Read Online Pierced: Pierced Trilogy Boxed Set by Lashell Collins - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lashell Collins
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tattoo parlors. And if you remember anything else … like maybe a make and model of the beat-up car the smoking man was in … or anything else, anything at all, no matter how unimportant you think it might be, please call me.”
She looks up at me and smiles slightly. It’s a sad sort of smile that beckons to me somehow and again, I find myself fighting the urge to wrap my arms around her. Involuntarily, I take a step back away from the bed.
“Thank you for all you’ve done, Detective,” she says softly.
“You are most welcome, ma’am.” I stare at her for a beat too long and suddenly feel like an idiot. “I should go. You take care of yourself.” She nods but says nothing and I head for the door. I glance back and give her a small smile, then open the door and leave.
*****
I can hear the music playing from the street as I get out of my car. Sly and the Family Stone singing about the skin they’re in. Not loud enough to call the cops but, loud enough to know that the party is in full swing. It’s early evening and it’s nice out, not a cloud in the sky so, I give an affectionate pat to the hood of my Charger and head toward the front yard. Usually, whenever I take her anywhere where she’s going to be out of my sight for a few hours, I would lock her up and cover her before walking away. But tonight, I don’t plan to be out long. I promised Turner that I would stop by tonight so, I’m here just to make an appearance. Plus, he barbeques a mean rib so, it won’t be too bad.
Actually, I don’t mind coming to these things, these old timers’ gatherings. Back in the day, they used to refer to them as ‘choir practice,’ or maybe ‘poker night.’ Idly, I wonder if they still call them that. It’s nothing formal. Just every so often, all the older cops pick someone’s house and bring a bunch of booze and some food, and they hang out telling tall tales and reliving the exciting cases and generally blowing off some steam. Sometimes they can get pretty wild. People get drunk and say all sorts of shit you may or may not want your spouse, girlfriend, or significant other to hear so, there are never any spouses, girlfriends, or significant others in attendance. Just the guys – or girls, as long as that girl is also on the job. Choir practice is an equal opportunity event; as long as everyone there is a cop, what gender you are doesn’t matter. In the last few years though, they have become sort of ‘invitation only.’
I’ll never forget the first time I came to one of these things. It was at Detective Lee Parson’s place and he had asked me himself. Came right up to me in the locker room. I had only been on the job maybe four or five months, and in that time only a few of the old timers had even acknowledged my presence. I was just another rookie to them. I was more than a little nervous, wondering if any of them knew who I was or if they would even remember me. When Parson came up to me and invited me to his place later that night, I was still left wondering. But when I got there, all the questions soon got answered…
~~~~~~~~
The first thing I notice when I step into Parson’s backyard and take a look around is that I seem to be the only rookie here. And then the more I look around, it quickly dawns on me that not only am I the only rookie, but I’m the only young guy here too. Everyone else is older, not even any of the seasoned younger guys from the station seem to be here. Nervously, I run a hand through my hair and walk a little further into the yard feeling extremely self-conscious.
There are a few old patio tables in the yard and guys sitting around drinking and shooting the breeze. A few of them look up when they see me and some of them nod in greeting. Others just stare like they’re waiting for my first act to begin. Yeah, I guess you could say that I feel like I’m on display.
“ Hey, kid, want a beer?” someone asks me and I glance over to where one of the guys is standing by
She looks up at me and smiles slightly. It’s a sad sort of smile that beckons to me somehow and again, I find myself fighting the urge to wrap my arms around her. Involuntarily, I take a step back away from the bed.
“Thank you for all you’ve done, Detective,” she says softly.
“You are most welcome, ma’am.” I stare at her for a beat too long and suddenly feel like an idiot. “I should go. You take care of yourself.” She nods but says nothing and I head for the door. I glance back and give her a small smile, then open the door and leave.
*****
I can hear the music playing from the street as I get out of my car. Sly and the Family Stone singing about the skin they’re in. Not loud enough to call the cops but, loud enough to know that the party is in full swing. It’s early evening and it’s nice out, not a cloud in the sky so, I give an affectionate pat to the hood of my Charger and head toward the front yard. Usually, whenever I take her anywhere where she’s going to be out of my sight for a few hours, I would lock her up and cover her before walking away. But tonight, I don’t plan to be out long. I promised Turner that I would stop by tonight so, I’m here just to make an appearance. Plus, he barbeques a mean rib so, it won’t be too bad.
Actually, I don’t mind coming to these things, these old timers’ gatherings. Back in the day, they used to refer to them as ‘choir practice,’ or maybe ‘poker night.’ Idly, I wonder if they still call them that. It’s nothing formal. Just every so often, all the older cops pick someone’s house and bring a bunch of booze and some food, and they hang out telling tall tales and reliving the exciting cases and generally blowing off some steam. Sometimes they can get pretty wild. People get drunk and say all sorts of shit you may or may not want your spouse, girlfriend, or significant other to hear so, there are never any spouses, girlfriends, or significant others in attendance. Just the guys – or girls, as long as that girl is also on the job. Choir practice is an equal opportunity event; as long as everyone there is a cop, what gender you are doesn’t matter. In the last few years though, they have become sort of ‘invitation only.’
I’ll never forget the first time I came to one of these things. It was at Detective Lee Parson’s place and he had asked me himself. Came right up to me in the locker room. I had only been on the job maybe four or five months, and in that time only a few of the old timers had even acknowledged my presence. I was just another rookie to them. I was more than a little nervous, wondering if any of them knew who I was or if they would even remember me. When Parson came up to me and invited me to his place later that night, I was still left wondering. But when I got there, all the questions soon got answered…
~~~~~~~~
The first thing I notice when I step into Parson’s backyard and take a look around is that I seem to be the only rookie here. And then the more I look around, it quickly dawns on me that not only am I the only rookie, but I’m the only young guy here too. Everyone else is older, not even any of the seasoned younger guys from the station seem to be here. Nervously, I run a hand through my hair and walk a little further into the yard feeling extremely self-conscious.
There are a few old patio tables in the yard and guys sitting around drinking and shooting the breeze. A few of them look up when they see me and some of them nod in greeting. Others just stare like they’re waiting for my first act to begin. Yeah, I guess you could say that I feel like I’m on display.
“ Hey, kid, want a beer?” someone asks me and I glance over to where one of the guys is standing by
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