The Edge

Chapter 18

I make it through another day of work unscathed, but the school's uneasy tolerance won't last much longer, now that my new plan is in motion. I've already resigned myself to facing the consequences for my decisions.

I probably should have foreseen that the police station would be crawling with cameras. This time, it's not faceless cameramen I have to contend with - Robin Ruby has apparently just finished a report of the current situation. Her eyes alight on me as I step out of my car. She motions vigorously for her crew to swivel the cameras my way as she calls out "Sullivan! Kipling Sullivan! Can I get a word?"

Great. Not only does she know my name, she finds me interesting enough to splash across a TV screen. This was such a bad idea. I shield my face as best I can and do a rapid walk of shame into the station house, ignoring her vociferation. I can only hope she doesn't uncover the reason I've contrived to be here.

I've been inside plenty of police stations, but Edgewater's cop shop is definitely the smallest facility I've come across. The building - which I'd recently become well acquainted with - contains no more than a handful of drunk tanks and a smattering of holding cells, crime being as minimal as it is. Upon entering the station, I find the front desk of the station occupied by a sole, middle-aged female officer. I manage to halt a burgeoning grimace as I recognize the woman; she happens to be the singularly lucky individual who felt me up on the side of the road only days previously. Her impassive gaze rests upon me as I march towards the desk.

"Can I help you, ma'am?"

"Indeed you can. Help me, Officer Kenobi. You're my only hope."

She raises an eyebrow. "It's Officer Kendrick, actually." So, it's going to be like that; shooting down my attempts at witty parlay on the first go. I clear my throat. "I'm here to see Luke. Wilder, not Skywalker."

"Visiting hours for the facility take place each weekend," she says levelly. "You're welcome to return Friday through Sunday to see the detainee."

"Right, but your website noted that exceptions could be made for family emergencies."

"And you're a relative now, are you?"

Bracing myself, I dole out the excuse I'd settled upon earlier. "Well, I'm in the family way, if you get my drift. That's kind of what I need to discuss with him."

Officer Kendrick treats me to a long, silent look, so I press on. "I'm his...uh...baby mama?"

She snorts loudly and shakes her head, but I'm not put out by it; I'm tempted to do the same. "His baby mama," she repeats. "Yeah, I remember you."

I inject a note of indignity into my reply. "I should hope so. I've been sexually confused ever since...you know...what happened between us."

Impressively, her cool façade doesn't falter an inch. "Always good to know I'm making a difference in someone's life," she deadpans.

"Honestly, doing what we did, in view of half the town's residents, really lent the situation a sort of voyeuristic thrill, don't you think?" Even knowing I've got no cause to hassle her for simply doing her job, I can't seem to stop myself. Thanks to dear old dad, it's possible I've developed something of a love/hate attitude towards The Fuzz.

Fortunately, Officer Kendrick is an utter pro at handling obnoxious members of the public. "I suggest that in the future, if you'd rather not find yourself in such a position, you might avoid associating with murder suspects."

And let cops have all the fun? Bah.

"Well, it's a moot point now, what with our forthcoming love child," I press impatiently. "Which, and I really can't stress this enough, I probably ought to inform him about so I can make a decision here. Kind of a time sensitive matter."