Induction, T.K. Eldridge [read aloud books txt] 📗

a bit and looked down at my empty plate.

“I had hoped he would find a way to see it,” Sin said, voice low. “I’m glad he did.”

“Now you’ve been inducted into the family business, is what he said,” Stumpy told us. “He called it your ‘induction day’, not graduation. Knowing what I do about how things changed once I graduated from the BPD academy, he’s not wrong. Life will forever be before you were a cop and after you became one.”

I cleared my throat and took a swallow of wine. I missed Dad too much. “I’m glad he was there. So, what are his plans with all of this? What can you tell us?”

“Well, James started working with one or two people to slowly shift the focus of the Academy and the SPD to a more racially divisive and non-inclusive mindset. There used to be one shifter and one witch partnered up for every patrol car or beat. That is never done anymore. If a crime is discovered to be done by one race or the other, a matching race team is sent to handle it.”

“That sounds like a guaranteed way to end up with a whole rash of issues. Mistrials, mishandling of cases, special favors based on species, I can’t even think of how many different ways this is bad right now,” I said.

Stumpy nodded. “If a case starts out with the BPD and we find out it’s supers, we’re not supposed to share the case files or information, per the order of the SPD. Supposedly it would taint the findings and our work isn’t as detailed as the SPD officers.”

“Which is a bunch of bullshit,” Sin said.

“It is,” Stumpy agreed. “A bunch of us still make copies of our files and share them, because we know most of the SPD cops don’t agree with, or approve of, the bullshit rules.”

“Well, that’s comforting,” I said, then finished my wine. “Your driving, Sin. I’m finishing this bottle.”

Not that the wine would impair me for long, but I think the vision thing still had me a bit shook.

Sin smiled. “No worries, sis. Drink away.” He turned back to Stumpy. “Do you know who else Dad is working with?”

I saw the hesitation and grinned. “Is one of those he’s working with, someone we thought was gone?”

The relief was easily visible as Stumpy nodded. “I only learned about it about a year ago. He said he caught up with you two a few months back?”

Sin nodded. “Near scared the piss out of me when he showed up next to my truck. I thought for sure I was hallucinating.”

“Definitely one of the best ghosts we could have wanted in this fight. Things have kicked into high gear since he came back. Now that you two are officers, it should be interesting.”

“Yeah, we’re still waiting for our assignments. Some of the class got them already, but a lot more are still waiting,” I said.

“Considering their partnering rules, we’ll probably get paired up with each other. Which is kind of what I’m hoping for, honestly. Until things are settled out, I wouldn’t feel safe with some stranger as a partner. And before you argue the point, yes, I know we won’t have a more experienced officer to learn from if we do it this way,” Sin said.

“But we do have more experienced officers we can call on for help and advice,” I said.

“Very true,” Stumpy replied. “It’s not as good as having experience on the scene, but you can always call on me if things get sticky. Your Aunt Sett, too. She’s one hell of an officer. Although, she’s probably not as available as you’d need, seeing as she’s teaching and all.”

“Having her around helped a lot when things got hairy at school. We had tried to live in the dorms, but the hazing was over the top. It was disturbing the other students and making it tough for them to learn, so we moved back to the farm and just commuted,” Sin explained to Stumpy. “She didn’t actively step between us and them so as not to be accused of favoritism, but she did bitch slap the idiots who openly tried shit right in front of her.”

Stumpy chuckled. “If they were dumb enough to do that, they deserved it. I heard that you two helped dig out some of the Purists from the cadets. That’s a good start.”

“It’s something, anyway. We were the perfect bait to drag them out of the shadows. Whether they were shifter or witch, they couldn’t resist hassling us,” I said.

“I see why you two want to stay paired up, then. If they were coming after you at the Academy, they’ll try twice as hard out on the street.” Stumpy finished his beer and leaned back. “That was an excellent meal, thank you.” A glance at his watch and he sighed, “But I need to head back shortly. I’ve got a few things I still need to handle tonight and see if they can fix my car or do I need to take a loaner from the station.”

Sin got up to handle the check and came back with two bags, handing one to Stumpy.

I laughed. “No one gets out of this without dessert. You can take it home and have it later.”

Stumpy chuckled and leaned over to kiss my forehead. “Don’t let anyone tell you different, Siddie. You’re still a sweet one.”

Sin jokingly made a gagging sound and I swatted his arm.

“Keep it up, big brother, and you won’t get your dessert. I’ll eat them both.”

It didn’t take us long to get Stumpy back to the station and see him safely to the garage for the loaner car. I got out of ours long enough to go lay a hand on his and make sure everything ‘looked’ safe. I nodded to Sin, climbed back in and settled in to nap while he helped Stumpy shift stuff from his car to the loaner.

“Is your sister alright?” Stumpy asked Sin. His gaze shifted from the bag he’d just put in his trunk to Sid’s head against the window.

“It’s been a rough few months for both of us. We went from planning on med school and law school to fighting our way through police academy training and worrying if our parents were going to survive to see us graduate.” He looked over to where I appeared to be asleep. “Losing the house we grew up in was harder on her than she let on. The farm is nice and all, but it’s not home. I’m not sure where that will end up being, but right now, we don’t have one.”

Stumpy reached out and gripped Sin’s shoulder. “You two are strong. You’ll get through this. Just remember, you’ve got people out here that love and support you.”

Stumpy may be what we called him, but he was Sin’s height and about half again his width. Broad shoulders, solid frame, and thick reddish-blond hair. Bright hazel eyes and a mustache-goatee combination that made him look like an older Michael Fassbender.

Sin gripped his forearm where it hovered near his chest and squeezed once. “I appreciate it more than you know, Stumpy. Just…tell Dad we have to sit down with him and make sure we’re all on the same page. I’d rather be working towards helping him instead of possibly inadvertently screwing something up.”

“I understand, Sin, and I’ll make sure to get him the message. Be safe out there,” Stumpy said as he let go and climbed into his car.

Sin watched as he drove away, then got into our car and started it up.

“He’s one of the good ones,” I said, voice quiet.

“Yeah, he is. We’re lucky he’s on our side.”

“I wish there was a way to fix it so he could shift.”

“Well, if anyone can figure it out, it’d be you. Rest, sis. I’ll get us home safe.”