The New Deputy

Chapter Twelve-It's Just a Little Crush

We eventually managed to get the guy out of there and back to the department. Dangle stopped outside in the parking lot and briefly hosed the guy down from head to toe in the backside. He eventually led him in to get processed.

I sat in one of the cubicles at my desk. I had let my hair down and it fluffed around my shoulders. I typed in one of the reports for today's calls. It was interesting mind you about the guy that pooped in the toilet in the home store. So I chose my words carefully. Just then, Junior poked his head in and came over to me.

"Hey Ems? There's someone here for you," he whispered.

Curious, I got up from my seat and followed him. There was a woman standing in the front dressed in a pair of jeans with a hole in the knee and a tee shirt that read "Does not play well with others". Her shoulder length blond hair was pulled into a ponytail. The minute she spied me her face lit up.

"Emma!" she cried happily throwing her arms out for a hug. I happily squealed and hurried over to her.

"Oh Jennifer! Hey what are you doing here?" I cried happily. Jennifer Owens was my best friend since high school. We even went to college together too.

She was pretty and popular like I was back in high school. She hadn't changed much. She still looked amazing.

"Nothing much. I came on tour. My band's playing here in Reno in two weeks. I pretty much have six days to myself to relax. To do nothing for a whole week. Then we start practice," Jennifer grinned broadly.

Jennifer was the lead singer in a famous band called "Severe Tire Damage". She sold a lot of records. After I went to law school, she still remained my best friend through everything. Including what went on with Adam. I emailed her on what had been going on here and she was anxious to meet Dayna. She stuffed her hands into her pockets and rolled onto the balls of her feet.

"So, where's the hubby?" she asked in a teasing tone.

I laughed and motioned for her to follow me. Everyone was just relaxing at this point in the briefing room. I opened the door and stepped in.

"Hey guys. This is Jennifer Owens, my best friend," I said brightly.

"Oh my God you're from Severe Tire Damage!" Jones cried ecstatically. "You're my favorite band."

Everyone just glanced at him like he was nuts but said nothing.

"Jen, this is Deputy James Garcia, Trudy Weigel, Jim Dangle, my 'hubby', Clementine Johnson, Cherisha Kimball and Travis Junior," I introduced them.

She smiled and beamed at Garcia, and I noticed Garcia himself seemed bashful around her. A bit of hope filled my chest.

"She's on tour in two weeks so she'll be staying here in Reno till then," I said brightly.

"That's amazing," Junior said. "I heard one of your songs the other day in the car and was like 'wow this chic can sing'."

Jennifer looked at me but grinned. "Thank you…I think,"

"That's Junior's way of complimenting you," I said winking at Junior. He grinned.

"It's nice to meet you Jen," Dangle said coming around from behind the podium and extending his hand out to her. Jen looked pleased and returned his hand shake.

"So, am I intruding on anything?" Jen asked a little concerned.

"No no, have a seat," Dangle said motioning to a chair beside Garcia. Jennifer nodded and happily took a seat.

"Jen, how long have you known Emma?" Garcia asked her softly.

"God since high school," Jen replied laughing. "When she went to law school, I ended up perfecting my singing and instruments and well, here I am. There's not much to tell really."

"Please," I said rolling my eyes. "She's being modest. Jen went to a very prestigious musical school in New York. Julliard School for Performing Arts. It's well known. She got a gig playing at several top halls and a talent scout heard her. He worked for the record company called Out There Records. And well here she is now."

Jen blushed furiously at that. One thing about her was that she could be completely famous, and yet be down to earth at the same time. She never let the fame make her head swell. That's what kept her and me so close.

"Wow that's wonderful," Johnson said softly.

"Hey, I can get you all some free tickets and back stage passes for the concert. You're all welcomed," Jen said looking at everyone.

Everyone began chatting happily. I noticed Jen was talking with more interest with Garcia then Jones or Junior. When Dangle briefed us in the morning's news and events, he let Jen stay.

When we paired up to start the calls, Jen assured me she'd head back to the hotel and come back when our shifts were over. I pulled Jen aside quickly before heading out with Junior.

Garcia was talking with Dangle, and the others occasionally glancing our way.

"So, is that the sweet guy you were telling me about that everyone gives grief?" Jen whispered. I nodded.

"Aw. He seems like such a nice guy," Jen said looking shocked.

"He is. He's Dayna's Godfather. Both Junior and Johnson Dayna took an immense liking too. She likes Jones and Kimball but not Weigel," I said.

"Is that that man-girl sitting at the first seat?" Jen asked. "And the one who shot you in the hand when you first joined?"

I burst out laughing. Everyone looked at me but I quickly waved. They shrugged and began picking up their chatter.

"Yea," I said. "And yes. But she's come around now thankfully."

Jen nodded.

"I think Garcia might like you," I said teasingly winking at her.

"Really?" Jen asked, and much to my happiness, her tone was happy and eager. I nodded.

"Go talk to him," I said beaming.

"Oh I can't now, he's gotta go on duty and I can't hold him up," Jen said quickly and bashfully.

"Don't be stupid I have a plan," I said and lightly grabbed her hand dragging her toward everyone.

"Garcia? You're paired with Weigel right?" I asked as Jen stood next to me. She tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear and looked at Garcia and Weigel.

"Yeah, that's right," Garcia said looking from me to Jen curiously.

"Well, would you do me a favor and take Jen with you? She wants to see some Reno sights, and the lovely bunch of characters that inhabit the city," I said grinning.

"Sure," Garcia beamed. "Would you like to come Jen?"

"Absolutely," Jen agreed ecstatically. Garcia held out his arm to her and she happily looped hers with his as he led Jen out of the building. Weigel followed suit and I headed out with Junior.

"Now Garcia's got the hots for Jen," Jones said. "That man does not know when to quit robbing the cradle."

"Yeah and the scary thing is, I think Jen actually likes him back," Johnson replied shivering.

"I know she's Emma's best friend and all but I think that girls got some serious issues…can you say P-e-d-o-p-h-i-l-e alert?"

"I bet Garcia likes your friend because she's actually close to you," Junior said to me as we leaned against the front of the cruiser and he looked at the camera guy.

"Junior, give the man some credit," I replied shortly. "He is capable of liking someone for their personality etc. You're too critical."

"Alright well, I'm just warning you. While he's fucking her he'll be thinking of you," Junior replied. I went to slap him up side the back of the head but he must've realized my move and dodged out of the way. I waited a bit, giving him some false security before I grabbed his shoulders and shoved him off the hood

"I landed on my stick," he commented from the ground.

"Good," I retorted. "Next time you and your stick better not open your mouths"

We got a call stating that a man was sunbathing nude. We pulled up in front of the house and spied a man lying on his back, everything exposed.

"Sir? Can you please put some clothes on? This is illegal," Junior said.

The man got up and approached us, but Junior already took out his knight stick and kept the man at bay.

"Come on there's room for one more," The man coaxed Junior. "She's not invited though."

He made a face in my direction and I realized this guy was gay.

"Sir? I said stay back," Junior warned. The man kept coming and eventually Junior had to tackle him. They wrestled for a bit until I heard a yell. I seriously thought it was a woman but then I saw Junior jump up with his hand over his ear.

"His wiener touched my ear!" Junior said scrambling to get into the car. I took the initiative and grabbed my knight stick and swung it at the nude man's abdomen, knocking the wind out of him.

"Sir, do not stick your wiener in my partners ear," I said angrily and left him there wheezing. "Now go put some damn clothes on."

I climbed back into the car. Junior was huddled in the passenger seat. I backed up the car and we pulled away. Junior was shaking badly and he looked at me. I couldn't tell what his expression was behind his dark sunglasses but he spoke.

"You are to tell no one," Junior said slowly.

"I promise," I said keeping a straight face.

I eventually couldn't keep it straight anymore and slipped out a chuckle. "Were you violated Junior?"

At that I burst out laughing

Junior scowled at me. I kept laughing all the way back onto our patrol.

JENNIFER

I sat in the back of the cruiser while Deputy Garcia and Weigel sat in front. Garcia was driving. Emma had been right. He was a handsome guy, and kind, and the age difference didn't bother me much. He certainly seemed shy around me.

"Jen, how long are you going to be in Reno?" Garcia asked glancing in the rearview mirror at me.

"Just until the concerts over," I replied. "But then again I don't know. This place is certainly amazing. I'm pretty sure me and my band can figure something out to stay longer."

"What was the funniest thing you and Emma ever did?" Weigel asked me curiously, turning around to look at me over the shoulder of the passenger seat.

"Well, the all time funniest thing was when she and I were in high school. Emma wanted to get even with this guy that kept harassing us, and it wasn't the good kind of attention. So, she took the school video camera and snuck into the boy's bathroom while he was sitting on the bowl. We could hear the fart noises and hear the kid talking. It spread on every single TV in the classroom. He realized what happened a little too late. Needless to say he couldn't chase after Emma," I was laughing hard still thinking of it.

Garcia and Weigel burst out laughing too.

I looked out the window, watching the palms whiz by. After a few minutes, Garcia spoke again but his tone was nervous.

"Jen? I-I know I really haven't known you long enough, but would you like to accompany me for dinner? After my shift of course" he asked nervously catching my eye in the rearview. I beamed at him.

"Sure I'd love to. Emma told me you're a sweet guy," I relayed. He blushed furiously. Weigel snorted beside him. I moved my eyes onto her.

"Do you have something to say?" I asked her raising an eyebrow.

One thing about me was that I will put you on the spot in a heartbeat. I don't take anyone's shit and will tell them off in a flash. I grew up mostly in New York, so I got that attitude I guess that it never went.

"Garcia's not sweet," she said rolling her eyes. "He's a racist, a bigot and he's sexist."

I looked at Garcia. He was looking out the window, his left elbow resting on the window pane, his hand covering the corner of his gray mustache. I could see he was angry and embarrassed, turning a shade of deep red.

"Ah," I said softly, but my tone was a dangerous low tone. "Kinda like I heard that you're a fucking mental patient?"

I saw Garcia snort and briefly moved forward as though he'd burst out laughing but he caught himself in time. Weigel was silent but I wasn't done with her yet.

"I thought so," I said still in that tone. "You make everyone visually sick and physically when you're naked and fully clothed. I'm surprised half of them haven't had retinal scarring in their years working with you. You have a dead stuffed cat…can you spell CREEPY? Oh and SICK? Yeah. I thought so. Honey before you go talking about Garcia's imperfections, learn to perfect your own."

Weigel's mouth hung open and she slowly turned back around in her seat. In the rearview mirror I spied Garcia giving me a wink.

After that the ride was pretty silent from Weigel's end.