I kept looking around for my cop, but he wasn’t there. I figured him to be chasing other stupid people with infractions falling from their butts. Cool. I wouldn’t have to pay the ticket. Saving money is always a good thing. That was part of my miniskirt money anyway.
Just as my case came up, the doors opened and in stepped Officer Troy Davenport looking as dapper as ever in those tight blue pants, neat, tight-fitting shirt and shoes shiny enough to see every cloud in the sky. He took his hat off and sat on the bench across from me. He looked different with his hat off, sexier. I didn’t think that was possible. His soft, dark hair glistened, making me want to run my fingers through it and lick from there down. The boy was slamming in that suit. Muscles rippled from it, showing me how stacked he was. Though I had been watching him for five months, wishing I could eat frosting from him and get satisfied in my own little fantasy world with him. Then reality awakened.
The judge’s loud, aggravating voice bellowed through the mindless chatter still cluttering the courtroom. “Ms. Shane, you crossed a freeway median on Friday, June fifteenth, at 1:43 in the afternoon. Is this correct?”
“It is, your honor, but traffic was clear and—”
“You crossed traffic lanes nonetheless and Officer Davenport pulled you over.” The judge leaned over. “Do you know how many semis travel I-75, young lady? You could have caused a major collision.”
I know this already, for God’s sakes! “But your honor—”
“Officer Davenport, your account of the scene, please.”
“Your honor, it was clear-cut. I was returning paperwork on a felon from headquarters to the Beverly Hills police department when I noticed Ms. Shane crossing the grass median. I pulled her over, tested her for intoxication, gave her the infraction and told her she could either pay or show up today. Plain and simple, your honor.”
Troy looked over at me, and I noticed how he could barely look me in the face. However, that did not stop him from narrowing to the short hem of my other mini, the one that had to play for sympathy—which didn’t work. I couldn’t get mad at him, though. He was so damn fine. Straight-laced, but that’s what added to his appeal. There was a sweet man hidden behind that hard hat and uniform with a revolver at his side. I could see it in his eyes as he tried not looking at me directly. I paid the one hundred forty dollars, and that was that. He went his way, and I went mine, to cry behind a stack of papers as tall as I was.
Well, that was the end of my days with him, so I thought. Later, I ended up passing him in the halls and he would speak; actually, he acted as though he were happy to see me. As the days went on, it seemed like Troy Davenport was around every corner. I would see him in the cafeteria having lunch with his crowd of blue-clad buddies. I would see him with Chief Daisha Miller as they chatted in the halls. Funny thing, he always looked gloomy within her company, but the chief herself, AKA Demon Bitch Straight From Hell Itself, who was always ready to chew someone out if the least little thing went wrong, had a constant look of euphoria going on. She liked him, and I knew it. What other reason would her cheeks spread apart to show the world a row full of capped silver teeth? After thinking about it, what woman wouldn’t smile at Troy?
Each day Troy passed me, he had a smile for me. I wanted more than that pretty smile of his. I wanted him, but apparently so did Chief Miller. Yeah, like he would go for the farm animal type. Please, girl. Get a life with something other than that gun of yours!
I was really pressed for time the Thursday before the station audit. There were papers and case files to put away and there was barely any time to breathe, let alone go to the toilet. But when Troy walked in, all was right with the world once again. I peeked from behind my file cabinet and smiled. “Officer Davenport, how are you today?”
“I’m great. You?”
“Wonderful.” Now that you’re here. “Where’s your stack of papers that you usually have for me at the end of each month?”
“I’m not here for that today. But you can help me with something else.”
“Anything you need, just let me know.”
He smiled and approached me with an infectious smile. “That’s good to know. Actually, the real reason I’m here is because I need to apologize to you.”
“What do you need to apologize for?”
“The ticket last week.”
“No, I deserved that. It hurt a bit in the pocketbook, but that’s what I get for being silly.”
“You’re not silly. Everyone makes moves like that at times. But I was very rude to you, talking to you like you were a hood instead of my coworker. You are a coworker, Tracey. Without you and the others filing this shit away, the place would be swamped.”
That really brightened my day. “That’s sweet, Officer Davenp—”
“Troy. Officer sounds too official.”
“Troy it is then.” I couldn’t help but stare dreamy-eyed at the pretty thing. Disrobing for him would make my infatuation for him grow even stronger. For that matter, the way he was looking at me was making me ache for the many, many inches I knew he had stuffed into that uniform.
His words brought me back from copland. “I’m actually here to give you your money back.”
“My money back! Why would you do that?”
“Because I want to.” He moved in closer. “I haven’t really had the nerve to say this to you until now, but I knew who you were the second I saw your pretty face when I pulled you over. What I told the judge was a lie. I followed you out of here, trailed you, hoping I would have the nerve to meet you for lunch and get to know you. Surprise you. I’m shy, though.”
“Shy around little old me?”
“You’re really beautiful, Tracey, and beautiful women make me nervous for some reason.”
He should never be shy around Daisha then.
“I’ve noticed you since you made your arrival to this department…on February eleventh at nine in the morning.” He saw the shock on my face. “Yeah, I remember the first day I saw you because you were so gorgeous. I love how you dress in those short skirts, ruffled blouses. Each day you would pass me in the hall, I would turn around and watch you for a minute, relishing how you smelled, how your hair danced around your neck and shoulders.”
Is he talking to me? I turned around in case there was a beautiful woman behind me. No one there, just a little pawn facing a knight, a knight in shining armor—and badge. I could hardly speak from being overwhelmed. My voice oozed compassion. “You…you remember the day I started?”
“Sure. How many beautiful women do you think work in this building?”
As I thought about it, hardly any. To me, a woman just didn’t look dainty strapping on a pistol and cuffs. My meek voice continued. “I just can’t believe you think I’m pretty. But there’s others around here prettier than me, Troy.”
“Yeah, who?”
“Well, there is Officer Randal.”
“Not really. She’s too butch acting and she’s in love with her revolver.”
“How about Chief Miller?” Going out on a limb here. I knew she looked like a horse, but I had to say something nice about the person who signed my overtime checks.
His eyes shifted. “She’s okay, but you take the cake. I just wish I could have told you before giving you the ticket.” He held out a hand full of cash. “Go on, take it.”
I slowly reached for the money. “Are you sure?”
“I’m positive, Tracey. I know you guys don’t make a bunch of money here and that one hundred forty dollars was a lot.”
“But I deserved it.”
“Stop saying that. Put the money in that cute little red purse you tote around.”
“You even know what color purse I have?”
“I notice everything about you.”
“Aren’t you just a sweetie? A big, sexy sweetie who totes a gun.”
“Does it bother you? I can take it off and—”
“Actually, Troy, I like it. It’s arousing.”
He moved in a little
closer, close enough to give me a whiff of that famous cologne of his that made my legs weak from erotic attraction. That coupled with how he was staring at me made my panties disintegrate. I wanted him bad. I could just see myself dropping to my knees, yanking his zipper down, pulling out an erection and pleasing him until he fainted. The idea of my hands on his bare chest, tickling rippled pecs and a hard stomach was making me crazier than I already was. I had to divert my attention before he knew my true feelings. I looked at the money in my hands. “At least let me treat you to a drink after work since you were so kind to give it back to me.”
“I can’t. My wife might get the wrong impression.”
“Oh, I see. I should have known someone sweet like you was married.”
“Separated. She is still very jealous, even though we don’t live together.”
“How would she know I took you out unless she works here?”
He hesitated. “She…uh, she does work here.”
“You’re making my lungs deflate, Troy. She works here? Who is she, an officer?”
“Yes and no. It’s Daisha, your boss.”
I wanted to jump up and down, screaming, No, Troy, no! It’s against the law to marry horses. Instead, I acted as calmly as possible. “I, uh…didn’t know that.”
“I’m sorry to spring that on you, but we’re pretty much finished.”
“Pretty much?”
“We’ve been married seven years and quite frankly, I think she loves that gun more than she loves me. That’s why I got the separation, but as you well know, she still packs, and I’m afraid she will be stupid enough to use it.”
I had to find a chair before I hurled the salad I had just had for lunch. I sat there looking up at that pretty, built Adonis wondering how in fuck’s name he could crawl into bed with the likes of Daisha Miller for seven years. She was a hog in chief’s clothing, and it sported a gun. Wasn’t that just nice? I could get killed for looking at him. I had to regroup before I showed him what I thought of him marrying something that grazed in pastures.
“Any children?’
“I wanted some, but she was too busy with her career. What about you?
“I would love to have children, when the right man comes along.”
“He could already be here.”
“Perhaps, but he might need a little more than separation papers.”
“You have a good point.”
“What made you decide to get the separation, other than the ‘in love with her gun’ thing?”
“There was never time for me.”
“That’s a pity because I can tell you still think about her.”
He sat down in the chair across from hers. “Really? What makes you think that?”
“There’s a sparkle in your eyes when you mention her.” Though I have no idea why. You don’t look like the animal fetish type.
“How do you know that wasn’t for you?”
“Because it can’t be, Troy. Daisha would put a bullet between my eyes.”
He straightened his tie. “Daisha would never do that, nor would I let her. She just has a temper, is all. You’re right, however. She has ways at times, but everyone does.” He moved in closer, taking my hand. “That shouldn’t stop us from being friends, right? Maybe more than friends, if you’re interested.”
I was interested, but Annie Oakley would have a problem, and I knew it. My eyes teetered back to his, wanting the man more and more simply because of his words and kindness alone. I was beginning to see him as more than a powerful sex machine. He was a man with needs, yet he still cared for Daisha, but not in a romantic way anymore. Did she know that? Nonetheless, I admired how he wanted to spare her feelings. “I would love to, Troy. A girl can never have enough friends. But what about Daisha? She would be hurt if she saw you with someone else, especially me. She doesn’t like me.”
“The thing about it, we are still separated, and she knows why.” He took my hand and gently kissed it. “Besides, Daisha doesn’t dislike you.”
“Then what would you call it?”
“Jealousy. Anyone who is beautiful is a threat to her. That’s why she doesn’t have friends around here. That’s why she didn’t know how to handle a marriage.”
I smiled. “You really think I’m beautiful?”
“Sure. Haven’t other men told you that?”
“It only counts when I think the man is worth it.”
“How do I rate?”
“In perfect standing, Officer Davenport. And I’m not beautiful.”
He rubbed my shoulder and smiled. “Don’t underestimate yourself. I’ve gotta go. You know how it is with us cops. We’re never satisfied unless we’re chasing something. But, I’d love to chase you if I had the opportunity.”
“It would be a short chase, Troy. I’d stop in the name of the law—your law.” I gently yanked on his tie. “Go get the bad guys. Come in and talk to me again when you can.”
“Count on it, now that I finally got the nerve to talk to you.”
“Oh. What about me treating you to a drink?”
“I’ll get back with you about that. I just don’t want Daisha causing trouble. You understand, don’t you?”
“I guess.” I watched him walk out, and slouched back into my chair. Why would he have to be hooked up, and to all people, Daisha? In a way, I wished I had never laid eyes on him. Now that I actually had contact with him, I didn’t want to be without him. But it was either him or my job because Daisha would certainly cause trouble. I had a mortgage and a habit of liking to eat, so I had to keep my job. Unfortunately, Troy was not to be hooked with me romantically. Friends though, and I was happy knowing he would be in my life somehow.
Since that day, I would see him in the halls, and elevators, and we would give one another big hugs. That was how we got to be really good friends. Still, I wanted more than that, but knew I couldn’t get it because he still, somehow, belonged to Daisha. What did she have that any other slug didn’t have? Marriage papers with Troy’s name on it. Sure, he was separated, but until a divorce was achieved, we would be friends and only friends. My heart broke into pieces each time I saw him.
The day after the audit was a bad day for two reasons: one, the audit took all day and there were files all over that had to be replaced. The second reason, having to return them to central files. The day before, Rhonda had been polite enough to get the files for me, sparing me the sordid job of going into the belly of the building to get them. I was scared of dark basements. I think that came from watching too many stupid-ass hacker movies on Sci-Fi on boring Friday nights after dumping my ex. Police headquarters had that kind of a basement—dark, gloomy, damp and musty. There were rows and rows of file cabinets just deep enough for a raving maniac to hide behind. My luck that day, I had to go it alone, and have it all filed before attending the departmental meetings. Having to stare at Daisha Miller for an hour or two in a meeting, knowing all I wanted in life was her hopefully soon-to-be-ex-husband, made the pit of my stomach churn. Wasn’t it bad enough watching her graze fields from 9 to 5? Doing it again after work would take me to my limit.
As I exited the elevator in central files, I looked down the long hall, dreading every step I took into spookville. How was I to know that some simpleton hadn’t escaped from some misguided cop, and sneaked down here to wait for me? I didn’t know, but what I did know was that if the records weren’t returned, Daisha would be in trouble with her boss and my own head would be on the chopping block. I was, at any given moment, close to that with Daisha anyway. There was something about me that she didn’t like despite what Troy said. Sure, I knew she was jealous, but her treachery went beyond that with me. I think it was the fact that I wasn’t barn-bred, corn-fed and fattened up for the roasting, like others. Actually, it was the fact that all the men at headquarters smiled and spoke to me. Can I help it if I’m friendly, and speak to everyone whether I know them or not? Daisha hated that, but that was her problem. My problem, at the time, was not only dealing with h
er, but with that ridiculous basement. I took a deep breath and treaded on.
I made time, knocking files out of the way left and right so I could get out of there. With only a few stacks left, I walked over to the W’s and got to work. A knock on the door behind me scared the holy crap out of me. My files dropped to the ground and I whipped around to see Troy smiling at me. With my hands covering my heart, I closed my eyes, saying, “Troy, you scared me to death!”
He picked up my files and laid them on the cabinet. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I thought you saw me enter.”
“I didn’t, thank you. What are you doing down here?”
“Got something to do. Need some help with those files?”
I couldn’t say no to him, it would have been against my religion not to want his company in any way I could get it. “Well, I do want to get outta here.”
He saw me shivering and took my hand. “What’s wrong?”
I couldn’t talk rationally with Troy’s soft hands covering mine. For that matter, I could barely think straight. “I…I hate this basement. It gives me the creeps.”
“You don’t have to be scared now. I’m here with you.”
“Yeah, but for how long? I’ll be down here another hour.”
His perfect light brown eyes stared into my own nervous eyes. “How long do you want me…need me?”
How about forever. “Don’t you have crooks to chase?”
“Not today. I have desk duty.”
“You have filing to do as well?”
His sexy smile lit me, filtered me like a long, deep menthol. “I don’t file, Tracey. I doubt that I could do it, at least not the way you do. I’m sure you do everything pretty damn well.” He inched in closer with my hand still in his. When his lips were barely inches from my ear, he admitted to why he was down there. “I saw you come down and wanted to ask you something.”
Heat emitted from him, and I could feel it almost pressing into me, wanting to take it in and relish in it, but I’m sure Daisha would be able to smell me on him for the next fifty years. That’s how much I knew I would explode on him if he got one more inch closer.
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