Getting back to real life was like moving through Jell-O. Steve told him that he could have some more time off, but Hunter needed to reestablish some normalcy if he was gonna get over his dad dying. And truth be told, he needed the cash. Still, it was hard for him to find any sort of motivation or energy on what was a relatively slow night.

"So I told Jaison he should stop seeing that guy," Tristan prattled on behind him, stacking glasses. "I mean, whatever, the guy's boyfriend is a bitch, but still it's not right."

"Uh huh," Hunter said, not listening to him per usual.

"But he's still doing him! It's so awful!"

"Mmm," Hunter grunted.

"You don't even know who I'm talking about, do you?"

A loud ruckus outside the bar saved Hunter from having to answer that question. "I'm gonna check out what's going on outside. Can you cover?"

"Who the fuck do you think covered when you were gone?"

"Steve."

"Whatever, I helped. I got this."

The sudden rush of people approaching a recoiling Tristan gave Hunter a private little chuckle as he opened the door. In front of the bar, two trans girls were screaming at each other.

"Bitch, I don't do that shit no more!" the one with braids yelled.

"Trick, I saw your stank ass creepin' up on my man, don't play!" the one with bad skin yelled back.

Hunter recognized the girl with braids as one of the people who attacked Tyler over the summer. "Knock it off or I'll call the cops," he said.

"Come on, LaTrice," said bad skin, getting real close to her. "What you got?"

"Get up out of my face, Jazmine," LaTrice said. "I don't play like that no more."

"You think you too good bitch?" Jazmine spat in her face. LaTrice pushed her away and in a flash, Jazmine brandished a knife and stabbed LaTrice in the chest. Hunter kicked the knife out of her hand and she bolted. Hunter caught LaTrice before she hit the ground. Blood gushed out of her as Hunter cradled her in his arms.

"I remember you," she said, looking at Hunter's face. "You kicked our asses when we jumped Tyler."

"Yeah. Sorry about that."

"I deserved it," she said, groaning in pain. Her face drained of color and she began to tear up. "Do you... do you think that if I died, Tyler would miss me?"

*

Everything was a blur of sirens and blue red lights as LaTrice was loaded into an ambulance.

"I'm gonna ride in the bus with the tranny," said the stocky Hispanic cop, climbing into the ambulance. "You coming, Fitz?"

"Transgender, Virgil" said his tall and handsome partner, rolling his eyes. "Go ahead. I'm gonna get this witness statement."

"Suit yourself, Romeo," Virgil said, chomping on his gum through a smile. Hunter thought they were being a bit too jovial, given the situation, but they were probably as desensitized to violent crime in the way that he was to guys leering at him from his go-go days. When Fitz turned back around as the ambulance sped off, he was noticeably blushing.

"So... " Fitz said, turning to Hunter.

"Is she going to be ok?" Hunter asked.

"They're taking her to Masonic. The stab wasn't too deep, but they have to make sure nothing was punctured."

"Thank God."

"You knew the victim?"

"Sort of. There was an incident with my roommate, Officer Fitz."

"Gerald. Fitzgerald. But you can call me Caleb."

"Sure. Yeah there was... "

"Or Fitz," he quickly added. "Everyone calls me Fitz. But my name is Caleb."

"Alright, Fitz" Hunter said, smiling inside at his awkward flirting. "Yeah LaTrice, she attacked my roommate a few months back with some others."

"So is she violating some sort of probation... ?"

"Not that I know of? I mean, she didn't instigate anything. This other chick, she was up in her face. LaTrice was trying to avoid it. But out of nowhere, she pulled out of a knife... "

"This sounds like it's a pretty involved. Would you mind coming down to the station so I can get a proper statement?"

"Of course, whatever I can do to help."

Fitz held the car door open for him. "Don't worry," Fitz said, with a smile and wink. "I'll let you ride in front."

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Glad to be back for Volume 4! Just joining us? Catch up now:

Volume 1 -
Week One, Week Two, Week Three, Week Four, Week Five

Volume 2 -
Week One, Week Two, Week Three, Week Four, Week Five

Volume 3 -
Week One, Week Two, Week Three, Week Four, Week Five

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