Read Online First We Take Manhattan by Mina MacLeod - Free Book Online Page A

by Steve and Diana, who stop by mid-rep and ask how Gabe is doing. Once they're gone, Gabe fixes Dave with a serious stare. "I want to know, Dave."
    "Fuck me," Dave mutters. "Okay, fine. You know that Diamondback smuggling ring? The ones bringing in the illegal military tech for the rogue mechs?"
    "Doesn't ring a bell," Gabe says dryly.
    "Funny. Listen, rumor from Williams's unit is that the smuggling rings are getting ballsy. Cloaking tech was risky and bad enough, got a lot of tongues wagging both in the station and on the streets. But now Williams's team is saying they have intel on an iced salt operation. No details yet, but if that's true, then we're going to have a lot more on our hands than rogue mech pilots." Dave makes a face. "Not anyone can pilot a mech, but anyone can snort enough salt crystals to be a danger to themselves and others."
    Gabe closes his eyes briefly. "But nothing is official yet."
    "Nope. If the Diamondbacks are resurfacing so visibly, it's going to be our chance to deal some serious damage. On the other hand, after the last incident, they are going to be on their guard."
    "They were on their guard last time," Gabe says. "Which is what got me into this mess to begin with."
    "Yeah. But since nothing is certain for now, I didn't think it would be a good idea to get you wound up."
    Gabe fights down the wave of annoyance. "I'm not wound up. I'm going to do my job, once the chief lets me. Besides, any raid would be led by Williams's team; we'd just be the grunts. It's not like I'm going to get a chance to exact personal revenge on the one who gutted Archangel."
    One of Dave's hands drifts up to whisper across Gabe's bad knee. "Yeah, I guess."
    *~*~*
    Spring warms into summer. Gabe and Dave meet at the Sector Twelve station's gym three times a week to train, sometimes four if Gabe is feeling up to it. Gradually, his strength returns, his aches fade, and his apartment loses its modifications. He keeps the cane on Dr. Richmond's advice. Occasionally, he still pushes himself too hard and pays for it the next day.
    Chief Burns arranges for his gradual return to police work. He's confined to a desk, not out in the field, and it makes the days drag—but at least he's got a routine. Once he passes the physicals in another month or so, he'll be cleared for return to active duty.
    "Are you sure that's what you want?" Lisa asks him one day, walking by his desk. "You know the streets inside and out; you'd make a killer dispatcher. It does come with fewer chances of being shot at. Also, your orange form is supposed to be peeking out behind the blue one."
    Gabe curls his lip in distaste, re-arranging his papers into the origami swan the legal department requires. "Not a chance. I'm a mech pilot, not an operator. No offense, Lisa."
    "None taken. Ass." She pats him on the shoulder and heads back to her workstation.
    Dave shows up during his lunch hour, taking up residence on the corner of Gabe's desk. When they worked the beat together, they would often park their mechs and grab a meal at one of New York's many restaurants. Dave seems to spend as little time as possible with Alan, coming back to the station just to have lunch with Gabe.
    Gabe tries not to think too much about it. "Hey," he says around a bite of turkey-and-mayo, "my parents are having roast dinner this Sunday. They invited us." He hesitates, swallowing his bite and hoping that didn't sound odd. "You want to go?"
    Dave thinks about it, looking anywhere but at Gabe. "Yeah, your mom makes an awesome spread. For sure, I'll be there. Want me—want me to pick you up?"
    Gabe feels like they're walking a strange, tenuous line. "Sure," he says. "We could bring some wine," he adds, testing the waters.
    "Sounds good," Dave says, nodding. "Sounds … good."
    They eat the rest of their lunch in silence.
    *~*~*
    "Come on, Dave," Gabe pleads, hands spread out. They're alone in the gym, after-hours. Admittedly, Gabe lured him here under false pretenses.
    "No." Dave is