Page 17 of Bazooka

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

Bazooka

“Morning, kochanie .”

I raised my head, still half-asleep, only to see Luz crossing the room with a blanket wrapped around him.

“Morning,” I murmured, rubbing my eyes. “Is everything okay?”

“I was cold. How long before we have to leave?”

“What time is it?”

“Six.”

“An hour, then.”

We agreed that Luz would come to the precinct today so Patricia could finish the sketches. I suggested inviting her here to save Luz the journey, but he said he needed a change of scenery.

“I’ll just sit here until we have to go,” Luz said, yawning. “It’s warmer here.”

I hummed sleepily, closing my eyes because I hadn’t gotten much sleep last night. I was going through some files, and lost track of time.

“In fact, I’ll lie down,” he murmured, lying down next to me. “Aren’t you cold?”

“Mm-mm,” I hummed. “Be quiet.”

After a short nap, I woke up just as the alarm clock went off. I untangled Luz from my body because his limbs were all over me and headed to the kitchen to make us some coffee. After we both showered and changed, we left for the station.

Along the way, I bought us doughnuts because Luz said he was hungry.

He insisted on feeding them to me because, “I don’t want to die in a car crash before we have a chance to fuck, Baz”.

I almost choked, only to have him pat my back as if I were a toddler first eating solids.

The rest of the drive went smoothly, unlike our arrival, which raised a few eyebrows.

Adam looked too amused for my liking.

“Well, isn’t it the gruesome twosome?” he said, smirking. “Or should I say one-some? No offense, Luz, but you look like shit.”

Luz scowled at him, limping slightly as I led him to the unoccupied desk.

“By the way, lovebirds,” Adam added, because he couldn’t keep his mouth shut. “How is family life?”

“Will you knock it off?” I snapped, glaring at him. “Give him a fucking break. He’s in pain.”

Adam raised his arms in defense, cocking his eyebrows as if I’d surprised him somehow. Patricia looked surprised, too, but also glad to see me.

“Hey, Levi,” she said with a wide smile. “How was your day off?”

“We had ice cream,” Luz cut in before I could reply. “After that, we took a nap. Together. Yourself, Officer Vile?”

“Detective Vile.”

“Pardon me.”

I rubbed my forehead in frustration when Jordan Slade came into the room, only to stop in his tracks.

“Jesus Christ, Luz,” he gasped. “What did they do to you? I didn’t know it was this bad, man.”

“Me neither, but everyone keeps reminding me,” Luz retorted. “Stop looking at me as if I’m an ogre, Jordie.”

“I’m sorry,” Jordan muttered. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Yeah, stop flattering me.”

I couldn’t help but laugh as Luz grinned and winked at me. I made a mental note to add it to the list of things he wasn’t allowed to do, which was getting longer by the day.

“Okay, let’s get this show on the road,” I said with a sigh. “Patricia, where do you want to do this?”

“Maybe in the interrogation room. Luz will probably feel more comfortable if we have some privacy.”

Luz had the same expression on his face as on the day when he set that poor woman’s hat on fire at Tye and Carter’s wedding. I ignored it because ignoring him sometimes helped. After Patricia and Luz disappeared into the interrogation room, I went through the CCTV footage with Adam.

“See here?” Adam said, pausing the video. “The four guys behind those trees over there.”

“Yeah, I can see them,” I said grimly.

The camera angle wasn’t doing us a favor, but I could see four large guys running out of the park and across a crowded avenue. One of them looked just like the guy that Patricia drew based on Luz’s description.

“There’s a parking lot nearby, so they could have left by car,” Adam said. “And of course, if they’re locals, they could have walked home.”

“Where does this avenue lead?” I asked him.

“To Grangetown.”

“I know a guy there who’s also a cop. Marcello Biancchi,” I mused. “I’ll call him and see if he can help us identify them. Anything else?”

“Yeah. There’s word on the street that Mendoza changed his hiding place a few times. Apparently, he’s a bit paranoid since we got so close to him recently.”

“Not close enough.”

“Bradley,” Chief Bibb bellowed from across the room. “In my office.”

I headed there when my phone pinged. I pulled it out of my pocket only to see a text from “Future husband”.

I burst into laughter. That fucking brat. When did he do this? And now did he bypass my screen lock? I changed the name to “Pest” and read the text.

Pest: I’m bored.

Me: Are you behaving yourself?

Pest: Pfft. Duh.

I grinned before walking into the chief’s office.

“Sit down, Bradley.”

“Something wrong?” I asked him because he looked distressed.

“What? Oh, not at all,” Chief Bibb replied. “I was on the phone with Missus. She’s still upset that I beat her at Canasta last night. Erm… where was I? Right. How is this Luz arrangement going?”

“Good, sir. It’s still early days, so we’ll see how it goes.”

“General Zablonsky is a very important man,” Chief Bibb said sternly. “And his happiness is important to me. Am I clear, Bradley?”

“Crystal, sir.”

He couldn’t have been clearer, actually.

“What about the Mendoza situation?”

“We can’t do anything without him doing something first, but we’re keeping our ears to the ground. My gut feeling tells me he will move soon.”

“Good, good. Keep me posted.”

“Yes, sir.”

I left his office just as Patricia walked out of the interrogation room.

“How is it going?” I asked her. “Is Luz giving you a hard time?”

She smiled, avoiding my eyes. “Oh, it’s nothing I can’t handle.”

She was being nice, and I could see it on her face.

“Are you in the mood for coffee?” Patricia asked me. “I know I could use one.”

“Lead the way.”

We headed to the kitchenette, where she made us two strong cups of coffee.

“How are the sketches going?” I said as we sat at the table.

“Good. Luz is very observant. He would make an excellent cop.”

“Speaking of, what about you?” I asked her. “You probably have a good reason for choosing this profession?”

“One thing led to another, I guess. It’s a lonely life, though.”

I nodded. “Sure is.”

“What about your little keychain over there?” Patricia said, pointing her chin at the interrogation room. “He has a bit of a crush on you, doesn’t he?”

I waved my hand dismissively. “Luz is just allergic to the word no. He’ll get over it.”

She didn’t seem to agree.

“No, it’s more than that.”

“I saved his life,” I said thoughtfully. “Maybe it’s some kind of misconception that he owes me or something.”

“Have you ever considered that he’s manipulating you? He’s the type, you know?”

I chuckled. “Oh, he definitely is, but no way he’s doing that. He wears his heart on his sleeve, but he’s so preposterous that most people miss that.”

“He’s a pretty little thing, though,” Patricia said, looking at me from under her lashes. “Wouldn’t you agree?”

I grinned. “I don’t swing that way, if that’s your way of asking.”

“No,” she said, giggling. “It’s just that… you two seem close.”

“He’s a good guy,” I admitted. “An annoying guy, but a good guy. Give him another chance, and you’ll see it.”

She caressed my hand. “I will. Thanks for the coffee. And the talk.”

“You’re welcome. See you in a bit, yeah?”

After she left for the toilet, I made another coffee and brought it to Luz. He was in the interrogation room, scrolling through his phone, but he stood up as soon as I came in.

“Do you need anything else?” I said, leaving the cup on the desk. “Are you hungry? Thirsty?”

He slammed his head into my chest with a groan of anguish. Clearly, it became a habit of his.

“I can’t stand her, Baz,” he murmured, gripping the hem of my T-shirt. “I’m trying, but she’s provoking me.”

“She’s upset,” I said with a sigh. “You upset her, Luz. You must try harder.”

“I know, but… It’s hard. She’s two-faced. She’s behaving one way when you’re with us and the other when we’re alone.”

I raised my hand and caressed his back. “Look… let’s finish this, okay? Then we’ll go and have a drink somewhere. What do you say?”

Luz nodded, sniffling. “Just you and me?”

“We’ll see.”

When he limped to the table, I told myself that enough was enough. After my shift ended, I went to the store and bought him a pair of crutches. Needless to say, it did not go well.

“I’m not using those,” Luz hissed as soon as he saw them. “Either return them or I will throw them out the window.”

Everyone in the precinct was staring at us, but I didn’t care. It was for his own good.

“Luz, take the crutches. Don’t be a child.”

“Never! You can’t make me, Bazooka.”

“Please,” I said, trying to reason with him. “You’re limping. It will make things so much easier for you.”

Luz pouted and whispered in my ear. “She put you up to this, didn’t she? She wants to humiliate me.”

I blinked in confusion. “Who?”

“Are we doing those drinks or what?” Adam said, sounding bored. “‘Cause I’m thirsty and watching you two eye-fuck each other is tedious.”

“Shut your mouth, Markland,” I snapped. “No one is eye-fucking no one.”

“You know Adam didn’t mean anything by it, Bazooka,” Jordan cut in. “He was just joking.”

Adam laughed, looking at him incredulously. “And you’re speaking on my behalf, why? Do you have a death wish, weirdo?”

“No, you do,” Jordan said grimly.

Everyone turned to look at him because he wasn’t known for talking back to people. Usually, he was just his mumbling, confused self.

“Let’s just go,” Luz said, breaking the silence. “I’ll take the fucking crutches. Come on, Baz.”

I knew he did it to save his pal Jordie from further comments, but I was relieved nonetheless because I hated seeing him in pain.