Page 56 of Heart Me Up
After Foster and I had left him sitting on the back of the ambulance with a paramedic, Carlos intercepted me. “Here’s some water.” He handed me a bottle, which I took gratefully. “And if you’re ready, I need to get your statement.”
But that had to wait because Greg came running up. “Are you all right? What the hell happened?”
I was tired and I only wanted to tell this story once. “Can Foster and Greg listen while I give my statement?” I asked Carlos. “It’s not like I won’t tell them anyway.”
Carlos scanned the chaos happening around us. Drew was talking to Artie, and Amy was hugging Silvia. What seemed like dozens of police officers, crime scene technicians, and other personnel I couldn’t identify crowded my front lawn. My neighbors were all standing around staring.
Carlos shrugged. “Sure, but maybe don’t tell the captain.”
Foster threaded his fingers through mine, and I relaxed. His comforting vibe soothed my ragged nerves.
I told my story. Foster was silent, but his grip on my hand became tighter and tighter as I recounted how Malcolm and I took down Ballcap Guy. Greg managed to restrain himself to only a few outbursts of “Fuck!” every so often, but he quieted when Carlos glared at him. Carlos took notes, and when I was done he asked me to come by the station the next day to verify and sign my statement. He walked away to get Malcolm’s statement next.
The day was catching up with me. I leaned against Foster and just wanted to shut my eyes and make it all go away.
“Tell me what I can do,” Greg said.
I looked around at the sea of people. “I have no idea. I guess I probably won’t be in to work tomorrow.”
Greg laughed. “Yeah, I figured.”
I smiled at him, grateful for his friendship. “I’ll make it up to you later.”
He came over and hugged me. “I know. Call your therapist in the morning.” With a nod at Foster, he took off.
I was thinking about going over to say something to Silvia and Corrie when Foster squeezed my hand.
“Craig, sorry, they need you again.”
Time to get my hands tested for gunpowder residue. I was hoping for a breather after that, but Foster’s boss came over right as the tech was leaving.
“Craig, this is Captain Driscoll.” I’d seen him come into the house with Foster earlier, but we hadn’t been introduced. He was fucking tall and must have played football at some point in his life. I shook his hand, trying to make a good impression for Foster’s sake.
“Nice to meet you, Craig,” he said solemnly. “Though I’m sorry it’s under these circumstances.” I made some sort of noncommittal noise. Driscoll turned to Foster. “I didn’t realize you were in a serious relationship, Walkoviac, but congratulations.” He nodded at Foster’s collar.
“Oh, um, thank you, sir.”
Foster’s face turned such a ruddy shade I considered finding a paramedic. I smiled, trying not to laugh. I was dying to know how and when he’d gotten the collar, and also what made him wear it around all his colleagues. But at the same time, the message the collar sent out loud and clear,CRAIG’S,made my heart feel full.
“And, Craig, I was impressed with your, uh, handiwork in securing the suspect.”
“Thank you, sir.” I managed not to laugh, but I couldn’t stop a grin. Foster’s kinky reputation had to be legend around the station already. “Do you know who he was?”
“We’re still looking into that.” He made a little more small talk, then left.
Foster wrapped me in his arms, Mariposa’s carrier thudding into the back of my thighs. “Craig, are you ready to go home? I figured you and Malcolm would stay at my place tonight.”
I leaned into him and put my head on his shoulder. I’d needed the hug. “Yeah. That sounds good, but I need to talk to Silvia and Corrie and Drew first.”
As if they’d heard me, Silvia and Corrie came over, both of them moving slowly. Silvia, who’d exuded so much energy when she’d arrived at my house this afternoon, appeared as tired and worn as I felt. Corrie looked little better. She had her arm around her grandmother, so I hugged them at the same time.
“I amsosorry,” I told them. “I feel horrible that you got caught up in all this.”
Silvia straightened up to her full height. “Don’t be foolish, Craig. Obviously you didn’t know he was there.”
“Well, I still reserve the right to feel bad about it,” I told her. I turned to Corrie. “Thank you,” I said fervently. “I don’t know what made you grab the leash, but it was exactly what I needed.”
Corrie grimaced. “I broke the glass on purpose, but none of the pieces were big enough to do much damage. When I got the broom, I saw the leash and I figured it would be better than nothing.”
