______________________
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
______________________
HICKS
I had just finished modifying my report, printed a copy and was standing to leave. I turned quickly and rammed into a man. It felt like I had just run into a concrete wall.
“What’s up, Hicks?” Nico Mayson said to me. “I thought this was your day off.”
“It is, Nico, but you know how it is with cops,” I replied. “It’s just like taking a crap. The job isn’t over until all the paperwork is done.”
He leaned against the desk, “So, what paperwork are you working on?” he asked.
“Just incident reports that I’m a little behind on,” I insisted.
He nodded, his body language clearly told me he was fishing for something.
“Tell me about Falco,” he said. “He seems like a pretty good guy.”
“He is a pretty good guy,” I told him. “He has a little too much boy scout in him for my taste, but that changes over time when the realities of the job set in.”
“By ‘boy scout’ you mean he is an honest cop who likes to do things by the book, and not break the rules, right?”
I looked at him quizzically, “Something like that.”
“So, by that definition, you’re a boy scout too. Isn’t that right, Hicks?”
I offered him a bit of a smirk, “Of course. Why would you think otherwise?”
Nico smiled and let out a breath, pausing for a few seconds.
“I’m hearing through the grapevine that you’re drawing some heat over this whole ‘excessive force’ shit with the perp who took you hostage. Is that true?”
“I think it will all work out,” I told him.
“For Falco . . . or for you?” he asked.
“What is this, Nico? Are you and Falco in the ‘hot cops with tattoos club?’ You boys gotta stick together, right?”
“I just don’t want to see anyone get fucked over,” he said. “Not him, not you.”
“We agree on that,” I said.
“But sometimes, a girl has to do what a girl has to do, right?” he asked, suspiciously.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I mean, from what I hear, you and he have already gotten naked with each other, and now it’s over,” he said.
“You jealous, Nico?”
He laughed, “Not in the slightest, Hicks. I have my boom at home. She’s all I need and all I want.”
“Then why the question?” I wondered.
“Well, I’ve always heard stories about a woman scorned,” he said. “It just occurred to me that if there ever was a scenario where you had to, say . . . sell out a partner to save your own ass, that doing it to a guy who jilted you would be double the fun.”
“Well, for your information, he didn’t jilt me, Nico,” I rebutted. “Not that it’s any of your business, but we called it off before we got to the main event. It was mutual, Nico.”
“That’s almost word for word what Falco told me,” Nico admitted.
“So, why the third degree?”
“Well, because it’s been my experience that people who are in the throes of passion don’t always say what they mean,” he said. “Let’s face it, Falco is a hot guy. He could probably get any woman he wants. I’m sure you told him that a relationship with him was a bad idea. I’m just wondering if you meant it.”
“You know about Captain Paulson’s conversation with me, don’t you?”
Nico shrugged, “I’ve been around a while, Hicks. I hear things.”
I stood and walked away, pausing by the door to face him one last time, “Well, you heard one thing right, Nico.”
“And what’s that?”
“Sometimes a girl has to do what a girl has to do.”
“Oh, by the way,” Nico said. “The guy, Franklin Jones . . .”
“Who?”
“The manager of the Home Depot employee you shook down.”
“Yeah, what about him?” I asked.
“Earlier, I overheard Falco talking with the guy on the phone.”
“What about?”
“He called in to file a complaint, Hicks,” Nico said, “a complaint against you for abuse of power. Can you imagine that?”
I sighed. More bullshit to deal with.
“What’d Falco say to him?” I asked.
“Falco talked the guy out of it,” Nice said. “The girl, too. Falco smoothed things over.”
“Well, good then,” I said.
“Yeah, that Falco is a cop who is always loyal to his partner,” Nico said. “He’d lose his job before he fucked you over. I sure am glad he is with you.”
“Why is that?”
“Because you always gave me the impression that you were the same way,” he said. “You are the same way, right?”
I held up the report I intended to give to Paulson first thing tomorrow morning, “I’m not really sure where you are coming from, Nico, but this is the modified report I intend to file. It’s done, already. I’m not changing it.”
He nodded, “And does it tell a story with a happy ending?”
“For some, perhaps,” she said. “Maybe not so much for others. Have a good evening, Nico.”