Page 8 of Hidden Ties

“That’s so.”

“Welp, glad to know you caught her.” Yawning without a fuck to give in the world, he was ready to go back to his home for a peaceful weekend without Valerie watching his every move. “Good night!”

“Say, Sal,” the officer stopped him before he could walk off. “You haven’t noticed anything suspicious, have ya?”

His eyes went back to the doors of the car still ajar.Should I? No … I shouldn’t, right?

Devious thoughts ate at him to do it, but his code told him not to ever rat. If there was anything the mafia hated, it was rats … but this wasn’t a criminal matter for him; it was a civil one. One where every time he came home, his peace was disturbed time and time again. Those beady little eyes trying to catch a glimpse of anything set him on edge and, frankly, tonight had been the last straw.

Pushing his glasses up higher, he let his friendly neighborhood alter ego do the talking. “You know …” Sal cleared his throat and raised his voice an octave higher so he was certain she could hear. “She was staring at her computer all night.”

Officer Daniels smiled, pulling out a pen and notepad. “That so?”

“That’s so.” He nodded, watching him jot it down with a clear conscience. How incriminating could it be to say that? Half of America sat in front of their computer for hours. So, being thegood neighbor Samaritan, he figured he should drive it home a bit more … “I meanglued.”

He had barely finished his sentence before a rage-filled scream of obscenities came from the car.

“That motherfucking, cock-sucking bitch of a mother-loving whore of a bastard!”

Officer Daniels’ eyes grew wide as he watched his cop car begin to shake as she beat the cage with her feet before looking over at Sal.

Basking in the glory of his enemy’s downfall for a moment longer, Sal raised his eyebrows appreciatively. “Feisty.”

“Seems like it,” Daniels said, moving to the car door. “And thanks, Sal. You have a good night.”

“Oh, I will.” He whistled the tune ofMister Rogersover her shrill screams and metal banging. “It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood.”

***

Lying keeled over in the back seat, exhausted from her rage, she began to inwardly curse herself for letting her imp get the best of her.

Well, she was a gamer after all. They tended to rage from time to time, and Valerie found herself no better than a man.

Before Sal had opened his big fucking mouth, she’d thought if she ever got out of this mess, she’d move, butnotnow. Nope. She skipped right over full-fledged embarrassment to straight-up fury. Now, if she did manage to escape this crucifixion, she’d make Sal regret the day he ever moved in next door to Valerie Monroe.

If he thought she annoyed him now, just wait until her ass got out of jail. She was going to be his worst fucking nightmare that would make the likes of Harlequin look like a joke to Batman.

Closing her eyes tightly, she made a promise to herself in a whisper, “I’m going to make him pay for that.”

The ride wasn’t much longer before the car pulled to a stop. The officers got out of the car before the back seat door opened; it was Officer Daniels who did the honors of pulling her out.

“Hey, Chad, why don’t you go on in and find something to eat in the station. I can book her myself.”

“You sure?” the other officer asked, clearly remembering her not-so-minor outburst.

“Oh yeah, I can handle this little one just fine,” he said, giving her cuffs a good tug.

“All right, then.” Chad nodded, wasting no time to go inside.

Valerie’s heart sank as her skin went cold from being alone with the officer. She wanted to tell him she was all bark, no bite … well, mostly.

Nervous, she shakily began pleading when she was pushed up against the cop car. “Listen, I don’t plan to cause you any more trouble. I just let my anger get the best of me, is al—”

“It’s not me you should be worried about,” he gruffed out in a hushed tone.

“Huh … What?” she asked, having not expected that.Did he sound … worried?

“Do you know who you just fucking cussed out back there?”