Just A Pretty Face?

Chap 17 (Keystone)

Iris's POV

"Explain what, Tim?" I asked.

"You were gone this morning so I wasn't able to give you your birthday gift," Tim replied.

"Oh, well, you can give it to me now," I replied.

"I can't do that because it's an at home activity," Tim nodded.

"Ohhh," I stated. "Uhm, I got to take Thorsen and hit the streets, but we'll talk tonight over dinner, okay?"

"I'm ready," Lucy smiled, holding the gear.

"Good luck with him," I whispered to her. "He's in a mood." I looked at Tim. "Have fun!" I walked out to the detective's shop, where Aaron was waiting for me. "You ready?"

"Yeah," Aaron nodded.

"Let's go," I replied, getting in the driver's seat. I started driving. "This is a nice change of pace, for once."

"What do you mean?" Aaron asked.

"I rarely get to drive," I replied. "Tim always drove, or, due to senority, Harper or Lopez drove."

"Really?" Aaron asked.

"Yeah," I nodded. "Okay, so we act just like we would while on patrol."

"Really?"

"Yes, but we don't do low-risk," I replied. "We run with high-risk assignments."

"Okay," Aaron nodded. He started looking at his phone. "I have a financial question for you."

"I might have an answer," I replied

"How do you live with a police paycheck? Or, well, how did you?"

"Oh, uhm, well, budgeting," I nodded. "Why? Are you not able to figure out your expenses?"

"I'm trying not to live off my parents," Aaron replied. I nodded. "How much do you spend on dry cleaning a week?"

"I only do dry cleaning for my event clothes," I stated. "I do my own laundry. I have a husband and 2 kids." I glanced over at him. "How much is your dry cleaning?"

"500," Aaron replied.

"500 DOLLARS?!?" I exclaimed "Okay, no. Do you do your laundry?"

"No, Mama says dry cleaning is better," Aaron sighed. "At this rate, I'm gonna need a second job. How do you do this?"

"Well, I do try to live off of my detective salary, but I do have 2 other jobs," I replied. "So, I don't just have my detective salary as my only source of income."

"How do you find time to sleep, while working 3 jobs?"

"I am still employed under my ex-husband since we co-own a company together in Chicago. I also run my own company here in LA. Between Tim and I, we work 5 jobs."

"Tim has a second job too?" Aaron asked.

"He teaches teens and young adults about law enforcement when he can," I replied. "You need to find a job that will work with your schedule."

"Who's going to hire me with my background?" Aaron asked. "I might not be able to live on my own. I can't live in poverty."

"It's not poverty," I pointed. "But, if you can tell me what you can offer to teach at my company, I can hire you."

"What do you mean by what I can offer?" Aaron asked.

"Okay, my friend, Alexandra Kay, she works for my company teaching entertainment. She's a singer, and she does that. Lucy teaches psychology," I replied. "I also teach at my own company. I teach business management and the basics of being a paramedic." I parked in front of a diner. "So, I'm going to ask you again, do you have anything to offer or teach young adults about?"