Memphis May Fire (#1 of the Harleigh Lynn series)

Chapter Seven: Eavesdropping

Ari massaged his forehead with one hand, looking down at his notepad on the table.

"Yeah, Harleigh won't be here long. She's just not a fit. When you asked for a new detective you should've specified that you didn't want a punk girl with pink hair," Gene said, leaning back in his chair, his back to Harleigh.

Ari shook his head.

"You're right. I can't stand her, Gene, I swear I can't. I'm doing my best...but I can't deal with..." he paused and gesture vaguely to the air, "All of this. She's probably not a fit."

Harleigh felt a pang of emotion in her stomach, a blend of anger and sadness. She clutched her phone hard and tried not to cry.

"No question about it," Gene muttered, "She's not even used to this. She's going to break, just watch."

"Maybe not," Ari returned, "There's always a possibility she'll make it. Which means I'll have to keep dealing with her."

"Bro, for your sake I hope she breaks and breaks hard," Gene said, "And I honestly can't even look that hard at her. The whole face thing is disturbing. It's like something out of a movie."

"Yeah."

Harleigh gritted her teeth together and waited for her face to stop burning.

I'll write my resignation tonight, she decided, taking a shaky breath.

She wiped her nose, which seemed determined to run.

"Just got a text from Wilma on the group chat," Gene said, "She's on her way. Harleigh and Markov probably are too. At least that's a good thing about Harleigh. We don't have to wait around for her."

Can't equals won't, Harleigh chanted, but she didn't believe it this time.

"Did you see the game last night?" Gene commented after a moment.

"Bro, don't remind me," Ari sighed.

Harleigh was shocked.

Bro is not a word I'd ever expect to come out of his mouth.

"What game did you watch? Bengals won again. I'm pumped. Wait...not Green Bay!" Gene said, dropping his face into his hands, "Not again, Ari."

"Yes, Green Bay."

"No way. Green Bay sucks, bro."

"You're a loser," Ari said, deadpan.

"You're a butt."

"You're a trashcan."

"You're a sewer," Gene fired back.

"You're..." Ari broke off and grinned as Gene chuckled.

"Got you this time," he crowed, leaning back in his chair.

Ari shook his head and kept scribbling.

"Every time we get into one of these conversations I wake up halfway and realize it's the stupidest thing ever," he admitted, still smiling.

"Yeah, our maturity level is kindergarten."

"Yeah, you're five," Ari agreed.

"Bro, that was low. I just realized you're probably the reason Anna broke up with me."

Ari grinned at his legal pad and glanced up at Gene.