phone again and send a message to Holly letting her know I had a meeting with Law in the morning and wouldn't be in right away.

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