Guilt and Innocence

Chapter 2-1

Chapter 2

Three hours after Archie had left, I was back to pacing the squad room.

“That’s the third time you’ve passed my desk,” Officer Marlon Glass commented. “You hoping I’ll notice your new haircut or something?”

“Just aggravated.”

“Ames Preston?”

“And worrying about Archie.”

“Yeah. Glad he’s okay. Wanna head out for some pizza for lunch? Maybe a burger?”

“No, thanks, Glass. Another day.” Now that I was still, I was staring at the rest room door. When Preston came out of it, and then took a left, heading for the reception area, and eventually past Ruthie, I waited a few seconds, then followed. “I have no appetite for food, today.”

The storms all night and into the morning had failed in their attempt to soothe the dog days of August into rolling over and playing dead. Preston had chosen to go wherever he was going on foot, almost skipping down the sidewalk in the heart of downtown. I would have preferred a car. Hiding was easier in a car. Plus, my car had air conditioning, and I could sit. The view was better on foot. There was that. When I realized I’d been watching Preston’s ass the whole time, I switched my focus upward, toward his big, broad shoulders, then glanced at the lush green mountains at the horizon as pretense.

Was there a particular point to tailing the newbie? Not really. Sometimes, I was just nosy. I wondered if the guy knew someone in New Mill Town, if there was some particular reason he’d swum out of a big pond to come dive into a smaller one. Was he hoping to go from guppy to shark? Was he involved in an illicit, long-distance love affair he wanted to make short-distance? Would said long distance love be male or female? Following Preston might offer some answers.

Preston passed the diner, so he wasn’t looking for food. His gait was swift. Maybe, after one morning with me, he was rushing right out of town with his tail between his legs. It’d be great to see him go and watch him leave, as far as I was concerned.

At least there was sunshine, now. Instead of gloom and rain, there was broiling, blinding UV rays of torture. So much for exercise brightening one’s mood.

“Why is Captain Becker angry with you, Archie?” Preston had asked.

It was the perfect follow up question, the right one, of course. Still, as I thought back to the earlier conversation, I grew angrier and angrier, not at Archie, not even at Preston, but at myself.

* * * *

“Do I have to answer?” Archie looked to me for guidance.

“You should.” I didn’t dare say much more.

“Well, I crossed before the sign said I was supposed to, and not in the crosswalk.”

I let out a breath. “That’s why you think I’m mad at you?”

“Yeah. Nothing was coming—”

“A garbage truck was coming,” Preston interjected.

“Not when I started to cross.”

“I’m a bit overprotective of Archie. We all are. We just want you to be careful,” I added directly to him.

“Because my parents died in a traffic accident.”

“Right. Cars and trucks come around that corner kind of fast. This is a perfect example of why it’s always best to wait until the sign says to go. Look at me, Archie.”

Archie’s gaze, petulant, squinty, did turn to me. “I’m not a kid,” he said.

“You’re right.” I wanted to touch him but didn’t know where to do it. “I’m sorry.”

“Nobody waits. I was just in a hurry. You overreacted.” He almost covered his mouth again, but then just lowered his head.

“Not today, Archie. Not today.”

“I shouldn’t have said that.”

“It’s okay.”

“I’m sorry, Archie.” This time, Preston’s interference was welcome. “I didn’t know about your parents. That explains why you’re both so shaken.”

Another two minutes, and Archie had been sent on his way.

“Just be extra careful, okay?” I had told him. I’d gotten a smile for that, and a promise.

“I will. You, too.”

“I will, Archie.”