You Have Arrived

I’m just helping out an innocent woman, Raven thought to herself as she drove her rental car while the hottest man she’d ever seen sat in the passenger seat, It’s not a date. Leroy has nothing to worry about.

If only Tim had walked out wearing something more reasonable, like the skirt and blouse from earlier, something a man like him no doubt looked amazing in, but wasn’t so flashy that it was distracting. But the red dress with the underboob window? Who was she kidding. Leroy most certainly had something to worry about.

Following the instructions her GPS was giving her, Raven dutifully drove to Rackers, a pool hall, Tim had told her, that should have a man in it who could clear things up for Martina Delgado. From what she knew of the areas of town, Rackers’ neighbourhood wasn’t considered particularity reputable, so she was glad that, while she had changed into her civilian clothes, she was still carrying s firearm, a small handgun that had been a gift from her father, snuggly stored in her purse. Should things get dicey, she it was always an option.

“How many more days are you in town?” Tim’s voice cut into her thoughts. He had been humming along to the radio, hitting all the soprano notes on the pop tune she was ashamed to admit that she loved. She loved even more that a man as masculine as Tim could enjoy it too.

“Just until the end of the week,” she said, “then it’s back to the grindstone. How about you?”

“As soon as Martina is all sorted, I’ll be getting back. Hopefully sometime tomorrow,” he explained, “I’m a student, and I really don’t like to miss much school. You don’t get ahead by slacking off.”

“Driven. Good quality in a man,” Raven let slip before she realized that she was thinking out loud.

“Thanks, sweetie,” Tim rested a hand in her knee and giggled, “but I’m not all business. I know how to have fun, too!”

She bet he did. Raven could just imagine the women who were lined up to party with Tim. If she were a betting woman, she’d put money in the fact that the girl she had pulled over when she first met Tim was only the tip of the iceberg when it came to his love life. Not that she blamed him, nor the women who would inevitably throw themselves st him. If given the chance, she might just get in that line herself.

Oh, but Leroy. Poor Leroy. He didn’t deserve to be discarded like that. Leroy was good and faithful. It wasn’t his fault that he didn’t have the animal magnetism, the pure essence of manliness that Tim had.

For the second time since they started driving, Tim flipped the visor down and checked his makeup in the mirror. He looked amazing, but the kind of amazing that didn’t come without effort. She could tell that he was a catch by the dedication he was showing to him image. Tim worked hard. Raven’s father had always told her that if she waited to find a hard working man she would be happy. She had thought the hard working man was Leroy, but Tim made Leroy look like a couch potato.

“Wait,” Raven said as Tim’s words sank in deeper, “you think you can get her case cleared up by tomorrow?!”

“Not me, exactly, this Rick Santos guy,” Tim said, returning his hand to Raven’s denim clad knee, rubbing it slightly, causing her to shiver at his touch, “Martina seemed to think he is connected. Maybe he’s behind everything.”

“And you think he’ll just volunteer this information to you?”

“I can be quite convincing when I need to be,” Tim explained, “and even if that doesn’t work, I’m sure we’ll come up with something.”

“In my experience,” Raven said while she laughed, “the kind of information you’re looking to get doesn’t come quite that easily. We could be dealing with some seriously bad people there. Are you sure you don’t want me to call some of the locals in? This really should be a police matter.”

"Oh honey," Tim answered her, unperturbed by her levity, nor by her concern, "Doesn't it seem strange that a woman like Martina, someone with no serious problems with the law before this week, is being seen as the only possible suspect for so many crimes? What if someone playing on your team is actually playing for someone else?"

"That could never..."

"Of course it couldn't, sweetie," Tim feigned shock, holding one hand in front of his red lips, bringing his other from her leg onto his chest, "such a thing as police corruption could never happen! That only happens in the movies!"

"Fine," Raven said, not amused, "I'll play along because I trust you. Just please be careful."

"Honestly," Tim slid his hand down from his chest and across to her leg again, "What kind of trouble could a sweet little thing like me get into?"

Raven looked at the GPS and saw that they were approaching their destination. She did trust Tim, although she was pretty sure that his assessment of his trouble-free-nature was a bit amiss. Men like Tim, full of machismo, confidence, good looks, and authority, were nothing but trouble. They couldn't help it. And while Raven still felt uneasy about the intense desire she felt for Tim while Leroy waited for her at home, she just hoped that Tim's kind of trouble was the kind that might end her up in bed, rather than in a coffin.