Dream Phantom

Chapter Fifteen

"You looking for me?" Detective Lilah Reeves sat on the corner of Jax's desk, her rear end pushing a stapler and a staple remover out of the way.

Jax hid his annoyance and raised an eyebrow, "Do you mind?"

She laughed as though it was fun to annoy him before jumping off his desk, "We've been working together for a few weeks now."

"My partner should be coming back soon."

"That's not what I've heard," Lilah said softly. She began tracing a circle on his desk with her finger. "I heard he's worse than before."

"Did you have something you wanted to ask me?" Jax asked, his annoyance clear in his tone.

"I just figured we should get to know one another better," Lilah smiled. "Maybe we can grab lunch together?"

"I'm busy."

"Too busy to eat?"

"I already have a lunch date."

"With who?"

"My wife."

Lilah nodded, "Maybe we can have lunch together. I'd like to meet her."

"I don't see the point," Jax said. He turned to Lilah and frowned. "Listen, I know you mean well but I don't like having a new partner. Roberto and I clicked. We solved cases quickly too. I've seen you and how you operate around here. I don't like it."

"You're watching me?" she grinned.

"Not on purpose."

"You're still watching me."

"I see how you flirt with the guys here to get them to do favors for you. If you're going to be my partner, you need to be professional. The other detectives and officers need to respect you."

"Do you respect me?" she asked.

"Respect is earned."

"Fair enough," Lilah gave him another smile before taking a step back. "Tell your wife I said hello."

~~~~~~

Roberto stared at his reflection in the cracked mirror. He didn't remember hitting the glass, but his bloody knuckles were proof that he had been responsible. How many nights had it been since he'd last seen Gladys? How many days had passed since the day he woke with no memory of the night before? He dragged his eyes away from the mirror and to his phone.

Jax had called again.

What did he want from him? He was happily married to Dani. He had even gotten a new partner. Lilah Reeves was supposed to be ruthless and good at her job. Obviously, he was replaceable.

He pressed the green phone icon that dialed Jax's number. When the call clicked over, he inhaled deeply, "You called?"

"I've been trying to reach you for days. Where the hell have you been? Don't tell me you're holed up in some corner drinking your sorrows away," Jax's voice vibrated in anger.

"What's got you in a mood?"

"You've got me in a mood. When are you going to get your ass in gear so you can come back to work?"

"What? You're not getting along with your new partner?" Roberto grimaced at his words. He sounded like a jealous teenager that had just caught his girlfriend with another guy.

"You jealous?" Jax drawled, clearly wanting to antagonize his former partner. "If you are...then do something about it. Fight for me, dammit."

Roberto laughed at that which made his head hurt since he was carrying a hangover from Hell.

"Did we just land in some weird romance movie that I'm not aware of?" Roberto asked, a grin on his face. "Because if that's the case, I'm definitely playing the male role."

"You're not playing any role as long as you're feeling sorry for yourself," Jax said. "I'm serious, man. I need you. Oliver was messed up pretty bad. Dani's a mess. I don't know how to fix this and my new partner sucks."

"Does she now? I hope you don't know that firsthand."

"Is that supposed to be a dirty joke?" Jax asked. "See? Even your jokes are lame because you're acting like a pansy. Gladys doesn't want you right now? So sad. Too bad. Get over it. She definitely won't want this Roberto. The drunk version of yourself."

"Shut up, Jax. You have no idea what you're talking about."

"Yes, I do."

"If Dani left your ass, you'd be bawling in a corner somewhere."

"Maybe, but I'd do my best to show her I'm still worthy of her. I wouldn't become a damned alcoholic, lose my job, and scare the crap out of her. Remind me which ones you did."

Roberto made a grunting noise. He had done all three.

"You want Gladys back," Jax said. "It's going to take time. It's not always about you. She needs to heal."

"I need to heal too. I lost that baby just as much as she did."

"Well you got me, don't you?"

"I don't want you," Roberto grumbled.

"Beggars can't be choosers."

Wanting to change the subject, Roberto asked, "So what's wrong with your new partner? I heard she was good."

"She's a total tease. She wears low-cut tops and tight jeans which pisses me off."

"Why?"

"Because that's how she gets perps to talk. It's how she has the other guys in the station eating out of the palm of her hand. It's how she thinks she can get me to do what she wants. I've never met a total man eater like her before."

"That's not true," Roberto disagreed. "We both know Dolores."

Jax chuckled, "She asks about you nearly every day. So does Dani. Whether you want to admit it or not, you have people that care about you."

Roberto's shoulders slumped over, heavy with guilt, "I'm sorry about Oliver. I heard it from one of the guys. Is the diner still open?"

"Dolores is running it like clockwork."

"That's good. I missed their pancakes."

"How about we meet there in an hour. I want to go over this case with you and talk to you about Oliver's case.

"Shouldn't you talk to your new partner about that?"

"Will you stop acting like a spurned lover and just meet me? I'm trying to leave the station before Lilah finds me."

"You're already running from Detective Reeves?"

"I'm not running from her so much as avoiding her. She's a bit too aggressive for my taste."

"Fine, I'll meet you." Roberto disconnected the phone and turned on the shower. He thought of Omar Price, the man he had met at an AA meeting. He had been the only person Roberto had communicated with.

"It's not like I'm really a drunk," Roberto muttered. "I was just going through some stuff." He ignored the voices that were arguing with him. He would meet Jax and help out as much as he could. It was time to get his life together.