"Sergeant Mara, can I have a word with you for a minute?"

Joanie had to put the brakes on her speedwalk to her desk; she was a little late this morning, and for a minute she thought Superintendent Baker was going to reprimand her for it. The commander of the detachment was beckoning her from inside his office. She entered and saluted him, hoping he wouldn't hear her rapidly beating heart.

"Have a seat," he said, gesturing to one of two chairs in front of his desk. 

She sat and faced him. He was a typical functionary of the RCMP, that was, old, white and male. He was good at his job, however, and she had no complaints about his leadership style. He ran a tight ship, and he was fair. That was about all she could ask for. He was in uniform as she was, and he made an impressive figure with his silver hair and his big hands. He had kind eyes, though, and she hoped that would work in her favour, whatever he had to say.

She waited for him to speak, smiling in encouragement.

"As you know," he said, "We think very highly of you here. You did our detachment proud back in August and boosted its reputation nationwide."

"Thank you sir," she said.

"And that's why," he went on, "we want you to be the face of this detachment."

Joanie blinked in surprise. "I don't follow, sir."

"Well, we've been informed Corporal Natychuk is moving east, to be closer to his aging parents. I think he's from Ottawa."

"Oh, well, he'll be missed."

"Indeed. He's a well-respected officer both in the detachment and in the public. That's why it's important for his role as media relations officer to be filled with someone equally respected, who can communicate facts with competency and brevity. We think that person should be you."

Joanie finally understood, and she nearly fell over in her chair. "You want me to be the media relations officer for the detachment?"

"Yes."

Joanie opened and closed her mouth, trying to find the words to say, and she knew she would be doing a terrible job if she'd already been in the role.

"I take it this is a surprise?" Baker asked.

She nodded. "I'm afraid it is, sir. I've never envisioned that path for me. To be honest, I've been studying for the detective exams."

"You can still take the detective exams and perform this role. I think you'd make a fine detective."

"Thank you, sir."

"Here's where I'm coming from on this," Baker said, leaning forward with his hands clasped on the desk. "You've been behind a desk for a while, and I know you're itching to get back out in the field. I think it might be ideal if you eased yourself back into the field, maybe part-time, with a partner, and the rest of your time be available for media appearances, say if a crime of note has been committed in the area, or there's a pile-up on the highway and people want to know when they can get rolling again. You'd also be the point person for telephone and email inquiries from the press."

"Oh, well, okay, the thing is... I don't think I've ever been in front of a camera before."

"You'd get all the training you'd need. If I may be frank, Sergeant Mara, you're a very photogenic person, and I think you'd make a calm and trustworthy presence on camera."

Was he flirting with her? It was hard to tell, and the last thing she wanted to do was acknowledge it and embarrass them both. "There are other photogenic people in the detachment, sir, even other women, if that's what you're implying, such as Constable al-Rashad--"

"I wasn't implying that, Sergeant Mara. Constable al-Rashad is a fine police officer but she's still relatively new. This role really needs someone at the rank of Corporal or above. To be completely honest, we did an informal poll of who the other officers in the detachment would want representing them in the media, and you took the majority of the votes."

Joanie was touched. She had no idea she held so much esteem among her comrades. Well, if Constable Marinville was any indication, maybe it was true. "Thank you, sir. I don't recall participating in such a poll."

He smiled sheepishly, and it made Joanie like him more. "We left you out on purpose, but even if you voted against yourself it wouldn't have made a difference. It was a clear majority. Maybe we were already considering you for the role, but the poll only confirmed what we already knew. It should be you."  

Joanie's head was spinning. "Can I think about this, sir? It's a lot to take in, and I need to see if my reluctance has to do with stage fright or some other reason. If I were to take it, I want to be confident I'd do the best job I could; I don't want to let the detachment down."

Baker smiled. "See, this is exactly why we want you. You have the best interests of the detachment at heart. By all means, give it some thought. Corporal Natychuk hasn't left yet, and if you want to ask him about the role I'm sure he'd be pleased to tell you about it. We would like an answer by the time he's gone, though; we can't leave this vacant for long, and we'll need time to choose another candidate if you refuse."

"Thank you sir. I'll have an answer soon."

He stood, which was her cue to stand. He offered his hand and she took it. "Dismissed," he said.

She saluted and left the office, finally reaching her desk, which was her original destination. She sat and did paperwork, but she couldn't really concentrate on what she was doing.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

She started and looked up, way up, into the face of Patrick Marinville. He was smiling mischievously at her, and when she frowned a question, he shrugged. "You looked off in space, and I never took you for a slacker, not the Hero of Barnet."

She huffed and said, "If you must know, Constable, I'm considering a job offer, and I'm not sure how to say no without looking insubordinate."

His face softened. "You mean the media relations officer."

She gasped. "You know?"

"They polled everybody, including the new transfer," he said, indicating himself. "Me and al-Rashad both sang your praises."

"But... but you barely know me," she said incredulously. "I can understand al-Rashad, we've worked together longer. How can you know how I'd do in front of a camera?"

"Jesus, Sergeant Mara," he said, his maritime lilt making Jesus sound like Jay-sus. "For someone who risked her own life in a firefight, you're sounding like a bit of a scaredy cat."

She chuckled. "When was the last time I heard the term 'scaredy cat'? Are you going to call me a chicken and start clucking, too?"

"Maybe, if it'll push you to take the job."

She leaned back in her chair and appraised him anew. This man was enormous, and he could use his size to intimidate. It was only natural for her to take that and assume he was also humourless and stern. She realized her assumption was wrong. He had a childlike charm that was endearing, and his juvenile taunting actually worked on her better than any reassurances and appeals to her professionalism would have.

"You really think I should take it?" she asked.

He shrugged. "Sure, why not? It's a bit of variety, isn't it? And hey, getting your face on TV is going to make the brass in Ottawa notice you; you won't be just one cog in the great big machine of a national police force. If you want to make detective, maybe you'll get a plum job in a big city once you pass your exams, because your name's out there and they want you."

Joanie hadn't thought about that. When she wanted to make detective, she thought it would be at this detachment, or maybe close by in Surrey, but definitely in the Metro Vancouver region or Fraser Valley. She hadn't thought of moving east or even, heaven forbid, north.

"I'd rather stay here," she said, "but you do make a good case for taking the job."

Just then, al-Rashad made her way over to them and said, "Bonjour, Patrick. Ready for another shift?"

He saw her and said, "Hey, Fatima. Yeah, I was just chatting with Sergeant Mara about the media relations officer job."

She nodded and said, "Are you going to take it?"

Joenie shrugged. "Maybe."

"They'll love your hair," Fatima said. "People will pay attention to you when you come on TV."

Joanie blushed and said, "Well, you two are certainly selling it. I'm going to take tonight to think about it."

To her benefit, she had Joe to bounce it off when he arrived for their time together. As they both lay naked and sweaty on top of the sheets, she mentioned it to him.

He looked to her and said, "It sounds interesting. My only concern is that your face will be in the media again. Remember when you had so many people coming around after you got shot? Most of them were well-wishers, but a few of them were creeps, and it was good you had me here, at night, anyway."

"To protect me, you mean?"

He shrugged. 

"I admit it was a benefit when I was injured and unable to defend myself. I'm able to, now."

"Still, I'll feel nervous now that I'm not around at night anymore."

She turned on her side and ran a hand through his hairy chest. "I have to admit I do miss you in my bed, not so much at night, oddly enough, but in the morning. It's hard waking up and not having you there. But I don't need you to protect me, you know. I'm fully trained in hand to hand combat, and I have a gun."

"So, security isn't your main concern?"

"To tell you the truth, it never even entered my mind until you mentioned it. My main concern is being in front of a camera and worrying I'll freeze."

"Ah. I guess you're not into public speaking."

"No. When I mentioned this worry to Constable Marinville, he said I was being a scaredy cat."

"Who?"

"Oh, sorry. Constable Patrick Marinville. He's the new transfer from the Kelowna detachment. Remember? I teased you with him on Monday. He's as big as you are."

Joe's mouth twisted, and she could tell he was barely controlling his jealousy. It pleased her. He cleared his throat and said, "Is he someone you think you might want to start seeing?"

She chuckled and shook her head. "No."

"Because, really, I have no right to hold you to anything."

"I appreciate that, and one day I might decide to see someone new. But not him. First of all, I really don't want to start a work relationship. Secondly, he's married, and yes, I know that didn't stop us, but that's because Lauren's unique in her ability to share you; I don't think any other spouse would be so generous. Thirdly, I think there's something going on with him. He moved here to be closer to his kids, and I think his wife ran here with them, but I don't know why."

Joe nodded, but he looked preoccupied.

"What is it?" she asked.

"It's just weird," Joe said. "There's this woman who used to be Al's girlfriend--"

"Yeah, Agnes. Lauren told me about her."

Joe's eyebrows rose. "Does Lauren tell you everything? It's like you two talk more than you and I do."

She shrugged. "Women talk more than men do."

"Yeah, so you know she came to visit Al in the hospital? Oh!" He knuckled his head in irritation. "I forgot to tell you. Al's awake now."

She gasped. "Awake, awake? I saw him on Wednesday, and he opened his eyes once but closed them soon after."

He nodded. "Well, this time he was apparently talking to everybody, but he did get tired quickly and go back to sleep, but the doctors assured them it would just be sleep, that he wasn't sinking back under."

She frowned. "Apparently? He didn't talk to you?"

He sighed and said, "I didn't go in the room. I let everyone else say their hellos. I actually took the cat home with Lauren."

"Cat?" Now Joanie was confused.

"Yeah, see, Rachel smuggled in Al's cat, Samson. Apparently she put him on Al's chest, and a minute later he woke; I don't know if one thing caused the other, but results are results." He chuckled and said, "When Al woke, he was a little confused and panicky, and it made Samson bolt through the ICU. The nurses weren't pleased."

"Oh, no!" she said, chuckling. "But they captured him, and you took him home?"

"Yeah. Lauren and I had time alone to be a couple. It was nice."

"Well, I'm glad. I miss you here, but you're where you need to be for everyone's sake."

"I miss you too."

"Okay, don't make me cry. Were you saying something else about Agnes?" 

"Oh, yeah, right. Well, you said your guy's from the Kelowna detachment, and this woman just moved here from the Okanagan with her kids, and it seems like an emergency situation too. Sunny wanted Rachel to lend this woman her place so she could stay there without her husband knowing."

Joanie blinked in surprise. "Wow. I wonder how we can find out if this is the same guy."

"I bet Sunny knows the husband's name by now, because he's helping her with the divorce, but he won't be able to tell us because of client confidentiality."

"That does it," she said. "I'm going to chum up to this guy and see if I can find out more from him."

He wrapped an arm around her and drew her close. "Just don't get too chummy. He might get the wrong idea."

She kissed him hard and said, "Fear not, my love. It will be a fishing expedition only."

"I like how you say that."

"What?"

"My love. It sounds more illicit than anything else you've called me."

"Because we can only say we love each other here."

Joe grimaced. "About that. I kind of goofed once during my marriage counselling session with Lauren."

"What do you mean?"

"I told Lauren I've told you I love you."

"What?!" she squawked, pushing him away. "Why did you go and do that? Are you insane?"

"I know," he groaned, "but I was pissed at her for continuing to justify her affair with Al, as if not being in love with him somehow made it all right. I wanted to hurt her a little. I'm still pissed at her a little, but more at Al, which you can guess is why I didn't go in and see him."

She shook her head in incredulity. "And she still likes me, even after she knows you told me you love me?"

"Well, she has no right to be angry at you. Do you know--"

He stopped, and she could hear his teeth clicking together with the force of him holding something back. "What is it?" she asked.

"I don't know if I should tell you this."

"Spill," she demanded.

"Lauren got pregnant with Al's baby."

"What?!" she nearly shrieked.

"She lost it after the accident, so it isn't a factor now, thank God."

"Oh, my God! I can't believe it! And after she was so police-like about our own contraception!"

"I know. You know what's worse? She tried to pass it off as mine by having sex with me before I moved back in. Apparently she and Rachel had been working up the courage to tell me it was Al's when I got there, but I got the wrong idea and--"

"Wait." She put a hand on his chest and paused a minute to think about what he said. "Rachel was there?"

He blinked at her for a few seconds, mouth open in a grimace of pain. "Yeah."

"So... what, did Rachel leave before you and Lauren had sex? Did she watch the two of you have sex? I know the two of them have sex, and the two of them have had sex with Al together. And Rachel told me the two of you, quote, comforted each other, unquote, while you were out in the wild. So, tell me, Joe, how did it go down?"

Joe closed his eyes and sighed in resignation. "I owe you the truth. Rachel participated."

Joanie gasped and put her hand over her mouth. "You fucked her?" she breathed.

Joe looked wretched. "I take it you want me to go?"

"Um, yeah. This is a lot to take in, Joe. Your wife is one thing. Rachel is another. She wasn't part of our arrangement."

"It was just the one time, babe. It was so fucked up, how it all went down. I feel a bit dirty about it, actually."

She shook her head and said, "I hope you're not trying to justify yourself by putting the blame on them. All three of you are to blame. I can understand Lauren's motivation, she wanted you back. But Rachel? There's obviously more between the two of you than you've admitted in the past."

"Maybe, but I don't think she was proud of herself either. I don't think we'd ever want to do that again."

Joanie harrumphed and said, "Well, thanks, that gives me a lot of confidence. Look, Joe, I think you better go. I don't want to hate you, but I'm feeling a little betrayed right now, and I think I need some space to think about what you did."

Joe closed his eyes, and a tear ran down his cheek, but he nodded and got up. She folded her arms over her chest and watched him dress, still feeling traitorously aroused by his body but too furious to give in to her needs. Thank goodness they'd already done it once tonight.

"If it makes any difference at all," he said as he got ready to go, "I'm sorry. I never intended to hurt you."

"But you kept it from me, because you knew I wouldn't take it well. It's interesting that Lauren never told me, either; I thought she'd be itching for a chance to rub this in my face, maybe make me leave you permanently."

"Like you said, she likes you and doesn't want to lose you as a friend. But I guess you're mad at both of us, now."

"Yup. And I hope I'm never in the same room as Rachel again."

Joe flinched and said, "Joanie, please don't take it out on Rachel. I think she was just swept up by Lauren's intrigue. She has enough to worry about getting Al back to health."

"Huh. I take it no one's told Al about this."

He blinked in surprise. "No, of course not."

"Okay, fine. Get out." 

He sighed in frustration but did as she asked. He locked her door with his own key; she'd had a copy made for him when he lived here nursing her back to health. Maybe she'd take it back now? Oh, God, she didn't know. She lay back on her bed, sobbing into her pillow. This was the last thing she'd expected tonight, and it hurt like hell.

Thanks for reading this far! You can probably see where this is going, now. Joe has competition, and he's not making a case for himself. If you liked what you read so far, hit "Vote" to send this title up the ranks. If something doesn't ring true about police operations, leave a comment and let me know; I strive for authenticity.

To see what Lauren and Rachel were doing while Joe was sabotaging his relationship with Joanie, click on "Continue reading."