Page 109 of A Dirty Business
He was gone in the morning.
I went to work the next day, expecting the shit to hit the fan. It didn’t.
Leo gave me an intense, appraising look in our morning meeting but didn’t say anything.
Val and I had a day of home visits planned. We needed to finish the ones we hadn’t gotten to yesterday, and even she was quiet, or more than normal. We talked. She did not ask what happened, but I was back at work, and throughout the day, the first few visits followed suit like yesterday.
Our last one was when we were told to shove our sticks up our asses if there was enough room beside our own dicks.
Val started laughing. So did I. I never thought I’d be as relieved to be told to go fuck myself as I was right then.
We were coming back inside our office building when Travis walked by me.
If anything was going to be said, it’d be by him. He still hated me.
Val paused. So did I.
Travis kept going but shot both of us a weird look. “Montell, I never have any hopes for you, but Hartman, what’s with the constipated look? Officer Reyo plugging you up too much at night? Can’t take a shit now?”
She wheeled around. “I can’t believe you just said that to me.”
He stopped, frowning. “What?”
I hit her arm, pushing her forward. “Ignore him.”
“Fuck you, Travis.” She twisted around me. “Keep pissing off your coworkers. A great philosophy in our line of work. I’m sure that’ll work out for you.”
“Not that I care much about you, since you’re close to Officer Montell here.”
“What is your problem with me, Travis?”
His eyes slid beyond me but came back, and he smirked. “Nothing. I just don’t like dirty law enforcement.”
I stiffened but then looked behind me. Leo was there, frowning at us. I wanted to do a few things to Travis that would make me dirty, but I couldn’t. Val was fuming, glaring at Travis. She looked ready to go find him, too, so I moved and guided her into the hallway.
I glanced back, saw he was regarding us with narrowed eyes. “You’re a piece of shit, Travis. I hope you keep insulting everyone. You really will fuck yourself at the end of the day then. Have fun while you’re doing it.”
I kept moving Val ahead of me. If I didn’t, I was going to go myself and do something I’d regret.
“What?” Val slapped my hand away.
“He doesn’t know.”
“What are you talking about? He just said—”
“He was confused when you reacted. He wasn’t expecting that. He was joking or trying to throw out something and see if it would stick.”
She realized what I was saying and tipped her head back, a low growl rumbling out from her throat. “Jesus. And look at me, I basically confirmed if he had suspicions.” Her face tightened. “He’s usually riding your ass—now it’s my turn?”
I pressed my lips together tight. “Trust me, if you got it today, that means he’s saving something up for me.”
“I didn’t ask today, since, you know, you showed up, but are you okay?”
I moved my head up and down, once. “I’m fine. I’m hoping it’ll blow over.”
I was really, really hoping for that to happen, but my gut knew. It wouldn’t.
He showed up that night, a soft knock like the last time.
