Tense
** PLEASE BE ADVISED ** - the following chapter contains STRONG sexual references for adults only - 18+ ONLY
It was the stare into each other’s eyes. It lasted a few seconds longer than normal. Passing food to each other, fingertips brushing. Clint Stone noticed the subtle differences as he dried glasses, dumping them behind his counter. Working over thirty years on the job with the LCPD gave him a world of experience but it was owning a bar that did it. He had a lot of different types walk in here, mostly other cops, a lot of those he worked with, then there were the badge bunnies – gorgeous women with the specific intention of sleeping with a cop. Only a few customers came off the street, music pumping from the jukebox drawing them in. He noticed the ADA in here sometimes, even some local politicians when they wanted to let their hair down. Point was, he noticed things. Heard things too. As a bartender, you became people’s glorified shrinks, without the hourly rate, and the tips were lousy. But what did he care? It kept him up with the gossip. It’s how he knew his son’s partner had been the subject of four Internal Affair investigations. Four! He knew she was reckless, ruthless, and insubordinate. He glanced at them again. Something had changed between them. He could tell. She used to hold his boy at an arm’s length but no longer. They sat closer. She smiled at him more. His biggest fear was she was going to get him killed. She’d already gone and got herself shot and now they’re all running around on this secret task force chasing a serial killer. No one knew the details about it, not even the Commissioner can give him information. No leaks. He couldn’t even gain access to her I. A packet. What use was there being a retired Lieutenant? Brock signaled him over. Asked him for two more beers. He popped the cap off for them both. He seemed happy his boy. For Christ’s sake, he’d been in war zones, and he was a 33-year-old man. But matters of the heart had a way of twisting the mind, which led to distractions, and distractions on the job meant the difference between life and death.
