Page 44 of Phoenix

“Fuck that. I’m so sick of this shit. Aren’t you sick of it?”

“Leave it alone, Jule.” Tor propped his forehead against Jule’s and wove his fingers through Jule’s hair.

He always had. Every time Tor had shut down, he had relented. They were twenty-eight years old. People around him were getting married, having children. But they were stuck in a purgatory that Tor seemed unwilling to fight his way out of. For years, Jule had relented, but in that moment, exhausted and scared and frustrated, Jule pushed back. Not with his fists or with his rage, but with his words. “No. Tori, I don’t understand. Talk to me. You never fucking talk to me.”

Something shifted in Tori’s expression, a crack, and for a moment, he thought he’d gotten through to him. But then the blinds came down, his expression shuttered, and he sat up.

“Tor?” he said, panicked. “What are you doing?” He didn’t need to hear the answer because Tor was showing him by reaching for his shoes. “Please don’t go.” He kicked himself for pushing too hard. “Tor, come on.” He gripped his hip.

“I talk to you, Jule,” Tor said as he wedged his foot into his shoe. “You’re the only person I really talk to. But some things can’t be said.” He bent back down and kissed him. “I have to go. I’ll come back as soon as I can.” He kissed him again. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

“Tori, please. I need to understand.”

He gazed at him for a long time, his blue eyes so shattered that Jule’s chest ached in reaction. “Penance,” Tor finally said, and then he stood and walked out the door.

Chapter 13 – Age 29

“Detective Wyble! It’s great to have you back.” Jule reached his hand out to Marcie.

“Stop with that detective bullshit and put your hand down.” She stood up, stepped around her desk, and circled her arms around Jule in a tight hug. “You saved my life, carrying me out of there and getting me to the hospital. We’re bonded now.”

“It was the least I could do after you saved both of our lives in there.” He gave her a squeeze and then clasped her biceps, leaned back, and looked her over. “Seriously, though, how are you?”

“I’m all better,” she said loudly. “I’m completely healed!” She lowered her voice and bent her head forward. “They need to let me back in the field. Desk duty is making me batty. Literally.”

Jule laughed. “You can probably use the rest.”

“Sure.” She rolled her eyes. “You’re good though?”

“I wasn’t the one who was shot.”

“No, you’re the civilian who dodged bullets, witnessed two people dying, and had to carry my bleeding ass out of there. I’m assuming your office doesn’t require a psych eval before they put you back to work because I know you’ve been in trial over the last few months, but there’s no shame in getting help.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” He appreciated her concern, but she was wrong about what was still bothering him about that night, and he couldn’t talk to anyone about Tor. Not even Tor. He’d tried.

“Very convincing.” She shook her head. “Anyway, thanks for coming over here. I figured you’d want an update on the case, and I want to show you something.”

His client was no longer alive, so he wasn’t entitled to any information, but after everything that happened, he wasinvested and curious. “Sure.” He pulled out the chair in front of her desk.

“Actually, Jeffries is out and she said we could use her office. It’s more private.”

He followed her to the commander’s office, and they sat at a round table.

“Have you heard about Ariel?” Marcie asked.

“No.” He shook his head.

“He’s been arrested.”

“Detective Ariel was arrested? Why?”

“He set us up.”

Jule’s breath caught.

He must have looked as shocked as he felt, because Marcie nodded knowingly. “Took me off guard too. I mean, he was always a dick but so are lots of people so I didn’t think much of it.”

“What happened?”