Devil of a Favor by Rachel Amphlett

Author:Rachel Amphlett [Amphlett, Rachel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781915231482
Publisher: Saxon Publishing

THREE

Michael thumbed coins into the vending machine outside the squad room and took a step back as a brown viscous liquid spat from the stainless steel jet with a hiss.

He blinked back grit, wiped at his eyes and took a sip before wrinkling his nose at the bitter aftertaste.

The plastic chairs along the walls were empty, faded posters pinned to corkboards above them flapping in the breeze as officers hurried past.

He ran his gaze over the familiar lines of text and health and safety warnings, then turned his back at the sound of voices from the dispatch room.

The radio on his hip remained silent though, and he let his shoulders relax just a little.

Along the corridor, around the corner in a public waiting room, he could hear cell phones ringing, the quiet murmur of voices creating a white noise that soothed.

Here, this was where he belonged, working his shift, serving the community and bringing home a pay check so his kids had a future.

“Must be desperate, drinking that.”

He raised the plastic cup at Aiden O’Dowd. “Just make sure we stop somewhere near a Starbucks in an hour, all right?”

His partner frowned. “The bags under your eyes look like my old lady’s––”

Michael’s phone rang and he gave O’Dowd an apologetic shrug. “Got to get this. See you out by the car.”

He walked a few paces away from the vending machine and the noise of the squad room, answering the call before it went to voicemail.

“Ma, I’m working.”

“Chester didn’t come home last night.”

He held the phone away from his ear while she wiggled her jaw, settled the denture plate that was only three weeks old and not yet worn in, ruminated some more and then––

“Jack says he probably moved in with someone else.”

She didn’t sound convinced.

“There you go, then.”

“I think he’s lying.”

“Ma, why would he do that?”

“Because he’s Jack, that’s why.”

Michael held up his hand as the watch commander stalked towards him. “Ma, I gotta go.”

He slugged back the coffee, dropped the cup in the trash can beside the vending machine and scurried out a side door.

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