"You're Sergeant Mara, aren't you?"

Joanie looked up from her monitor and saw Constable Patrick Marinville looking down at her. He was taller than everyone else in the detachment, taking the title from her, for which she was relieved; in her experience, male officers in her vicinity, when they weren't trying to hit on her, quietly resented her for being taller than them, as if height were the sole province of males. She couldn't help her genes; her dad was a skyscraper, and she got her height from him, while her shorter brother got their mother's height.

"Yes," she said. "I'm sorry, we haven't been introduced."

He actually saluted her, which he didn't have to do, and said, "Constable Patrick Marinville. I was transferred in from the Kelowna detachment, and I thought I'd introduce myself to everyone here."

Joanie rose and offered her hand. "Nice to meet you." As he took it, firmly but not squeezing hard like a dick would, she said, "I detect a Maritime lilt in your voice, but you say you came from Kelowna?"

He smiled sheepishly and said, "Is it still there? I was born in Moncton, New Brunswick, but I've lived out west for at least half my life."

"Ah, well, it gives you character."

He appraised her in a way that made her stomach flutter. "Seeing your red hair and knowing your last name is Mara, I'd have thought you'd attended a kitchen party or two as well."

She chuckled. "No, as a matter of fact, I was born here. I've always wanted to go east to visit, though."

"I take it you never got posted there?"

"Nope. Just north."

"I hear that."

"So, Kelowna must have been pretty plum, you've got the lake, the wineries. What brought you out here?"

He shrugged. "Well, to be honest, I wanted to be closer to my kids."

Her stomach ceased fluttering. Nope, not getting involved with another man with kids. "Oh. Did your... spouse... come out here with them first?"

His face darkened a little, but he cleared his throat and smiled weakly. "Yeah. You could say that."

Time to jump off this touchy subject. Clearly there were issues there. "Anyway," she said. "Have you been paired up, yet?"

"Uh, yeah, as a matter of fact. Constable al-Rashad. She drives while I take point."

Poor Fatima. She was either going to fall in love or find herself embroiled in a lawsuit. "Excellent. She's good police."

He didn't comment about his partner. He was clearly nervous about something else. "So," he said. "Word around the detachment is you're kind of a hero."

"Ha!" she said. "I got shot so I'm riding a desk. Some hero."

He chuckled. "Still. Most of us don't see any action at all, and you did it while you were off duty."

"Ah, they told you that, did you?"

"You got the Cross of Valour."

"Okay, yeah, it's sitting on my mantle." 

"A kidnapped teenager and a shootout between two rival gangs. They could have screenwrote that for a movie."

She blushed and sat back down. "Before you make my head swell, I have a whole stack of reports to file."

"Say no more. I've talked your ear off. I need to type mine up too and get out of here."

"Oh, were you and al-Rashad on the graveyard shift?"

"Yeah. So, I'm curious, will you be going back out in the field?"

"Yeah, once I'm cleared. I'm also studying for the detective exams."

"Oh, good for you! I hope you get it."

"Thanks very much."

He nodded and actually blushed a little. Her determination not to be interested in this man wavered a little.

He said, "If we ever get paired up, I'd love to hear more about the Battle of Barnet, as they're calling it, from your perspective."

"You'd want to share a car with me? What about al-Rashad?"

He shrugged. "Oh, she's nice and all, and we can relate to each other because we both speak French, but... well, I can tell she's interested in me, and I don't want to encourage her, at least not now, because... you know, I'm still married, at least until the divorce papers go through and, honestly, I still love my wife, regardless of what happened."

"Oh." She was confused now. Did that mean he wasn't expecting any interest from her? She was probably a few years older than him, but hardly enough to matter. Then again, men tended not to date older women, it was usually the opposite. She decided to play it safe and said, "Whereas you and I would be the model of professional relations, aside from your blatant hero worship?"

He burst out laughing and said, "Ah, you're probably right. Maybe we wouldn't be a good fit, either."

She smiled. "Well, it's up to the watch captain to make assignments, so I guess we'll have to see."

He smiled and gave her an another unnecessary salute. "See you around, Sergeant."

Joanie watched him go, feeling a mixture of emotions: attraction, as inconvenient as that was, but also wariness. Something about that conversation didn't sit right with her. Constable Marinville was a large and powerful man, and most likely dangerous if provoked. She saw how his face darkened when he mentioned his wife; he might have claimed he still loved her, but most crimes men committed against women resulted from love gone bad, and if there were kids involved, then that only added fuel to the fire, especially if he thought his wife was keeping him from seeing his kids. That made her wonder why, and wondering made her circle back to the fact that he was a large and powerful man. Was abuse in the picture, of wife and/or kids?

She went back to work, resolving to keep an eye on Constable Marinville. She might not be able to look him up in the system in case he had an arrest record; that was illegal and against procedure. Besides, if he was arrested, he wouldn't be working. Any complaints, and he'd be on leave at the very least. No, she'd have to find her information some other way. Ask Fatima? Maybe, but not now; Fatima might think she was jealous, and if she told him Joanie was asking about him so soon after this conversation, he might get the wrong idea.

She thought about it until she clocked out, and as she was changing back into her civilian clothes, it came to her that she should ask her sister in arms. Lauren might have ways of finding things out that wouldn't raise the same suspicion as her ways would.

As she drove home, she called her on speakerphone with the phone on its hands-free device. 

"Hey, girl," Lauren said, surprised. "I didn't expect to hear from you until after Sunday."

"You mean post transaction?"

She burst out laughing and said, "You know he finally fucked me two nights ago?"

"Well, well, you must be happy."

"I couldn't let him have you until he had me first, injury or no injury. We have a lot of catching up to do."

"How did you manage without hurting your neck?"

"Slowly and carefully."

Joanie chuckled. "Well done."

"Oh, hey, before I forget," Lauren said, "On Monday the doctors said Al's eyes opened."

"Oh! That's good news isn't it?"

"We think so."

"Did you go see him?"

"We did, and Sunny and Tej came too, but unfortunately his eyes didn't open when we were there. Something else happened, though."

"You have me intrigued, now. What happened?"

"Someone else came to visit Al. An old girlfriend of his named Agnes."

"Really? I can't imagine Al having anyone before Rachel."

"It was years and years ago. She lived in the Okanagan but just came back and was hoping to reconnect."

"You're kidding. The Okanagan, you say?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Probably just a coincidence. A new transfer at the detachment came in from Kelowna, and I was calling to ask your advice."

"A cop is asking me for advice about another cop?"

"Hey, do you kiss your daughter with that mouth? Naomi knows I don't like that word."

"She's not in the room. I'm safe. What kind of advice are you looking for?"

"I'd like to know if there's anything I can do to look into him without going through official channels. I don't want to tip him off."

"Joanie?" Lauren asked. "Are you into this guy?"

"Well, he's as tall as Joe is, so already he checks enough boxes, but there's something off about him, and before I even entertain any ideas, I want to make sure he's not a creep."

Lauren was silent for a moment before saying, "Joe'll be heartbroken if you add another tall guy to your line-up, but that's your prerogative. What makes you think something's off?"

"He's in the middle of a divorce, and he says he moved here to be closer to his kids. Is his wife guilty of child abduction, or was she fleeing him because he's abusive?"

"Huh. You know, this Agnes is also separated, and Sunny offered her free legal advice."

"Coincidence?"

"Must be. Your guy's in Langley. This woman works at VPL now, same as Al."

"What's she like? I've only seen Al with you and Rachel. I can't imagine someone else in his life."

"She's Asian, a bit taller than me, black hair. Cute."

"Um... who reminded him of whom?"

"Oh, behave. We're completely different."

"I'll take your word for it. So, any ideas about this guy?"

"Well, my main method of finding anything out about people is watching them through a telephoto lens, but I'm in no condition to do surveillance even if I did have the time."

"Hm. Do I have the time?"

"I wouldn't, Joanie. You're pretty noticeable. He'd make you in a second."

She sighed in resignation. "You're probably right."

"Let me think on it a little, maybe I'll come up with something."

"Okay. Hey, do you think I should go visit Al?"

"In the hospital?"

"Yeah."

"Well, we were there the last two nights, it would be nice if he had company while Rachel took tonight off."

"Okay. Maybe I will."

"Thanks very much, Joanie. Let us know if there are any developments."

"Will do."

Joanie decided to just stay on Highway One rather than go home first. That was the real reason she was going to see Al; as nice a person as she thought he was, they weren't necessarily close enough for her to visit him in the hospital, but the prospect of returning to an empty home still depressed her, and she'd take any opportunity to delay it. 

Taking the Willingdon Avenue exit in Burnaby, she followed it south, took a right on Sanderson Way and then took the winding road until she reached the hospital. She paid for parking and made her way to the ICU. 

It took her a while to find his room, but when she did, someone was just exiting it. She was an older woman, and when she saw her she started and said, "Oh, hello."

"Hi."

"Which patient are you here to see?" There were two names on the board outside the room.

"Al Mackenzie."

"Oh! I'm his mother. How do you know Al?"

"I'm a friend of his friend, Joe."

She nodded. "Well, it's nice to know he has lots of visitors. I heard from Rachel that his eyes opened, but sadly it didn't happen while I was in there."

"Sorry to hear that."

"I'll let you go in there, then. I need to grab a taxi back to Coquitlam."

"Mrs. Mackenzie, please, let me take you back, I also live in Coquitlam."

She brightened. "Oh! Well, if it's no trouble. Taxis are expensive going that far. Al used to drive me wherever I needed to go."

Joanie smiled. "He's a good boy." Except for his adultery with Lauren, but Joanie couldn't judge.

"Why don't I go back in with you while you say hello."

She nodded, and Mrs. Mackenzie opened the door for her. They stepped inside and looked down at Al. 

"Is it a good sign that his eyes are moving under his eyelids?" Joanie asked.

"It's like he's dreaming," she said, nodding.

"Speaking of visitors," Joanie said, "I heard an old flame of Al's stopped by on Monday."

Mrs. Mackenzie frowned. "Who do you mean?"

"I think Lauren said her name was Agnes."

Mrs. Mackenzie's eyes widened. "Agnes is back in town?!"

Before Joanie could answer, Al's eyes opened. 

Thanks for reading this far! If you liked what you read so far, hit "Vote" to send this title up the ranks. If anything doesn't ring true about police or hospital administration, leave a comment and let me know; I strive for authenticity.

To see how Agnes takes the news of Al's progress, click on "Continue reading."