Colby (Season Two: The Ninth Inning #6)
Read Colby (Season Two: The Ninth Inning #6) Online
Authors: Lindsay Paige,Mary Smith
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Colby
Season 2 of
The Ninth Inning Series
Copyright © 2016 by Lindsay Paige and Mary Smith
All rights reserved.
Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be re-produced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trade-marked status and trademark owners of various products, bands, and/or restaurants referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trade-marks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
License Notes
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Table of Contents
“SIT YOUR ASS down.” I watch my partner forcefully place the alleged murderer in the seat of the interrogation room. The kid already cracked me in the jaw, and Duke, my partner, chased him five blocks before getting the cuffs on him.
“Lawyer,” the punk kid sings. “Lawyer. Lawyer. Lawyer.”
“Enough!” I slam my hand on the table. “He’s coming, but in the meantime, stop throwing the chair at the glass.”
“Lawyer,” the kid sneers at me.
I narrow my glare at him before Duke and I walk out.
“He’ll be going away for a long time.” Duke and I head back to our desks.
“Yep,” I answer. Eyewitnesses. DNA. Hell, we practically have him shooting the victim on video.
I’ve been a detective for less than a year. Before this, I was writing speeding tickets and breaking up bar fights. There were some exciting moments, but this is where I belong.
I focus on the additional files on my desk and start at the top. It’s a never-ending pile, but I’m hoping to have a few more closed soon. I begin combing through the leads I have when I look up to see my younger sister coming through the door.
“Ariella.” She spins showing off her little, flowy black dress.
“Wow, Alizeh, you’re one hot mama,” I joke with her.
“There’s my wife.” Duke stands and walks over to her, kissing her lips.
Duke met my sister six years ago when she came over to cheer me on at a policeman-fireman softball tournament. Three months after that, they were officially dating, and they married a year later. Six months ago, they welcomed my nephew into the world, Little Duke.
“What are you doing here?” he asks her, and I tsk him.
“Wrong thing to ask.” I shake my head, as Alizeh’s eyes grow wide.
“Duke, it’s our wedding anniversary,” she hisses at him.
“I know,” he lies. “I’m only kidding.”
Alizeh lifts one brow. “If you know, why ask?”
Duke just chuckles and kisses her cheek. “Just making sure you remember.”
She rolls her eyes at him, and I laugh. “Either way, I’m ready and we have reservations.”
“Um...baby...” Duke trails off.
“Oh no, you don’t.” Alizeh stomps her foot. “Lil D is at Mom and Dad’s for the night. I’ve been drinking smoothies all week to fit into this dress. We haven’t seen each other in days. You’re not doing this tonight.” Her sentences are short and hard. “I want us to celebrate, and I want to be with grown-ups.”
“Baby, I just got some phone records in that I have to go over tonight.” Duke looks so sad and Alizeh might cry.
I jump up from my seat. “I’ll take care of it, Duke.”
They both stare at me for a second, and then Alizeh hugs me tightly. “Thank you, Ariella. If I don’t have sex soon, I’m going to die.”
“Whoa!” I push her away. “TMI, sis.”
Duke smiles sadly. “Thank you.” He hands me the file.
“What are families and partners for?” I shoo them away. It’s not as if I have plans anyway.
I look through Duke’s file and begin making marks of calls and connections between the victim and the suspect. Before I know it, another two hours have gone by and my eyes are burning. It’s almost ten at night as I gather up my things and head off to my parents’ house.
There are no two greater people in the world. I smell apple pie as I walk in through the back door. My mom is sitting at the kitchen table with papers spread out around her. Dad has been trying for years to get her to quit, but at fifty-nine, she still runs circles around the law firm as if she’s a junior associate and not a partner and top lawyer in Tennessee.
She’d always kept her blonde hair long until last year when she chopped it off into a fashionable pixie cut. Her big blue eyes connect with me when I shut the door. “Hey, Ariella, what are you doing here?” She stands up, comes over, and hugs me.
“Thought I’d raid your fridge. I’ve not had time to go shopping.”
“Have a seat. I’ll heat you something up.”
“Mom, I can—” I stop when she gives me a look, and I turn heel and sit at the table.
“Tell me about your day.” She rummages through the fridge and turns on the stove.
“Nothing big. Arrested another young kid, but you know how that story goes,” I say sadly. Mom understands. She’s been trying for years to help delinquent children. She has saved a great number, but so many never get the chance.
“I thought I heard you.” Dad comes into the kitchen. He’s huge. When I was little, I thought he was a giant. He’s six foot six and solid muscle. Even at sixty-five, he still works out every single day. His skin is the color of onyx, and his shiny bald head hasn’t seen hair since before I was born. “You look tired. Are you working too much?” His question is stern.
“No, Dad. It’s just been a long day. Where’s Lil D?”
Dad smiles at his grandson’s name. “Sleeping. We told Alizeh we’d keep him tonight. She and Duke need a night of silence.”
I nod and watch Dad walk over to Mom and kiss her temple. Their relationship has been a tough one. Dad was a new detective when he met Mom when she was an intern in the District Attorney’s office.
Dad says it was love at first sight for them both, but in the seventies in Tennessee, interracial relationships still carried a taboo. Mom’s parents kicked her out the moment they learned of the relationship, but Dad’s parents took her right in. To this day, I still don’t know Mom’s parents, but it’s no skin off my nose.
It wasn’t easy for Alizeh and me, but our parents fought through the barriers and made a great life for us. We’re strong like our parents and they’ve been the greatest role models.
Alizeh followed Mom’s footsteps, became a lawyer, then married a detective. I’m like Dad. Career first, then family. It’s not
completely
true. I desperately want someone. I’m a romantic at heart; I’m waiting for my Prince Charming to come sweep me off my feet.
Mom puts a plate of chicken, corn, and mashed potatoes in front of me. I take the fork she hands me and dig in. Dad begins to bombard me with questions about my cases. You can retire a cop...well...no, you can’t. They’re a cop forever, and I know he misses the job. I give him a few details on some of my cases before I hug them both and head out the door.
I drive to my house in East Memphis. I love my house, but what single woman needs a three bedroom, two-bath house?
I hope someday I’ll have a family to fill it.
When I make it inside, Buster, my Alaskan malamute, jumps up on me and tries his best to lick my face, but I turn away.
“Okay, Buster, okay.” I calm him down and quickly take him out back to use the bathroom. I’m lucky Dad comes over and takes him out often, or lord knows the mess my house would be in.
When I come back in, after Buster plays a bit, I set the security alarm again and make my way to the living room. Since I don’t have any friends away from the force, I keep many of my files on my coffee table. I do them while enjoying whatever new love story is on cable or Netflix. If I need a break, I pick up the latest, hottest romance novel.
Tonight, I don’t do either. Instead, I pick up my personal laptop and turn it on. It’s my secret: I’ve told no one. In the past several months, I’ve registered on numerous dating sites, but one, called
Memphis Locals
, has led me to a friend of sorts.
The familiar ding brings a smile to my face, and Buster sits next to me on the couch.
BaseballGuy31:
Hey, just wanted to say hi and hope your day went well.
He sent it just a few moments ago, so I quickly respond.
Sporty35: I just got home from work. It was okay. How was work for you?
BaseballGuy31: Long, but good. My co-worker gave me this idiotic nickname, and it’s driving me crazy because now they all are calling me that.
I laugh.
Sporty35: What is it?
BaseballGuy31: Oh, no way am I telling you. Nope. Not going to happen.
I laugh louder and then deeply yawn.
Sporty35: I’m off to bed. Talk to you soon.
BaseballGuy31: Okay. Good night.
I smile at the screen. I’m very well aware of the dangers of chatting with a stranger on the internet. I’m well aware of the dangers of online dating. However, I know how to keep myself safe, and I can’t explain why I feel connected to this guy.
We began chatting about baseball. I’m a huge sports fan. Dad, Mom, and I are massive Memphis Angels fans. It’s the major league baseball team. I’ve been playing baseball and softball all my life, and I’m still on the Police Force baseball team.