It wasn’t really a call I wanted to make, but after the captain more or less firing me via voice mail, I knew who I needed to call. I punch in the number and I wait as the phone rings.
“Las Vegas Sheriff’s Department, this is Allison speaking. How can I help you?” Yeah, I called my ex-girlfriend. She works at the sheriff’s department, doing paperwork, handling calls, stuff like that. She also broke up with me after I got shot.
“Alli? It’s Nate.”
“OHMYGOD ARE YOU OK I’VE BEEN WORRIED-“
“Alli, ALLI, I’m fine. Other than a little dehydration, I’m in perfect shape.”
“What’s going on, Nate? You’ve been gone for over a month.”
“I’ve been helping some people out on a missing person’s case. Listen, don’t tell anyone I’ve called, but how are things down at the station?”
“Well, the captain’s furious. He seems to think you’ve gone after Donald Jackson. Is that what happened? Did you go after him because he killed that girl?”
“What? No, I didn’t…look, I can’t really say.”
“Why not? If you haven’t done anything wrong, why can’t you tell me?”
“I just can’t.”
“Nathan Pritchert, DO NOT do this to me again! I had a hard enough time after you got shot, and I thought I just needed to give you some time, but it’s been two years!”
“I’m sorry, I want to tell you. It’s complicated.”
“Then uncomplicate it and just tell me.”
“I want to tell you, I really do. I don’t want to put you into danger.”
“I am a big girl, Nate. I can handle myself.”
An awkward silence hung over us for what seemed like an eternity. She broke it. “I called your mom, Nate. She’s worried sick about you.”
“Yeah, I know. I got a few messages from the parents too. I called them when I got back.”
“She didn’t know what was going on but I got the feeling she wasn’t telling me everything either. We talked for like an hour or so.”
Oh god, Mom’s going to ask if Alli and I are getting back together. And then she’ll bring up grandkids.
“So…how’s Walter?”
“Walter’s fine. He doesn’t really do much but lay around the house. He’s sleeps on the bed with me now.”
Huh, maybe Walter misses me. “Have you been taking him on walks? Toss the old ball around?”
“I take him out when I can. He doesn’t really have a big yard to run around in anymore. Listen, I’ve got to go. We’ll talk later, yeah?”
“Yeah, I’ll come up and see you when I get to the station. I’ve got to clean out my desk after I turn in my badge and my gun.”
“Nate, I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, me too.”
Another silence. “Allison, before I go… you said you were worried about me?”
“Goodbye, Nate.” *click*
Well that certainly put me in better spirits.
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