Amanda woke the next morning to the smell of breakfast. She looked around and grabbed Zane’s shirt from its hanger. She put it on and walked to the kitchen.
Zane was busy in the kitchen, frying eggs and bacon for them. He did not see nor hear her as she approached him. He jumped when she wrapped her arms around him from behind and hugged him.
“Whoa!” he said. “Careful! You frightened me. I could have burned you.”
“Would it matter? You shot me already last night,” she smiled.
He took the food off the stove and dished it up for them. He placed the food on the table and then he turned around and put his arms around her. He lifted her and put her on the kitchen
counter.
“You’re wearing my shirt?” he asked as he took in the sight of her.
“I am,” she smiled.
“That just drives me wild,” he said as he kissed her. He lifted the front of the shirt where h
Zane started the car and they drove off.“Where we going now Chief?” Johnson asked.“We’re going to see the next informant,” Zane said. Zane was in a quandary. He did not know if Johnson could be trusted. If Johnson couldn’t be trusted the last thing he wanted to do was reveal another source to a corrupt cop.Instead of driving to the next informant, Zane drove out of town to a deserted farmhouse. They slowed and turned off onto the dirt road. They drove up the dirt road and Zane parked in front of the house. He turned off the car and climbed out.Johnson climbed out and closed the door.“Are we really meeting someone here?” Johnson asked.Zane stood on the other side of the vehicle. His body was hidden and he drew his gun without Johnson noticing. Then training his gun on Johnson he stepped forward.“Give me your gun,” Zane said. “Nice and slow.”Johnson h
After Zane left, Brian called Johnson over to his desk. When Johnson came over Brian stood.“Come with me,” he said to Johnson.Johnson followed Brian to Zane’s office. Brian closed the door and they sat down in the chairs in front of Zane’s desk facing one another. Brian looked around conspiratorially.“Listen, Johnson. You’re new here. Some of the other officers here and I, don’t want to see you get caught in the crossfire. The chief’s under suspicion for corruption. Normally I go everywhere with him but I think it’s strange that he cut me out this morning and put you in my place. It worries me. I need to warn you to be careful. The Chief’s in big trouble if he’s involved in the corruption we’re talking about and I suggest you stay as far away from him as you can without making him suspect you know anything, okay?”“Why?” Johnson asked.“Why? Why?
When Johnson arrived at Zane’s place it was after seven. He parked in the drive and knocked on the door. He heard voices inside and a few moments later Zane opened the door. Zane stepped outside and closed the door behind him as if he didn’t want Johnson to come in or see inside.“Hey, Johnson. What’s up?”“Thanks for seeing me Chief,” Johnson said.“No problem. You’re on my team. My door’s open at any time. How can I help you?”“Well, after our ride and our chat today, I got to thinking. You asked if I had some time off due to me and I do. I wasn’t planning on taking time off but my mom’s getting on and she generally isn’t well. I have been thinking all day that I should go see her, so I wanted to ask you if I could take the leave that’s due to me, effective tomorrow.”“Sure. Rather see her now while you can instead of waiting till her healt
The next morning Zane woke and made breakfast for them. Amanda woke and found Zane in the kitchen. She helped make coffee and they had breakfast and a shower before they dressed and headed over to Amanda’s house where he dropped her off.Zane accompanied Amanda into her house and she led him to her mother’s room. She introduced Zane to her mother again but her mother hardly recalled who he was. He made small talk with her for a while and then they left her mother to rest.Zane said goodbye to Amanda on the porch and told her he would call later.“Zane,” Amanda called as he turned to leave.He stopped and turned back to face her. She still held his hand and pulled him close again for a kiss.“Will you promise me something?”“Depends what it is my lady,” Zane smiled.“Will you promise me you’ll think about joining me in the city?”Zane was quiet. He was taken aback
Zane left the station at five. He greeted Brian and the rest of the officers and headed home. He stopped first at the supermarket to buy groceries. He had invited Amanda over for dinner and he needed to stock up to cook a decent dinner for them.He made his way home and parked in the garage as usual. He entered the house and stopped in his tracks.Hope was waiting for him. She sat in the living room where she had sat before. She had a gun trained on him.“Come on in Chief,” Hope said calmly. “Don’t try to run.”Zane closed the door and walked into his house.“What the fuck do you want? After everything, do you even think you’re welcome at my house?”Hope arched her eyebrows. “Hence the reason I am holding a gun and am not afraid to use it. I came to chat one last time Zane.”She motioned for him to come into the living room and kneel on the floor.“Take off your
Zane lay on the bunk in his cell. He had slept little the night before. Terry brought him breakfast and he picked at it without much of an appetite. He hadn’t demanded his one call yet. He didn’t know who to call.There was no point in calling Sanchez. He hadn’t been in touch since Zane had spoken to him. He sure as heck wasn’t going to call Amanda. After the pain, he had seen in her eyes the night before he doubted she wanted anything to do with him. Brian had not done the necessary arrest paperwork the night before since it was so late. He was released from his cell to sit in an interrogation room so Brian could complete the paperwork.He passed the forms to Zane. “Why don’t you complete them and save us a lot of time.”“Sure, let me go to the toilet and I’ll wipe my ass with these forms. You’re the one who’s getting paid now do your fucking job.”Brian smiled and took the forms bac
The next morning Terry greeted Zane.“Good morning Chief. Oh wait, ex-chief,” he joked as he opened Zane’s cell. “Got a visitor for you.”Zane ignored the comment. It was amazing how people showed their true colors when they thought they held all the power. He walked to the interrogation room and sat down wondering who the visitor could be.When the door was opened to grant the visitor entry, Zane stood immediately. It was Commissioner Loman.“Commissioner,” Zane greeted him.“Good morning Zane,” the Commissioner greeted him. He approached and shook Zane’s cuffed hands. Then he turned and waited until Terry left them alone and closed the door.“Please be seated Zane,” Commissioner Loman said.Zane sat down. He had known Commissioner Loman for a long time. He was a big man. Six foot two. Everyone Zane had spoken with always spoke highly of the Commissioner and Zane
Zane looked Amanda in her eyes the question on his lips. He wanted to ask it, no. He had to ask it, but he didn’t want to hear the answer.No. He wanted to hear the answer too. He just didn’t want to hear what he believed it would be. But he needed to know for sure one way or the other.“And?” his voice was almost a whisper.Her eyes continued to search his. What she was looking for, he had no idea. He wished he knew. He wished his eyes could show her that. What she was searching for. He wished they could show her how much he loved her, how much he cared for her. That he wanted her to be safe and that even though he would leave here with a criminal record, they could still be together. Finally, she stopped searching his gaze and stilled her eyes meeting his gaze head-on.“Sorry, Zane. I’m running.”She gave him another quick kiss. The last kiss. The kiss he would remember for the rest of his life.