My apartment is in the northwest valley by an old high school that once had two acres of rolling grass where students sat and ate lunch. A few years ago, the grass was changed to the customary desert landscaping-rocks-and now high fences separate the school from the road. Passing through a metal detector is also required to enter the building. I never worked this district as a cop. In Phoenix, you don't live where you work. You travel as far as possible. The last thing you want is to run into someone undesirable when off duty. Home should be your sanctuary. I, like most city officers, varied my route when leaving the department and heading home. You always check to be sure you aren't followed. It's the life of a cop and these lessons begin at the academy.Gomez pulls into my apartment complex, which is kitty-corner from the school. He travels toward the back and I wonder if he helped return my car. The clock on the dash shows it's been more than five hours since I took dick pics of Mr
It doesn't matter that Moon woke me every hour; I'm a new person in the morning. All his texts but the last were on point and only asked if I was okay. The last one is making me grit my teeth, and this time it doesn't hurt.aka CriminalTonight, dinner.My reply is again short and to the point.No.aka CriminalI'll pick you up at seven.My growl is louder than the one Gomez gave me. If Moon thinks I'll be here at seven, he's insane. Am I running away? Damn straight and that pisses me off even more. I don't run away from trouble, I run toward it. But this trouble is of an entirely different nature. It's colossal trouble with a capital T.I hit the shower again. This is what we do in the Valley of the Sun. We cool down in a shower at least twice a day and sometimes more. Hitting the pool counts too. Practically everyone has their own swimming pool or access to one. I plan to work out this afternoon after I've finished the business with Penny Dandridge, and I'll shower ag
Terry's office door is closed, which offers another clue. "Spill it, lady," I say to Brenda."He's in there with his attorney." She points toward Terry's door.I'm stunned. "Attorney at Law Terry the Fairy has an attorney?" Her grin widens at the use of Terry's nickname. She has worked for Terry for more than ten years. I like her, even though she carries true affection for Terry. In my opinion, he doesn't deserve her. This, however, does not mean she lacks a sense of humor. "Apparently, he took the wrong woman for a ride and she's filed a lawsuit and made a complaint to the state bar."I don't like Terry, but I've never heard that he forces women. A lawsuit means she wants money. Now, I get the humor. Filing a lawsuit for something outrageous is something Terry would do. Today, he's getting back some of his own medicine."I'm dying to ask what he did, but I'm almost afraid."She bites her lip before releasing it and replies, "I'm horrible for even smiling." She laughs into her
"Exactly." Terry steeples his fingers on the desk. "You know there's a good chance this isn't bullshit, Mak."So many things whirl through my head. I do not like Craig Kennedy, never have. He has his own code as far as street ethics are concerned. I was warned early in my police career to stay clear of him. That was before he made my life a nightmare whenever he was around.He wouldn't take no for an answer. No, I wouldn't go out with him. No, I wouldn't let him cop a feel, and no, I wouldn't fuck him. I refused to date the cops I worked with is what I told him. And especially not married cops like Kennedy. Just no! When I finally threatened to go to a supervisor, he backed off and gave me the stare-down whenever he could. I'd just roll my eyes. I heard rumors from other officers that Kennedy walked a thinner blue line than the rest of us or that he often straddled it. Most of these rumors related to him getting aggressive during arrests. I stayed out of the gossip and away from Kenn
I blast through my workout in record time and head back to my apartment for a quick shower. After washing my hair, lathering all my body parts, and drying myself, I take an hour to style my hair, apply makeup, and doll myself up for Fiddlers Bar and Grill. It's located outside Sunnyslope's Wendell district and outside the Cactus police district. It's also where both groups of cops gather in plain clothes to unwind. I want to look my best and get a feel for what's happening in the blue world.I park Sally in the side lot with five other vehicles and enter the dark and cool interior of the bar. After completely ignoring the sign on the door that reads: No Guns Permitted, I take a booth in the back corner. I guarantee everyone in here is carrying and not just the cops. I scout out the crowd and see only a few vaguely familiar faces. The majority of the police crowd will start drifting in shortly. I came a bit early so I could take the back booth and see who enters the bar. The cops I k
He's certifiably crazy.Through gritted teeth, I warn, "I don't like repeating myself and I won't press charges if you leave. Now."His smile disappears. "If it makes you feel more comfortable, pull your gun."I close my eyes in frustration and then realize what I've done and open them again. My gun isn't the problem; his damned guns aka ripped arms, are. No one involved in crime should have a body like Moon's. His cologne drifts over me and I inhale deeply. Somehow he's found that perfect match that accents his natural man-smell. Add in his blue eyes, which capture everything going on around him, and I'm having heart palpitations that have nothing to do with my apartment being broken into. I pull in another long breath to gain a small semblance of control. I'm unwilling to stand and point a damn gun at him now, and that pisses me off.He removes his cell from his pocket, backs a couple of feet away, and speaks to whoever's on the other end. "Order for two from El Tiempo and pick u
The chime of Moon's phone stops him from answering my question. He places his glass on the small side table, twists up a bit, and takes his cell from his pocket. He checks the screen and like a teenage pro, sends a message. He looks up at me after sending it. "Alex is here with our food." At the thought of El Tiempo, my stomach rumbles. Moon cocks an eyebrow.Hell even that's sexy.I stand up when I hear a soft knock at my front door."Sit. I'll get it and bring everything over here," he says as he heads to my door, like he owns it, and opens it for Gomez. Moon takes the food and I see Gomez peer at me over Moon's shoulder. I can't identify the exact look he gives me, and I tell myself that I don't care. So what if Gomez is impressed with the way I handle myself. That and a dollar will buy me an ice-cold Slurpee. Moon closes the door with his elbow while holding the bag in one hand and a six-pack of Corona in the other. It reminds me that I was being observed inside the bar. It's so
I stare at the dark television for ten minutes. This solves nothing. I check the sliding glass door that leads to my very small patio. It has a broken broomstick in the bottom rail so it can only slide open after removing it. The locking mechanism, which I check too, is a piece of crap. I head to the front door and lock it. I walk to my bedroom to go through my pre-sleep ritual. After a quick shower, I slip into one of my large shapeless tees. Brushing, flossing and moisturizer are next.I lie down in bed and turn off the lamp. When I close my eyes, I picture Moon-his reticent smile, his intense eyes, and his sexy as hell bod. My girl parts are ramped up and it's all Moon's fault. With a groan, I roll over and grab the purple wonder from the drawer beside my bed. I hit the switch and then lift and spread my knees. I place the vibration against my clit. The purple wonder twirls and vibrates, hitting the spot perfectly. I slide it through my folds and back to my clit while imagining Moo