The Black Knight Squash Fiction League Match

The T Party CHAPTER FIVE

Shay unlocked the door to his apartment anticipating that Kim would be there. It had been a long, tough day. As he walked into the small foyer he spied Kim lying on his used rose-colored sofa. She was a hottie even if she was his sister.

“Hey, K,” he said as he threw his keys onto the divot-scarred kitchen table…. “Glad to see you’re safe. Thanks for letting me know!”

“Say what? I called you several times and couldn’t get through.”

“You know if you need me, call the precinct.”

“Whatever…. Glad to see you’re safe too.” She rolled her face into the pillows before mumbling, “So what was it like out there?”

Shay walked to the refrigerator, opening it expecting to see something to eat but knowing there was nothing there. “Want a beer?”

“Sure, why not? We’ve been through an earthquake and I met a man, let’s drink.”

“A man--that’s not news. You’ve done that before! But man and an earthquake, pray tell.”

“Later. He may come over! Must have been one hell of a day.”

‘‘Right about that.  Don’t know why they let me go tonight…. There will probably be more bodies through the night--29 deaths and more missing. Some died from falling structures; two were electrocuted by power lines. And one guy drowned with handcuffs on. Puzzling! No word yet from the medical examiner. I went to the dock and checked him out. He must have hit hard because his face…nasty. I’ll follow up tomorrow.”

“Ugh. I’ll take a squash ball I can drive down the wall any day over some of your gruesome stories.”

“I couldn’t hit the ball over and over to someone knowing the outcome each time. No spice in that. Speaking of which…tell me about your spice man.”

“Spiceman…that’s a cute nickname. Wonder if he would take to it.”

“What’s his name?  Does he have a record?”

“NO! and who the fuck cares? You’re not sleeping with him.”
   
“Alright. Should I call him Spiceman or does he have a name that the first woman in his life bestowed on him?”

“You can be such a prick…. Christian.”

“You slept with a Christian?”
 
“Forget it! No more!”

“Ok, ok… sorry. Just a little comic relief after a stressful day. Yours sounded like the best earthquake experience ever.”

A small smile emerged from her face. “Yeah, it wasn’t bad.”

“Can you humor me a little and tell me about Christian, seeing how he is coming to my apartment?”

“Well, he is very good looking and in wicked shape… Everything happened so fast, not sure I can tell you much.”

“Really,” he said, drawing out the “real.” “You do remember how you met him?”

“At the club. He was watching Bethany play, who I guess is a friend of his. I was standing there and he struck up a conversation. Well, barely.  He asked me for a drink.”

“And K being K you said sure?”

“Not right away. I actually put him off a bit, but when he texted me I thought, why not? He must not be that interested in Bethany.”

“I wish I met women like my sister, but I wish my sister wasn’t like women I would like to meet.”

Kim’s text buzzed. Shay took a manly chug of his beer to push his system to a calmer state.
 
“We don’t need to talk much more because he’s coming over. You mind if we stay here? My apartment is toast.”

“You didn’t tell me that. I’ve never met the guy and you want to shack up with him in my apartment? Pretty ballsy, K. What the fuck? Oh, why not, it’s been a crazy day already.”

“Thanks.”

As if on cue, Christian knocked.  Kim stared meaningfully at Shay as she headed for the door. “Treat him nicely!” She opened the door.
 
Christian greeted her, “Long time, no see,” and went to give her a gentle kiss. K put her arms around his muscular frame and offered a more satisfying welcome. “I texted from just outside your door,” Christian explained.

After unhooking, K introduced the two men to each other. “Christian, this is my brother, Shay.”
 
“I understand the earthquake was quite an event,” Shay said. Kim sent him the ‘Don’t you dare’ look.

“Yeah, never been through one before.”

“Nothing like the first time for everything.”

Kim guided Christian past her brother to the sofa in hopes of curtailing this conversation. “You want a beer?”

“Sure. Nice place you have here.”

“I like it,” Shay said. “I hear you are staying tonight.”

Christian looked at Kim and gathered himself quickly. “Thanks…appreciate that.” He sat down on the sofa, and Kim handed him a frosty can of Pabst.

“Haven’t had one of these in ages! Here’s to firsts.”

Cans clicked, and Shay said, “Amen, I’m for firsts,” and winked at Kim. “What did you do in the city before the earthquake?”

“Contractor. Kind of a nomad in my business. And you?”

“Detective. Been one most of my life.”

Christian placed his can on the coffee table.  “Must be interesting, particularly today.”

“Yeah. I couldn’t do what Kim does but I could kick her butt if she had the balls to play me.”

Kim did not let that line float away. “Last time you beat me was? Hmm. Let’s see, I was 12.”

“I told K earlier, there are nearly 30 dead and several missing, plus a weird case where a guy drowned with handcuffs on. Pretty kinky.”

Service training prepared Christian to deal with surprises. “For a detective, bizarre might be interesting.”

“I use to say, ‘Seen everything,’ then this happens and I’m like, really?”

“How do you look into something like this?”

“Obviously we scan the scene for signs of foul play. You’d be amazed at the stupid mistakes criminals make. We look for prints, video cams, and witnesses, of course. At this point, it’s the handcuffs. We don’t even know his name.”

“I’m with you, I’d rather be doing what you are doing than hit the squash ball back and forth all day.” He threw a smile at Kim. “How many guys will work this case?”

“Me and another guy.”

Kim tired of this conversation quickly. “Could we talk about something else?”

“Yeah, sure,” Christian said. “If we’re staying here, I need to go back to my apartment on Telegraph Hill and pick up my things.”

“Yeah, we can…”

“Don’t think so,” Shay said. “That area’s been blocked off due to falling debris. But, given your new relationship with my sister,” he winked at her, “I could get you there.”

The Service’s mock torture and interrogation training gave him the ability to not betray his emotions. “Didn’t think of that. Never mind. I’ll wait til the earthquake blows over.”  He considered how he was going to get back to the apartment. For now…the backpack from the drowned handcuffed man, possible evidence against him, was in his car’s trunk. A problem, but on the other hand he was sitting in THE detective’s apartment, downing Pabst Blue Ribbons.

He was not worried. He was trained.