Blood Like Rain by Albert Tucher

Author:Albert Tucher
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Down & Out Books

54

He did this occasionally. Instead of waiting until Wednesday evening to see Lucy, he showed up at Beretania Street at lunch time. He enjoyed scoring husband points with the other women at Honolulu P.D. headquarters, and Lucy wasn’t immune to his charms either.

Or so she let him believe.

He signed into the building and walked the familiar route to the lab. On the way he greeted several cops he knew, some through Lucy, and others through interdepartmental cooperation. His destination was the Spartan lunch and break room, which he had to himself at a quarter to noon. He just hoped she could get away.

He had Kai’s sample in his briefcase, along with some reports he could make a little progress on.

So who was joining him in the break room? He didn’t have the time or inclination to socialize. He looked up.

A younger man looked down at him with intense interest. Coutinho got up and held his hand out.

“Errol Coutinho. Lucy’s husband.”

“I heard you were here. Clayton Kimball.”

The young man’s interest seemed to increase. Coutinho had seen it before.

“Lucy’s mentioned you.”

“In a good way, I hope.”

“Definitely.”

The young man kept shaking his hand, until Coutinho thought he might have to yank it back. Finally, Kimball released him.

“Should I tell her you’re here?”

“No, thanks. It’s a surprise.”

“Care for coffee?”

“I’m coffeed out for today.”

“Water, soda? I even have beer. Just don’t tell anybody.”

The young man seemed so desperate to act the good host that Coutinho accepted a bottle of water.

He groped for conversation. They couldn’t talk about business, because the technicians were supposed to do their testing without the influence of outside information. Then it came to him.

“You’re from Montana?”

“Right.”

“Lucy might have told you. I went to Missoula for college.”

“Yeah, she did. So did I.”

“A little after my time.”

Kimball frowned. “Not as much as you might think.”

“You did forensic sciences there? They have a good program.”

“Yeah.”

For some reason that was a topic to avoid. Coutinho wondered why, but he decided that being sociable with this young man was worth only so much effort.

And at that moment Lucy appeared in the doorway.

“Don’t I know you from someplace?” she said.

Coutinho went to her for a quick kiss.

“Is it coming back to you?”

“You remind me of my husband. In a good way.”

At that point he caught sight of Kimball’s face and understood. The man might be fifteen or twenty years younger than Lucy, but he had a major crush. Tact took over, even though he owed Kimball nothing. He disengaged from his wife. It was time to get professional anyway.

“Got a sample, and the paperwork.”

“Come to my office.”

“Nice meeting you, Clayton.”

The young man said nothing. Lucy didn’t react. Coutinho would have been surprised if she hadn’t already figured out how to handle him.

Her office always intimidated him with its perfect order. He signed the swab from Joshua Kai over to her. No explanation was required or desired.

“Now, I have a reservation for two at Kaka’ako Kitchen, and the first one I thought of was you.”

“When did I get promoted?”

“About twenty-five years ago.

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