Page 1 of Mommy

One week ago

Derek

“Thanks.”

Grabbing my coffee, I throw a half smile at the brunette behind the counter.

She’s blushing, and I give her a wink before I exit the little coffee shop.

My colleague is waiting just outside the door, a youngster that looks like he can count on one hand the number of times he’s actually held his gun.

Fucking hell.

The people they send seem to get worse with every year that passes. And now, we either get bulky idiots with no brain, or easily intimidated boys with no muscles to support even their body weight properly. I want to see neither of these types holding a weapon, but… that’s not my decision to make.

Just like it wasn’t my decision to go patrol this part of the city with a kid. Skid row is bad enough to take on with an actual intelligent, well trained adult, or at least someone who’s familiar with the tools on his belt. But with this one? They might as well have sent me on a suicide mission.

That’s why I needed to stop for coffee first. I don’t drink it much anymore, why would I poison my body when it’s doing a pretty good job for me? But… If I’m supposed to spend the next few hours walking around all the tents and trailers, I want to at least be caffeinated.

The odds of us accomplishing anything meaningful today are below zero. Patrolling Skid Row is only interesting until you realize you’re nothing but a bit of decoration. You won’t change shit here, not with honest police work anyway.

This is the part of the city where the homeless people set up camp permanently. It’s one of the biggest hotspots for all sorts of illegal stuff—drugs, guns, puppies. It’s the latter that has my stomach in a death grip as we start strolling down the sidewalk.

Across the street the tarps and plastic bits span between cars and trailers. Everything is dirty, huddled together as if proximity will do much to keep the cold out. A replacement for safety in the pressure of being able to hear your neighbours breathe and fart at night.

I’d bet anything that if I were to choose to go into any one of these tents, I’d find something wrong there. It’s not a question of if, it’s a question of what.

But I won’t be looking into these tents, I’ll just walk around in my uniform and appear to be important while doing absolutely nothing to make things better. Because that’s what police work means. Looking good dressed up like a puppet that won’t do anything it’s not supposed to do.

Except, I’m doing the things I’m not supposed to. Every now and then, I get to make a difference. I get to help save someone, and even if it’s just by covering for my brother, it’s the best part of my life. It’s the part that actually makes me proud.

Chapter one

Derek

I’ve watched people come and go for the better half of the event and by now, my boredom has shifted into exhaustion. The only thing that still manages to garner my attention is the young blonde staff girl that flits through the crowd every now and then.

I’m not sure I’ve seen her before, but I don’t usually hang out at the shelter, so the only person I really know from the staff is Shelly.

I don’t wait for the blonde to come up to me, she seems shy and like she isn’t super comfortable in crowds.

“Hey, can you keep this up for a sec?” I ask my colleague, pointing towards the entrance of the main building, indicating that I need to take the restroom.

I don’t.

But I just saw the cute target for the day enter through that exact door and for a change, the tall, dark haired guy from the staff isn’t right on her tail.

My colleague grunts in acknowledgement and I take that as a yes. Not that there is much for us to do here anyway. The event is pretty chill, not a lot to worry about aside from the occasional accidental spilled drink.

She’s heading for the main entrance, probably closing the door to indicate that the event is winding down.

I wait next to the counter for her to turn back around before I open my mouth. I want to surprise her, not spook her.

“Well… you look breedable.”

It’s the first thought that entered my mind when I saw her petit body, and I’m not bothering with a filter.

The word almost has her snort juice from her nose and a blush is tinting her now rosy cheeks.