To say Suplex City was the last place Ambrose wanted to be would be an understatement. He pulled up the ever-popular strip club around noon; He picked that time because he knew Renee always took her first break around that time.
The reluctant detective placed a dark pair of sunglasses on his face. He checked himself in the rearview mirror of his car just to make sure he was somewhat presentable, even in the more rundown part of town. Renee knew he was coming, but something told him she'd do anything to pick him apart at this point in their relationship.
At noon exactly, Renee stepped out of the club. The troublesome blonde shuffled off the front step and over towards the side of the bar. She fished a box of menthol cigarettes from her pocket and lit one up. She blew a puff of smoke and leaned against the building.
Dean took note of everything his ex did. She only smoked when she was stressed or nervous about something. That something most likely agreeing to meet with an ex she hated more than anything. Renee often talked about hating her job at Suplex City, but Dean wouldn't be surprised if he was at the top of her 'shit list' now.
With a deep breath, Ambrose slid out of his car and made his way over to his former wife. Renee heard the crunch his footsteps made on the gravel outside immediately and turned to face him.
Dean nodded his head stiffly. "Hey," he said, no confidence in his usual braggadocious voice.
Renee scoffed. "That's how you're going to talk to me? I think I owe more than a half-assed 'hey', Ambrose."
Dean sighed. "You're right. I just wanted to get a chance to talk to you since I never really did that when we were together."
Renee blew a puff of smoke from her ruby red lips. "Why? Your new chick won't put out unless you talk to me?"
Dean shook his head. "No. I owe you an apology for the way I handled things after we separated. There's a lot of better ways I should've handled that. I... didn't know about the baby. If I had, I would've stuck around and tried to at least be civil. I wouldn't have asked for you back, but I would've tried to be a decent dad to the kid."
Renee chuckled, her eyes starting to fill with tears. "Having a baby would finally make you treat me like a person?"
"I didn't hurt you or anything," Ambrose stated. "I was caught up in work and-"
"Refused to touch me unless you were drunk," Renee chuckled again and inhaled another drag. "I don't think we had sex sober for an entire year. You and your bullshit and bringing it home with you and expecting me to just put up with it. I hated who you were turning into."
"I know and I'm sorry things happened the way they did," Ambrose took a step closer to Renee. "I wish I handled things better. You deserved better than what I did."
Renee nodded. "I did and still do. My friends who are too busy with their families take better care of me than you did."
"You do," Ambrose sighed. "I don't want us to scream at each other every time we happen to be in the same place. I want us to try and at least get along. We don't need to be best friends, but I want to get along with you again."
Renee flicked her cigarette bud away. "What does fire crotch have that I don't? Hmm? Does she suck better dick that me? Is her twat tighter than mine? What is it? Because I don't get it."
"She understands the business and gets why I can't sleep some nights," Dean explained.
Renee looked into the distance. "I'm sorry too," she replied, shaking her head slightly. "I should've been more patient with you. I... should be holding a baby right now, but I was too caught up in my own bullshit to think things through. You know how badly I want to be a mom, Dean."
Dean nodded. "You will. You're not even close to passing your prime. I'm tellin' you, just flash yourself at a grocery store instead of here and you'll lour someone in."
Renee snickered. "Shut up with your stupid humor bullshit, Dean. It didn't work then and it sure as shit won't work now."
Dean outstretched his arms. "What do you say? Can we be civil and talk things out instead of trying to kill each other?"
Renee stared at her husband for a moment, but then nodded and accepted his hug. She nestled her face in his shoulder like she used to, which Dean thought was a little inappropriate but he wasn't going to push her off at this moment.
Renee cleared her throat, taking a step back to break the hug. "I haven't gotten laid since you moved out. I didn't mean to do that."
Dean shrugged. "No harm done."
Renee dropped her head. "Do you think you can invite me over for dinner one night? I wanna talk things out with Becky too. I feel I owe her an apology for all the shit I said."
"Sure, no problem," Dean answered. "I'll text you a night when we're free and you're not shakin' what your momma gave ya."
Renee grinned. "Thanks. I'm glad you apologized for once in your life. I'm sure it's tearing away at your soul."
"Oh, like a chainsaw," Dean chuckled, making Renee laugh too. "But I'm glad I did. I'll talk to you soon, Rey."
Renee nodded and gave her ex-husband one more hug. Dean offered a friendly peck to the cheek as they pulled apart. Renee smiled one more time, then ventured back to her place of employment.
Feeling a great weight lift off his shoulders, Dean got back into his car and tried to mentally psych himself up for the mountain of paperwork he had yet to still finish.
Detective Graves was shaken up about what occurred between him and Zelina Vega the day before. She hadn't gotten in touch with him since he ungracefully hurried from her house in an attempt to chase the guilt away. Sleeping with a grieving widow was probably one of the biggest mistakes Graves had made in his entire career.
At the moment, he was huddled by his desk with his head in his hands. He hadn't slept since yesterday and he was running on his fifth cup of coffee. He had work to do on finding the identity of the Stamford Slayer, but it was hard to think for the time being.
Two patrolmen stepped inside the office cubicles. Graves hardly paid them any attention as they approached Captain Reigns and spoke with him. He needed to get his head back into finding more clues and figuring this shit out.
"Detective Graves?" Officer Dream addressed the half-aware Detective.
Graves picked his head up. "Yes, officer?"
"I need you to come with me," Dream instructed.
Graves looked between the two officers. "Why?"
"We're afraid we're going to have to arrest you, sir," the other officer, who Graves didn't know, said.
Graves furrowed. "Wait... what are you talking about?"
"Please be cooperative," Dream rounded Graves' desk with a pair of handcuffs in his hands. "You're a main suspect in the Stamford Slayer case and are having charges pressed against you for sexual assault."
Graves complied at stood up to be handcuffed by the officer. While the other cop read him his rights, Graves searched frantically around the room for an answer.
Captain Reigns hurried over to the scene. "There has to be some kind of mistake, officers."
"Detective Graves," Officer Dream said. "You're under arrest for conspiracy surround the Stamford Slayer killings and conspiracy to commit sexual assault. We'll take you downstairs for questioning."
Graves, his legs as heavy as lead, was led to the elevators with the attention being drawn to him by everyone they passed through the hallway.
