Jen

I found Officer Peter Peck sitting at his desk just like last time.

He didn’t notice me come in or even notice that I was right by his desk. He didn’t look up.

Probably not the best quality for an investigator.

“Hi,” I said. I started him.

“Oh my Gosh. You.”

“Me.”

“How are you?” he said. It was like we’d been on a date or something.

“Fine. I have a few questions though.” Before I could dive into my questions, Detective Janning appeared. He’d clearly observed me come in and had made a b-line for me.

“Peck, back to work. I’ll talk to Miss Guffy here.”

“Yes, sir.”

“My office, Miss.” He put his hand out and gestured for me to head to the corner. There were four of five walled glass cubes. I supposed since this was a big open room, the term ‘office’ was applied loosely.

“I have some questions, Detective, about the bust the other night.”

“Yes, two known, low-level drug pushers put away for a few hours.”

“So that wasn’t a good arrest?”

“For a small time, low volume trafficking, it was a gold star.”

“So do tax payers pay extra for the sarcasm?”

“No, free service from me to you.” I guessed Detective Janning was in his late forties or early fifties. He’d been around Port Az or somewhere for a while. Newbies like Peck and me were a thorn in his side.

“Can I talk to you off the record?” I wanted real information and I knew he had a relationship with Bear.

“I don’t know. Can you?”

I didn’t want to reveal anyone or anything to this detective, even that Bear had ordered me dead. I was smarter now.

My lack of understanding of how this town worked had already nearly gotten me killed. I was trying to play things close to the vest now. I wanted information, but was careful not to give it in return. Unless I absolutely had to.

And if Benz couldn’t get the hit off me, I’d need to have some options. I hoped knowledge was power. I hoped, if pushed, Detective Janning would see the wisdom of protecting me from The Saints. But I wasn’t so sure.

“The Dark Saints, were they working with you?” I blurted it out. I wanted to be subtle, but I had to know.

“Jen. You’re young and I looked you up. I know you come from a law enforcement family. I know your ambition is to what? Be a Ranger? So I’m going to give you a few courtesies I wouldn’t normally extend. Namely. I’m going to answer your questions. To a point.”

“So?”

“There is a local biking club that does, from time to time, provide credible tips for our law enforcement professionals.”

“That’s how we’re going to do this?”

Detective Janning didn’t trust me. I supposed that was valid. He knew of me, but that isn’t the same as knowing me.

“The other night, was that one of those times?” I continued pressing.

“I am unable to provide you with details on specific cases, unless of course, you have a freedom of information request form in that purse. And then, of course, some names will have to be redacted.” Art Janning smiled and took a sip from a coffee mug that looked older than me.

“I see. Were you, uh, planning to bust that operation?”

“No, we were watching it. Baiting the hook with a smaller fish. Did you learn that in police school?”

“And my actions were, uh, not helpful. It is like Bear said.” I realized that everything Bear had said about the drug meet-up was true.

“Not helpful would be a way to describe you.” I slumped in my chair.

“I wanted to put away The Dark Saints. Or cripple them in some way. I had this idea that they were hurting this town. That’s what was in my mind my whole life.”

Detective Janning slid the mug aside and leaned on his forearms to look me square in the eyes.

“Miss Guffy. What happened to your father broke my heart. I was a young officer back then. Here’s what I know. Kenny Bass was not a Dark Saint. He was a trouble maker who no one wanted. He lured a few Saint probies in for his dumbass robbery scheme. Those probies got killed inside. He, well, you know what happened to him. He was rightly killed by your Daddy. And you Daddy is a legit hero. That’s all true.”

“But The Saints? I thought they were the ones.”

“No. Let me tell you something else. This town, not even a decade ago, was dying on the vine. The Saints are a big part of why it’s not anymore. They helped me and a few others get the hard drugs out. They make sure if there’s crime, it’s away from my citizenry. Do you understand?”

“I think so. Yes.” There was a balance here that I’d tipped over in the wrong direction. There were things that Detective Janning needed The Dark Saints for and vice versa. The town needed The Saints. And my Daddy didn’t die at their hands.

My need to punish someone was a waste. Daddy had punished Kenny Bass himself when he shot him.

I was going to tell him about Bear’s hit on my life. I was ready to lay the ground work, but something stopped me. I didn’t know if Detective Janning would believe me, and worse, I didn’t want to test his loyalty like I had Benz’s. Janning was an unknown commodity to me; confiding in him was like standing on ice and hoping it wouldn’t crack.

“So, are we done here? If you, in the future, have concerns about law enforcement in Port Azrael, please come right to me. Officer Numb Nuts is a poor vessel for sensitive information. Maybe someday he’ll gain the required subtleties, but right now he can’t even drink coffee without spilling it on his tie. As far as The Saints…”

He stopped and it fell into place.

“They’re the devil you know,” I finished his sentence.

“That’s correct Miss Guffy. You might turn into a better cop than Numb Nuts out there. Your powers of observation being what they are now.”

I left the station house.

It occurred to me that I should probably head to the library and finish my assignments, but it was getting late.

I’d promised Benz I would be in the hotel.

If Benz lost the vote, I need to get the hell out of Port Az fast. If Benz lost the vote, I’d have to run. If Benz lost the vote, I wondered if I’d ever see him again.

I kept my head on a swivel as I drove back to the hotel. Even more so when I walked into my hotel room. I looked around it just as Benz had before.

No one was there.

My stomach was in knots after meeting with Detective Janning. For the first time, I had real worry that Benz was the one in danger now. Not me.

I sat down on the bed and that’s when I saw it. A piece paper with my name on it.

Jen,

You’re all clear. I won the vote.

But you need to leave Port Az as soon as you can. Finish your library job and go.

I loved our time, but it’s done. It has to be this way.

I can’t have the MC and a cop for an old lady, and you’re a cop. Or will be.

It’s not something you can change or should. And I’m nothing without the club.

I hope you get all that you want in life.

Love,

Benz

Seven lines. Seven shitty lines. It was practically a form letter. I reread it.

He won the vote. That was something. The Dark Saints didn’t have my name on some list of people to kill. Awesome.

But I’d lost Benz. I wondered if I’d ever even had him.

I walked over to the window and looked out at the motel parking lot. When did he leave this? Did I just miss him?

I wanted to talk to Benz. That was it.

I was going to talk to Benz.

As much as I had thought I was going to have to run away from him or The Saints, I didn’t want to now. It was clearer than ever that he had changed me. He was my future. And it was a future that I hadn’t charted. It was thrilling and exciting and scary as hell, but it was a future with Benz. And these seven shitty lines weren’t enough to change that.

I drove to his apartment.

I had no idea if he was there, but banged on the door anyway. I called for him. I got no answer.

I thought about driving to the MC. I was that desperate. But I chickened out on that.

Bear had ordered me killed. Vote or no vote, Benz or not, I wasn’t suicidal. Going into their turf after what had just gone down wasn’t an option.

In the end, I drove around Port Az looking for signs of Benz.

I didn’t find any.

I wound up at the library.

Where I’d started. I climbed the steps and there she was.

Inez.

“You been gone a couple of days. I wondered if you were done. I hoped you weren’t ‘cause it’s a mess over there.”

“Good to see you, Inez.”

I walked over to my little area of the Port Azrael Library. All the papers and files were there. Just as I had left them.

Time had run out on whatever Benz and I had. Time had almost run out on this job. I’d been given four weeks for this project.

I could barely believe all that had happened in that time. I was a different person than the one who’d walked in here.

Tears started to flow.

I didn’t think they would stop. I quietly came apart.

“Hey.” Inez was standing at my desk and she had a tissue.

“Thanks. Sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it. Just don’t get anything wet. Bad for historical preservation.” Inez turned and left me to my heartbreak.

It was time to leave Port Az. I had to accept Benz’s seven shitty lines.

I took his letter out again and looked at it. I crumpled it in my hand and threw it in the trash.

Benz’s letter was one document I wouldn’t be saving.