"Detective, thank you for coming in to take care of this today," Andy heard and snapped his head toward the door as Raydor walked in, a stack of paperwork in hand. Her secretary had seated him in the room, explaining that Raydor was down the hall. He'd been waiting a few minutes, but honestly, it was fine. He wasn't feeling great, just exhausted in every way possible. His muscles ached from the couch, but he couldn't complain. He hadn't been complaining to Provenza. He was grateful for the place to stay and knew if the situation had been reversed, he'd do the same for his best friend.
"Sure," he held up his hand while his eyes did not look at her. He dropped his eyes slightly and heard her heels click as she walked around to her desk. He finally glanced at her after she sat. She was organizing the paperwork. He sat and folded his hands in his lap.
"So, how are you?" Raydor asked. He looked to her, surprised at the comment, and she quickly added to it. "I want to clarify that question isn't in a professional capacity. Detective, you and I used to work in the same precinct; we both worked patrol back in the day. I'd like to think that I can speak freely with you, even here in my office," she gestured. "I'd suggest an alternate location, but I'm well aware my new job and recent promotion have almost left a sort of scarlet letter on me." She pursed her lips and just looked him. He tried not to respond with too much surprise, but quite frankly, he was surprised at her candor.
"Yeah, well, I feel like the two of us," he gestured, "are like the examples of what to do and what not to do within the LAPD," he grumbled. "I went through the academy before you did, yet, look where you are now," he threw up his hand, not in irritation but as an example. "You now outrank me and have your own office. I mean, it comes with the territory, working with the rat squad, but still. I realize my mistakes are my own, that I could have been promoted had I not screwed up repeatedly, but still."
"But still," she repeated, nodding. "True, things certainly could be different. I think most everyone looks at his or her life, regretting some of their decisions, thinking how differently things could have gone. We wouldn't be human if we didn't," she said with a small shrug and a sympathetic smile. "So, for a brief moment, rank aside, jobs aside, a former patrol cop to a former patrol cop, how are you?"
He let out a long sigh and and looked to the ceiling. He shook his head and looked back to see she was still sitting there, her elbows on her desk, hands folded in the air, waiting for his answer. He shrugged again, "Okay, I'm doing okay. One day at a time. I'm grateful for a job and a roof over my head. I'm working the program and well," he said with a slightly gruff tone, "just plain working."
"That's good," she nodded. "Things are going well staying with Provenza?"
"Yeah," Andy said with a small nod. "Provenza is a good friend. I'm grateful for all he's done. I know I'm a third wheel."
"Third wheel?" Raydor asked.
"He's getting married again soon, third marriage. He won't ask me to leave, but I'm trying to save my deposit, first, and last month of rent for a place as quickly as I can. It's just taking time with all the money I owe, money for my kids and family and then the money that I owe rehab. I'll get it, and I know he won't ask me to leave, but yeah," he sighed.
He looked over to her when she cleared her throat. She sat back, crossing her arms, and then, she looked at him, "I'd like to talk to you about that, maybe even friend to friend, if we can still say we are that. We did sometimes eat in the break room at the same time when we were on patrol, and we used to chat about unimportant things. I'd like to think that even though we've both had a lot going on in our lives and aren't exactly friends today what I'm saying might be taken that way right now."
"Ahh," he raised an eyebrow and tried to come up with a reply. "I mean, I guess we're not enemies. I mean, it's not like I hate you."
"We aren't exactly friends now, and I can imagine you roll your eyes every call you get from me or even anytime you get a summons to my office."
"Well, sure, guilty," he held up a hand in defense. "Yeah, sure, though, we used to talk during our patrol days. I considered you a friend."
"As did I," she nodded. "So," she said as she folded her hands and sat forward. "With all that in mind, please hear me out."
"Okay," he said, his eyebrow raised. "I'm not following."
She pursed her lips, "What I'm about to say is not known by many, certainly not by people here at work. I realize I'm taking a risk telling you, but it's also no secret. I'd just like to ask for you discretion, as I also give you. I just hold things close to me and believe in keeping my private life private. You've met Jack just as I've met Sandra. All of that happened quite some time ago, and much has changed. What I am trying to say is that I understand a lot more of what you are going through than you realize."
"Okay," Andy said slowly, drawing out his word. "I mean, yeah, I guess you are aware Jack drinks too much. You know he and I used to drink in many of the same places."
"Jack is an alcoholic and has been for years. I know it; he knows it, but he won't admit or accept it. Jack and I are now divorced."
Andy raised his eyebrows at her, unaware of that piece of news. Her expression didn't change; she sat there looking back at him.
"Wow, I didn't realize," he shook his head. "What happened there, I mean, if you don't mind my asking?"
She sighed and looked down briefly before looking at him again, "A lot of the very same things happened there as probably did with your marriage. Jack drank. He didn't want to stop. Unlike what you've told me, though, his bad behavior didn't stop there. I caught him with another woman in his office," she rolled her eyes. "Oh, and that," she flashed a fake smile on her face and pointed in the air, "and that, was just great timing. I was four months pregnant with Ricky."
"Ricky?" Andy asked. "Wait, you have two kids? How did I miss that? I thought you only had Emily."
"Hmm," she nodded, pursing her lips. "As I said before, we used to be friendly, even maybe friends. This last year or so has been a whirlwind for me here in this department, not even counting the mess of my private life. I've tried to keep my head down and plow through, keeping mostly to myself. Yes, Ricky, he's my son and is almost eight months old."
"Eight months? Sorry, but I had no idea you were pregnant that recently here," he frowned.
She shrugged, "I've kept a low profile. That, along with other things, isn't a secret. I didn't show much, which helped, but a woman my age having a baby isn't exactly a shock. What was or is the shock is now raising my kids as a single mother; it wasn't something I saw myself doing, but life happens. Jack is gone, out of the picture, and frankly, that's for the best. That brings me to the next part."
"Next part?" Andy said, shaking his head, trying to digest it all. "I guess we have really grown away from any kind of friendship. Look, I want you to know I haven't hated you, maybe hated your job, but not you, not exactly."
"Fair and probably accurate," she said, pursing her lips as she nodded. "Knowing that as as we are clearing the air, I want to run something by you."
"That is?" Andy asked.
"Deep down, I know you are a good cop and had a great family. I know alcoholism is an illness, something you have to battle, and I commend you for doing so. I also realize it's a constant battle with no promises of perfection. Some, like you," she gestured, "choose to work the program. Others, like Jack, refuse to acknowledge it and run. I had an idea after speaking to you the other day and wanted to possibly flush out the idea," she explained.
"You're losing me," he shook his head.
"I suppose this is sounding ridiculous now, even though it could help both of us. You probably don't know that before Ricky was born, before I was even pregnant, Jack and I bought a house, an old house." She looked to Andy, and he just shook his head, agreeing that he had not heard. "Okay," she said with a long, drawn out breath, "I have my own problems. My house is a mess, not a cleanliness issue, but it's a mess in other ways. It's old, something that needs a lot of TLC. It has for some time. Jack and I had planned to renovate it, but my life issues have derailed those plans. I got pregnant with Ricky, and then, our marriage blew up. I got the house in the divorce. It's three bedrooms. That works perfectly for the kids and me, but I could use some help. I am really humbling myself to admit to you that financially, I, too, am not in a good place," she said, her eyebrow raised at Andy.
"Sorry to hear that," he finally said when she paused from her explanation. "Divorce is rough. Jack helping?"
"No, not a dime," she pursed her lips. "He's a lawyer, and yes, he should pay, but Jack is about as sneaky as it gets. To be honest, I don't want his money. I hate it for my kids, but he's a snake. I can provide for my family, but that's also a problem. I can, but I can also do better. Look, what I'm suggesting, even though I am rambling, is that I might consider renting a room if you might be interested. It could work out in your favor. This house has a strange layout, and I am willing to do some shuffling to make it work."
"Rent a room?" Andy asked.
She shrugged, "I know you don't have much money, but this could be a win-win situation. I promise to charge what you can pay, knowing that is a greatly reduced rate for a similar situation here. I'll charge what you can pay, simply in addition for some work around the house."
"Huh?" Andy asked, clearly surprised.
She gestured with her hands, "I have an old house with a yard. I can't afford to sell it; I'd lose money, and anything else would be even more expensive than my current mortgage. I could use the extra money, even if it's not much, but more importantly, I could use the help. I'm not expecting you to do any of my remodeling, but take the yard. I obviously can cut the grass and trim the bushes, but with a baby and a toddler, along with this crazy, job, long hours and all, I don't have the time or the energy. It would be helpful to have someone there to do it. I can't afford to hire people right now, but I believe this could work."
"You want to rent me a room?" Andy said, now sitting toward her.
She gave him a slight shrug, "It's only an idea. You can tell me no. I was all set to put Ricky in the third room; it's even painted blue and has a crib in the corner of the room. He's been sleeping in there now that he's getting bigger. Before, I had him in something smaller in my bedroom. I was thinking that I could shuffle things. My house has two bedrooms at the end of one hall with the third bedroom in the back off the kitchen. I think it was an addition. It's an odd configuration, and right now, that bedroom, the addition, is the master. It is bigger and has a bathroom just outside of it, not a suite style, but close. I'd be willing to move down the hall, next to Emily and with Ricky there too, in order to give you privacy. You'd have a bedroom and your own bathroom. I'd share with Emily and Ricky. There's a hall bath, very small and old, next to Emily's room. It's not ideal, but nothing about this is. Look, I know you can't stay on Provenza's couch, and with the expenses you explained to me, I also know you have a long road to getting back on your feet. Aside from a place to live, I know you want to get a car. None of this is going to happen overnight. I can't exactly help with the car, but the room situation could help us both."
He frowned slightly, "You'd be willing to put me, like a stranger, in your house?"
She rolled her eyes, "You're not a stranger. As I said, we aren't exactly friends, but you are an officer of the law. I have worked with you for years, even if we really have not kept up for a long time. Besides the yard help, I thought it could help with your kids. You mentioned in one of our meetings that you weren't permitted to see the kids on your own until you had a stable residence."
"I'm just not sure what to say," Andy shook his head. "Honestly, I'm not sure it would work."
"I'm not either," she said with a firm tone as she met his gaze. "There would be ground rules."
"Ground rules-that doesn't surprise me, but what were you thinking?" Andy asked. "You do love rules."
She ticked off the points on her fingers, "No drinking. You will be removed immediately if you start drinking. No women. I don't care if you date. I know your reputation, but no women back at my house. I'd ask that if you plan to stay with a woman you do that at her place. Look, I realize I could do this formally, and you probably are expecting that, a big legal contract and all. Quite frankly, I'm tired of legal paperwork. I do it all day, and I spent the last several months getting a divorce. I'd like to verbally agree to these terms if you decide to take me up on my offer. I won't set a certain amount for rent, just what you can pay. I need you to pay something, and then, in exchange, you do some yard work and basic fixes around the house. All of that, and I ask that you not drink and not bring women home."
"You get that toilet fixed?" Andy asked, glancing at her.
"I did," she frowned. "That cost me almost $500 in the form of a new toilet and the plumber's installation rate. It's been a long couple of days," she sighed. "But, see," she nodded, "the master has a new toilet for you."
"Can I think about it, all of this?" Andy gestured with his hand. "Look, I'm appreciative of the thought, but I'm not sure how it would work. Like I said, we aren't the best of friends."
"I realize that. I'd keep the kids out of your way. You would be free to come and go, and there are no other expectations like meals or anything. I'd be happy to clear out a section of the cabinets for you, and if we even need to come up with a kitchen schedule, so you have your time, and I have mine, I'm willing to do so. Neighbors of mine rent out a room in their home. I know it's helped them, and in this case, I think it could be helpful to both of us. I know we could try and make this a city issue, a tenant and landlord thing, but I'd like to think of it as my helping you out too, just with you tossing a few bucks my way to help with the utilities or whatever. I'm sorry; I'm rambling."
"I'll think about it," Andy said and gave her a nod. "Thanks, and ahh, I won't keep you any longer."
She waved her hand in the air, "I worked until after midnight. I am not officially on the clock until 10 this morning."
"Why the early meeting with me?" Andy asked as he stood.
"I still try to keep personal time personal. I could use a roommate, and you could use a place to stay. I've even checked, and nowhere do I have to report a roommate change. That's all this would be," she said with a single nod.
"I'll consider it," he said with a small nod. "Thanks, really. I appreciate the thought."
"Detective," she said as he reached the door. Andy turned, and she continued, "In a way, what do you have to lose? We could try the arrangement. No signed lease, so if it doesn't work after a couple of weeks, you are free to leave. If you want to set a goal to be out, to get your own place, that's fine too. A little help right now, for both of us, at least, could make all the difference."
"I'll get back to you," he said. "Now, I'lll get back to work."