Dark of Night

by T. F. Walsh

  Byron looked up from his book. “Why?”

  “I know where everything is there.”

  He shrugged. “Just move in here. There’s plenty of room, no noisy neighbors, and you can cut down on your gigolo expenses.”

  Lu dropped her hairbrush as she glanced at him in surprise. He looked like he meant it. Holy shit. “I don’t know.” She kept her voice casual. “I hear that as soon as you move in, the sex goes downhill from there.”

  “No, that’s marriage. I have to keep you interested at least until I get the ring on your finger.”

  She’d spent almost every night there since her first visit, and he’d already given her a key. Lu was worried about taking the final step. It was so fast. If she did move in then Kaitlynn would lose her phone number. Still, that wasn’t a good enough reason. The sex, however …

  • • •

  There wasn’t much to do on night shift so Lu decided to work out for a bit in the fire hall gym. Aside from the energetic sex, she’d been bad about exercising since hooking up with Byron. She smiled as she climbed onto the elliptical. It actually felt good pushing her muscles again. And the sweat. Something about dripping in sweat made her feel especially virtuous in her endeavors. Lu felt a draft behind her and checked in the mirror. The door had opened; Reynolds stopped just inside the doorway.

  “Can I talk to you for a minute, Dawson?”

  “Sure.” Lu hit the pause button.

  “No, feel free to keep going. I could use a little exercise myself.” Reynolds walked in, stepped onto the treadmill beside her, and punched a few buttons.

  “Okay.” She eyed him warily as she pushed the start button and started exercising again.

  “I want to apologize. I would say I was drunk, but I know that’s not an excuse.” He paused.

  “That’s — ”

  “No. Please let me finish.” Reynolds took an audible breath. “I don’t know how much Morgan told you, but we go back a ways. We fought when we worked together and over the years it’s only gotten worse. I don’t like the man. He’s unethical and uses people to further his career. When I saw you with him, I overreacted. I didn’t want him to use you to score points against me again.”

  “Look, I — ”

  “I know. Like you expressed so eloquently, your personal life is none of my business. I get it. I promise never to bring this up again. I just wanted to apologize and let you know where I was coming from. Are we okay here?”

  Lu looked at Reynolds’s face and was surprised at the concern she saw there. “Yeah, we’re okay.” She teased, “You don’t have to stay and sweat if you don’t want to.”

  “Thanks.” He grinned. “I hate gyms. Squash and skiing are more my style,” he admitted as he switched off the treadmill. He turned at the doorway to add, “You’re a great fire fighter, Dawson. I don’t want to lose you. I need you on my team.”

  Lu choked back her thanks when she saw that he’d already left the room. Phew. From worrying about getting fired to a compliment from the boss — this was good. But it was odd how the two men could dislike each other that much. Byron at least seemed to have a grudging admiration for Reynolds. She tried to remember Ace’s take on the fight. Something about them fighting over a woman, both getting suspended, and Byron had got the girl. So where was she now? Had she just been a pawn, too?

  Lu lost her rhythm on the elliptical and stumbled. No. I’m not a pawn. Byron wouldn’t go as far as to ask me to move in with him just to piss Reynolds off. And he’d have to be an incredible actor besides. Lu finished her thirty minutes on the elliptical and moved to the stationary bike for her cool-down.

  It felt like it was going to be another slow night. She could almost sense a calmness in the air. Odd how the calls seemed so cyclical. Some weeks they were constantly rushing out and others, like this week, they hardly budged from the hall. She wondered if there were any studies to see if certain moon or planetary phases generated more fires. It’d probably be too difficult to separate those aspects from other trends. Like maybe winning or losing teams or stock markets had a bigger effect on the number of fires.

  Her phone buzzed and Lu checked the display. A moment of indecision then she answered it.

  “Hi, Susan.”

  “Hey Lu.” Susan’s high-pitched voice verged on a giggle. “How’s it going?”

  “Great. How about you?”

  “Really good.” There was a pause. “I met a guy.”

  “Fabulous!” Thank God Susan hadn’t phoned to discuss Kaitlynn. “Where’d you meet him?”

  “At the grocery store.”

  “Really? Did he crash into your cart, or did you crash into his?”

  Susan laughed. “No. It wasn’t like that. The local market has started having singles’ nights. I went last Tuesday and that’s when I met him. He’s an architect.”

  “That sounds good. Does he have a job?” Lu changed the bicycle program from ‘cardio’ to ‘hills’.

  “Well, duh.” Susan let out a groan. “He has an office in Eugene. That’s where he lives.”

  “So what was he doing in the grocery store in Springfield?”

  “He was just passing through and stopped in to buy some Perrier. He didn’t even know it was singles’ night!”

  “But — ” Lu tried to think why anyone would “pass through” Springfield.

  “And you won’t believe this.” Her voice went down to a whisper. “We made out in his Maserati.”

  “Isn’t that a teeny sports car?” Lu couldn’t think of anything else to say.

  “Yeah, but an expensive one.” Susan giggled.

  “Ah.” Lu changed the subject. “So, how’s the job search going?”

  “My God, that’s what else! Greg — my new boyfriend — says he’ll get me a job as a receptionist in his office. But not until his current girl goes on maternity leave.”

  “That sounds good. Does he own the company?”

  “Well, no. But he does all the hiring and stuff. Anyway, I just wanted to tell you, ’cause now I won’t be able to come up to Seattle for a few weeks.”

  Lu massaged the crease between her eyebrows. “I thought you’d already told Kaitlynn you were coming.”

  “Yeah, well … Greg wants me to stay close. He’s so romantic. He hates it when I’m not available.”

  “But you’ve only known him for — ?”

  “One week. I know.” She giggled again. The sound was getting on Lu’s nerves. “It’s incredible. Sometimes you just know when someone’s right for you. And he feels the same way!”

  “Um. That’s wonderful. Look, I have to go.” Lu didn’t think she could listen to more about this Greg-guy without making some sarcastic remark. Maybe her friend had found love at first sight, but somehow Lu doubted it. And Susan wouldn’t want to hear Lu’s opinion on the matter, even if she was right. Or especially if she was right.

  “Sure, Lu. Maybe you can bring your cop guy up here and we could all go out. I’d like you to meet Greg. I know you’ll love him. Oh, did I tell you he has a pilot’s license, too? He wants to fly me to Paris for the weekend sometime soon.”

  “Wow.” Lu couldn’t stop herself. “What’s his last name? I mean … maybe, um, Byron can suggest his firm for some building contracts in Seattle.”

  “Kelso.” Susan sighed. “Even his name’s perfect. Kelso was my favorite character on That Seventies Show.”

  “Amazing. Well, congrats, and I’ll talk to ya soon.” Lu hung up the phone. Susan couldn’t be that stupid, could she? Then again, she’d gotten married right out of high school and, other than Ross, had no experience in the dating world. And she had a Cinderella complex coupled with a gullible streak wide enough to fill the Grand Canyon. Lu jumped off the bike. She’d take a quick shower and then head to the computer to look up this perfect Mr. Greg Kels
o.

  • • •

  “So what would you do,” Lu asked Byron as she watched him light the barbeque, “if your friend had fallen head over heels with a con artist?”

  “That’s a tough one.” He turned to look at her. “And your friend has no clue that he’s a player?”

  “Doesn’t seem to.”

  “We see that a lot as cops. Plus,” he admitted, “I’m naturally suspicious about people, but how’d you find out?”

  “The guy sounded too good to be true.”

  “Unlike me?” Byron raised his eyebrows.

  “One word. Maserati.”

  “Ouch.” He smiled. “There are legitimately rich guys out there, you know?”

  “Yeah, but this guy sounded sleazy, so I looked him up. There was a ton of stuff on him.”

  “You mean your friend didn’t even Google her new guy? I thought that was standard op these days.” Byron lined up the steaks and tin-foiled vegetables on the rack beside the barbeque.

  “I think Susan found her Prince Charming and didn’t want to look any deeper.”

  “What’d you find?” He stopped arranging the plates to face her.

  “Married, of course.” She grimaced. “His degree in architecture is from one of those offshore universities pretending to be connected to Harvard. The money seems to be his wife’s inheritance. What the hell does he want from Susan? She hasn’t got any money.”

  “Just a wild guess — sex?”

  “Yeah, but … ?”

  “Or he needs someone to make him feel important.”

  “So do I tell her?”

  “Hell, no.”

  “She’ll be crushed when she finds out.”

  “Exactly. That’s when she’ll need to cry on your shoulder. And you’ll tell her that he fooled you, too, so she won’t feel so stupid.”

  “But she should get out now before she gets in deeper.”

  “This is the friend you told me about before, right? Whose husband dumped her?”

  “Yup.”

  “Maybe she knows, but just wants some fantasy herself? So if he’s not stealing from her …”

  “Yeah, but what about his poor wife?”

  “What about her?”

  “Shouldn’t I tell her?”

  “Maybe she already knows, too, and doesn’t want to admit it.”

  “He shouldn’t be using them both this way.” Lu’s shoulder muscles tensed up. She hadn’t expected Byron’s response. “Look, it’s just wrong!”

  There was a hiss and flame shot out of the barbeque. Byron jumped and then quickly closed the lid and turned off the gas.

  “What the — ?” He lifted the lid again and peered inside. “It’s never done that before.” He turned it on, studied it suspiciously, and then turned it off again. “Sorry. I think we’ll do these inside in the oven.” Byron looked at her and explained, “I know the guy’s a scum sucker. Don’t get mad at me. I wouldn’t cheat on you. You asked me and I answered. Let her enjoy herself until it’s over.”

  “I’m not mad at you. I’m confused as to — ” Her jaws ached from her attempt to keep from lashing out at him. She started over again. “I just can’t believe you think I should ignore this creep who’s — ” Lu’s mouth dropped open as the grill flared again. Oh shit. She ran her tongue along her teeth. It was more subtle, but definitely that sooty taste. She closed her eyes and counted backwards, ignoring what sounded like Byron dismantling the propane tank. There was a moment of silence, then Byron’s fingers lightly squeezed her shoulders.

  “Lu? Are you all right?”

  Lu opened her eyes to see him peering at her with concern. “I’m fine. I just …” She shook her head. Damn. Could she no longer have a disagreement without burning down the house?

  “Time out.” Byron tilted her face up to look at him. “What’s this really about?”

  “What do you mean? It’s about how, even as a cop, you can say I should ignore what this bastard’s doing. ” Lu took a slow breath. “It makes me wonder if I even know you.”

  Lu tried to shrug off his arm. She didn’t want him to comfort her. She needed answers. She just didn’t know what answers.

  “If I confessed to having a wife and a hidden Maserati, would you feel better?” His bewildered smile made it difficult not to smile back.

  “No … Well, maybe.” She still felt grumpy. “I’m just railing at Susan for being so gullible, and here I am practically living with you after only knowing you a few weeks.”

  “But you do know where I work, where I live, what I do. It’s not the same thing at all.”

  Lu backed up so she could see his expression clearly. “Why does Reynolds say you’re unethical?”

  “Did he say that?” Byron’s eyes widened in surprise. “I know he hates me, but — ” He shook his head. “I guess I should’ve told you. It was years ago and I’m not proud of my behavior. We were both young hotheads and things got out of control. I’d started working at the hall after Josh and upset his upward trajectory.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “I got the first promotion and he was ready to kill me.”

  Byron turned away. “They were just starting those damned firemen calendars — don’t laugh — and Josh and I were like preening bantams. They sent a woman from the photography studio over to the fire hall. Her name was Marina. She was hot and she knew it. Josh and I were both flirting with her.”

  “She must’ve been overwhelmed.”

  “Maybe.” He shrugged. “A week later Marina called me and we started going out. She asked me not to mention our dates to ‘the other guy from the shoot’ because she didn’t want to insult him. I was sorry I couldn’t rub Josh’s face in it, but meanwhile I was dropping hints like crazy at work.” He laughed bitterly. “Apparently so was Josh, but I was so full of myself I didn’t notice.”

  “You mean she was dating him, too?”

  “Yup.”

  “How’d you find out?”

  “I found out first. I dropped by her basement apartment unannounced and Josh’s little black MR2 was parked out front.”

  “But couldn’t — ?”

  “No. It was what it looked like. I was furious. Funny. Marina was just behaving like Josh and me, but it seemed worse because she was a woman. I plotted for about a week then I left a note for Josh supposedly from Marina telling him to stop by her place later that night at eleven o’clock and to just come in through the back door. I left it unlocked and then timed it for him to catch us in bed together.”

  “Ewww.”

  One side of his mouth tilted up in embarrassment. “I can still see the look of shock on both of their faces. Josh had been totally unaware. Later I found out he’d fallen in love with her.”

  “But she was sleeping with you — she couldn’t have been too serious about him.”

  “If he’d brought out a ring, she’d have dropped me in a flash.”

  “Still … ?”

  “He’d already bought the ring.”

  “Oh.”

  “She disappeared, but the tensions at work kept escalating. Josh was screwing me over at every opportunity. If something went wrong at the hall, he’d insinuate I was to blame. Luckily I had Ace watching my back or I’d a been long gone.”

  “What about the suspensions you both got?”

  “You have been talking to Ace.” He let out a big sigh. “One day a beautiful woman I don’t know comes into the hall and I flirted with her. It was a habit.”

  “Still is,” Lu informed him.

  “Anyway, Josh comes out of the back room and goes ballistic. Turns out it was his sister.”

  “Holy crap.”

  “Yeah. We’d both been looking for an excuse to beat the shit out of each other. So, we went at it. Eventually they turned
a hose on us, but unlike the buddy cop movies, we didn’t become best friends after that. There was damage to the hall, assault charges, and the suspensions. Soon after I got the offer from a friend in the Washington P.D. and I jumped at it.”

  “Hmm.”

  “Wish you didn’t know now?” He smiled ruefully.

  “Kinda.” Lu shrugged. “I guess I shouldn’t have asked.”

  “Keep in mind this was over fifteen years ago. We’ve both changed.”

  “Yeah.” Lu changed the subject. “Hey, can I see your calendar?”

  “I don’t have it anymore.” His answer came too quick.

  “Liar. I bet Ace has a copy. That reminds me. Do you want to go to Ace’s new girlfriend’s house for dinner with me next Tuesday?”

  “You’re ready to admit to the outside world we’re together?” Byron teased.

  “I get the impression that Ace already knows.”

  “He’s quicker than the average bear.” Byron gave her a hug. “I’d love to go with you. And have you thought any more about moving in here? Or you could just move half your stuff so you wouldn’t have to run back and forth so often.” He kissed her neck then whispered in her ear, “That’ll give us more time for other activities.”

  “When you put it that way …”

  CHAPTER 14

  “So do you think the drug kingpin would be involved in the growing? Or would he be just pulling the strings?” Lu asked as Byron drove through the maze of cul-de-sacs leading to Laurel Ann’s house.

  “I was wondering how long it would take you,” Byron answered.

  “What?”

  “I thought you’d’ve asked about the grow-op arsons long ago.”

  “I was giving you enough time to solve the whole thing before I asked,” Lu teased him. “Plus I was waiting for you to ask for my brilliant assistance. I seem to recall that was the excuse you used to get me into bed.”

  “Guilty.” He smirked. “And it worked.”

  “So?”

  “Hell if I know. I’d assume there’d be the kingpin who only deals in the fully processed street-ready merchandise. He — and I’m not being sexist here, I haven’t heard of a female top dog, yet — he just connects people and takes the money without getting his hands dirty.” Byron stopped the car to check for an address. “Then there’re the middle managers who oversee the growing, harvesting, etcetera. And finally the dumb schmucks we usually catch — the caretakers and street sellers. Does that answer your question?”