The Pros of Cons

4 | Too Many Cops

TONI

Officer Kez was my new favourite. He was funny, for one. But he actually treated me like a regular human being. He answered my questions when I asked them, and he did his best to not leave me in the dark about anything.

"Cons isn't so bad," Kez told me as we drove onto the freeway back to my apartment on the west side.

We were in a patrol car, and I was in the back seat despite my multiple requests to be in the front. Kez said it was protocol and as much as he "wanted to," he just couldn't break that one simple rule. So I was perched up, leaning against the barred window in the back trying to have a conversation like I was his recently-arrested detainee.

"I don't know," I told him through the bars. "He was kind of a dick to me back there."

Kez coughed up a laugh from behind the wheel. "Nah, he's just a little quiet. He's a lot more reserved than most of the guys at the station."

"Hm."

"Not easy to gain his trust, that one. But he's fair."

"He thinks I'm guilty... I'm sure you all do on some level."

"Hey now, that's not true." Kez met my eyes in the rear-view mirror. "Cops are assholes. Made to make you feel like you're guilty even when they have absolutely nothin'. Trust me, kid. If we actually had somethin' on you, there's no way you'd be walkin' off free right now."

"You call this being free?" I joked, knocking my knuckles against the steel bars that separated us. "Also, I'm twenty-seven. Not exactly a kid."

"Most people don't have 24/7 security watching their backs. You don't want to completely be alone right now anyway. And, in my books, twenty-seven is still a kid."

I wanted to ask his age, but I bit my tongue. He was clearly older than I thought he was. No more than forty, I thought. Maybe a mid-forty.

"How old is Cons?" I asked. I felt my face warm slightly in embarrassment for asking. 

Kez laughed. "A bit younger than me."

"So... you're his superior?"

He laughed again, shaking his head. "If only that's how it worked, right? No, but I'm lucky enough I get to report to him."

I just nodded. I really didn't understand what was happening still, but it was happening.

"Do I get to still go to work?"

"Of course. But we're keepin' things quiet for the most part. So, they don't know anythin' about this. It'll be safer that way. Make sense?"

"I guess."

"You don't go anywhere without checkin' with us, okay?"

"Okay, and that'll be you?"

"Myself, Officer Cobie, and Officer Leslie will be rotating shifts. One will be on the grounds, and one will be inside the building. We gave you a phone to contact us for anythin' you need."

"Right."

I had been given a phone specifically for contacting the police. I did get my own phone back, battery dead and screen cracked, of course, but returned, nonetheless.

Apparently, officers had briefed Levi with the need-to-knows, but I knew that whatever they said wouldn't be enough. He wasn't going to let me sleep until I had told him everything. I felt my stomach drop at the thought of it. I just wanted to curl up and sleep for a day straight.

We pulled up to my apartment building and I moved to get out of the car. It took me nearly ten seconds to realize there was no handle to open the door.

I heard a snort come from the front seat. "Sorry there, kid. I have to open that for you."

  I waited patiently until he got out of the car and opened my door.

  "Remember, Miss Harvie. Tell your roommate only the need-to-knows. Got it?"

  "Got it." I smiled. Yeah right.

*

"Toni!"

I walked into my apartment and was immediately embraced by my roommate and best friend of six years. "Hi," I muffled into his shoulder.

"Thank God." He squeezed me against him harder than he ever has before pushing me away. He looked me up and down and zeroed in on the stitches on my forehead.

"Did they tell you?" I asked him.

He nodded and lifted his hand up to my face where I was stitched. "But you're telling me what happened from your own mouth."

That was when the tears started to come out. I had been awake for nearly 24 hours already and had gone through a ridiculous ordeal consisting of volu-thera-bomb things and rude cops. I had been severely assaulted and on top of all that, stood up by stupid Tinder date. I had decided that I would never go on another date in my life. It was an oath I made to myself sometime between having my face was pressed up against the concrete ground and Officer Cons cutting a bomb off my leg. Yup, that was it for me.

"I still don't know that much," I said truthfully. But I told him what I knew. I told him everything. Every detail from the black colour of my captor's eyes to the rude police officer who wouldn't let me call anyone at the police station.

"Jesus, Tones. Are you sure you're okay? That's unbelievable."

Levi had his arm around me while I cuddled him on our couch. It was one of my favourite places to be.

I forced a small smile. "I am now that I'm home. This is all I want right now."

In that moment, I heard a familiar patter come down the hallway.

Levi chuckled. "Ah, the old bastard finally woke up. Took him long enough."

"Walter!" I squealed at my little Bedlington Terrier making his way into the room. My geriatric pooch hobbled his way up to me and I scooped him into my lap. He gave slow, old man licks to my face making me smile the biggest. I missed the bastard.

"You should get sleep now," Levi said after a minute, spanking my thigh. He yawned and flexed his arm around me. "Me too. I've too been waiting for you."

"Mmm," I groaned. "Carry me."

I felt his body shake with laughter. "Only for you," he said, and then he kissed my forehead.

I think I always had feelings for Levi that went past friendship. Even when we first met in college, I was infatuated with his charisma and people-loving spirit. He was physically a stunner, too. A beautiful, beautiful being. His shaggy chestnut hair, eyes of the same colour, and beautiful tanned skin. He was every girl's—and guy's— secret weakness. He never realize the effect he had on people. Levi was a lover. Of all people. It's one of the reasons why I loved him. But I knew deep down, we both struggled with commitment and relationships. I don't think Levi ever actually had a single girlfriend or boyfriend. Throughout the years, we took turns bringing home certain individuals. We met them, hung out, and then we would never see them again. It was a routine we never talked about but understood. And it worked for us. I don't think he's ever wanted more than that. And I was okay with it.

I felt different, though. I knew I wanted more. And for the longest time, I was convinced it was Levi. We snuggled like a couple. He was there for me like a boyfriend. But it never got to be more... even if my heart wanted it to be. I could never ruin what we had. Therefore, I would never bring it up. I would continue going out with sleazy internet men, and he would continue sharing his world for single nights with beautiful men and women.

"Lay with me?" I asked him when he placed me down into my bed.

"Of course, honey."

I felt Levi crawl into bed behind me. His arms were wrapped around me and I snuggled closer against him.

Finally, the day ended, and sleep had taken hold of me.