Page 5 of Love Undecided
Hair that’s begging to get wet in my hot tub and help me create sexy new memories that don’t involve Brad, my ex.
And now I’m thinking about Brad.
Again.
Fuck.
I need a Brad distraction, just not necessarily in the form of Chance Bauer. I made that mistake before by sleeping with an investigator on a case, which ended up being nothing but trouble.
Big, embarrassing trouble.
Note to self, ignore the distraction that is Chance Bauer as well as every other doable male on the planet (read: Brad) and focus instead on the task at hand. Which means no flirting and no suggestive looks or comments. And somehow turning off my out of control libido.
“Uh, it’s not my cup. I got nothing,” I mumble to him and turn to take a seat at the table. He gives me a glance that can only be described as “curious” before his face goes blank.
“Ok, now that we’re all here,” Sherman says. “Let me tell you why.”
And when he tells us what we are dealing with I can’t decide if he’s joking or being serious. Someone, heretofore referred to as The Shower Stealer, has been breaking into people’s houses and using their shower to bathe in.
When he’s finished, he leaves the water running.
Since California is in a drought, homeowners are outraged.
He’s also posting pictures of bathrooms all over social media. And running commentary on the filthy conditions of the bathrooms, including photos of dirty clothes on the floors, whiskers or hair on the sinks, and mold or mildew in the corners.
When Sherman passes around printouts of the pictures and their captions, I laugh.
Unless this perp is being serious, they’re really funny. I look around at the other guys. Apparently, I’m the only one who thinks so.
I raise my hand to get Sherman’s attention.
“This isn’t a classroom, Kat. You don’t have to raise your hand,” he says.
“True,” I say. “But you’d be amazed at how often it works in real life outside the classroom.”
I smile.
He doesn’t smile back.
I continue, “So, are we actually taking this seriously?”
“The mayor is taking it very seriously, which is why Bauer has joined us, as a personal favor to the mayor. He has typically worked in other areas and we are lucky to have Bauer’s skill and expertise.” He clears his throat for emphasis.
“So, what kind of a role am I playing in all of this?” I ask.
“Well, you know,” he says. “First, we hoped you could see if you get a feel for anything while looking at the pictures. Either online or in print.”
“It doesn’t really work that way,” I say.
“We don’t have anything else to go on, Kat. We’ve got four families who have been affected so far.” He glances down at his notes. “The Taylor, Jones, Martin, and Shaw families. Let’s make sure we don’t get a fifth.”
He looks at each of us pointedly, pausing as he gets to me. “Kat, in addition to reviewing the pictures, you’ll be working with Bauer, visiting the houses of these four families.”
He gives tasks to the rest of the guys before turning back to me.
“I think between the two of you, you and Bauer should be able to come up with something to go on. Soon. Plus, if we don’t, the mayor is going to have my ass on a platter.”
An image of Sherman’s ass on a platter pops into my head.
