Cameron Andrews Box Set

Chapter 5

Chapter 5Cameron had just turned off the nightly news when there was a knock at her door. She peeked through the peep hole of her door but could only see the top of a police hat in the darkness outside.

“Who is it?” she asked though the door.

“Me. Pauly.”

Cam opened the door and greeted him with a big hug. “Welcome, stranger. Haven’t seen you in a while.”

He handed her a small package as he walked past her into the living room. “Happy Birthday. I know it was two weeks ago. Sorry I missed it.”

Cam ripped the wrapping off the package and opened the small box. Inside was a pair of silver earrings with cabochon amethysts.

“Pauly. These are beautiful. I’d say you didn’t have to, but I’m glad you did. Thank you.” She hugged him once again.

“I heard you’ve been busy,” he said, the smile gone from his face as he sank down onto the couch. Tossing his police cap onto the coffee table, he sat back, loosening his tie. “Got anything to drink? I’m off duty.”

Cameron went to the cabinet over the refrigerator and retrieved a bottle of Dewer’s. With two glasses, a cold bottle of soda water from the refrigerator, and the scotch, she returned to the living room. Setting it all on the coffee table, she sat back, inserting the earrings into her earlobes. Pauly poured them each a drink, and then took a good swig of his.

“You sure you want to do this?” he asked turning to her.

“Drink scotch or wear my earrings?” she teased.

“Don’t play,” he said fiercely. “This is not a funny situation. You know what I’m talking about.” He watched as Cam eyed him warily. “I had a very discreet visitor this morning. Scared the s**t out of me. I haven’t been any good all day. Do you know what he told me?” He waited for Cam to answer.

“Hell, I stopped trying to analyze your love life years ago,” she joked.

His stare stopped her. Paul was not in a jovial mood.

She looked down into her drink. So they’d contacted Pauly and asked him to come in on the plan with her. She hadn’t quite expected this reaction, though. She took a sip of her scotch and felt it warm its way to her stomach. “Yes, I know. It’s true. I asked for you to help me.”

Pauly stared at her. “I wasn’t sure,” he admitted, “He didn’t use names. But after what we talked about that night at the Oak Tavern, it just had to be you. Thanks for confirming it.”

“And if I hadn’t?”

“I had a great joke lined up.” Pauly smiled for the first time since he’d sat down. He ran his hand through his close-cropped sandy hair. “But I don’t know anyone else as loco as you that would do this sort of thing.”

“What? You think I’m crazy? We talked about this years ago, when we’d kick back after shift was over and share our dreams over a bottle of scotch. We both said we’d love to have the opportunity to make a real difference, no matter what it took. Remember that?” The silence from the other end of the couch lengthened. “This is it, Pauly. The chance for my dream to come true. I know it’s not like we planned, no big banners and medals of commendation for a job well done. No ticker tape parades. But I have a chance to make something happen. Even if no one ever knows it was me. I’ll be doing something.”

“Or getting yourself killed.”

Cam stopped for a moment. “Maybe.” She looked into his eyes. “Not if I have the kind of help and support I need while I’m there.”

“What can I do? I’m not a hotshot, Cam. That’s why I’m still walking a beat. I’m just some silly faggot who let his father push him into the Police Academy as soon as he got home from ‘Nam. You know, follow in the old man’s footsteps. When we used to talk about dreams, they were just that: dreams. All I want is to wear this badge, uneventfully, for thirty years and collect a pension so I can move to Key West.”

“You think I’m crazy?” she asked.

“I’m not sure.”

“Who talked to you?”

“Richard C. Deems. Pompous little ass. Probably a closet case.”

Cameron laughed and relaxed, a little.

“Hadn’t considered that. Maybe that’s why he was so upset when I wanted to bring you in with us. Probably worried we’d move in on his territory.”

“He knows we’re gay?”

“Definitely knows I am. Probably figured you out, too. They do a lot of checking before they recruit someone.”

“Oh s**t, oh s**t. This is getting worse all the time. What if someone else finds out? What if this goes on my record? I could get blown off the Force, lose my pension. I haven’t had a serious lover in three years because I’m afraid someone will find out! Maybe I should just save everyone a lot of time and trouble and kill you myself.” He shook his head as his whole body slumped farther down into the couch.

“Relax, son. The deed is done.” She reached out and patted his knee. “I’m sorry I had to put you in this spot but you were the only one I could think of that fit into the picture. How much did he tell you?”

“Not very much. He just said that a very good friend of mine was about to take on a very difficult and dangerous undercover assignment and would need my help. And that it had to be completely confidential. Made me swear an oath that I wouldn’t discuss it with anyone.”

“Then, what the hell are you doing here?”

“I had to find out if it was you. I didn’t mention anything until you brought it up.”

Cam grinned at him. Yes, she’d noticed that. “Good work. See, you’re a born undercover investigator. Wasted on a beat.”

Pauly shook his head.

“I’m sorry if I’ve put you between the rocks but I really need your help. We need someone on the Force, who’s a close friend, to feed me information. Someone that I’ve known for years.”

“What about Russ, why not him? He’s your partner.”

“No. He’s got to be completely outside. I need his honest reaction to what’s gonna happen. My life is on the line if someone doesn’t believe him.”

“Why? What’s going to happen? What are you going to do?” Pauly set his empty glass on the coffee table and leaned toward her.

Cameron finished her drink and took a deep breath. “I can’t tell you anymore until you’re clear. Call Deems back and tell him you’re in, then I can tell you everything.” She sat back. “I know I’ve asked a lot from you. You took me in when Karen threw me out and let me cry on your shoulder when I couldn’t tell anyone else. You’ve been the best friend I’ve ever had. I need you again. You won’t be in any danger, but you sure could save my neck and it’d mean a lot to me to know I’ve got at least one person that I can really trust.”

Pauly shook his head. “I don’t know how I let you talk me into these things. Can I use your phone?”