CHAPTER 05

As she put the car in park, Tony looked over from the passenger seat and had to ask, “and who is in ops right now?”

Leslie pocketed her keys and then gave a cute smile, “you are such a worry wort, Tony. I told you already.”

Tony remained unconvinced, “Norm doesn't do comwatch. Trust me, I've known that man for a few years now and when he says he doesn't do something, he usually doesn't.”

That caused the perky little blond to roll her eyes at her would be partner, “you know, you make a good point Tony. You've known the guy for a lot longer than I have and, yet, you still haven't figured it out.” When it was clear that he was baffled, and it was a state that Leslie had learned was somewhat normal for Tony, she spelled it out for him, “it isn't what Norm says that you have to look out for. It's more like the stuff that he doesn't. It's also not the point today. He's the one that said I could go.”

Tony looked out the car window at the building they were sitting in the parking lot of, “I somehow don't think he knew we were going to the City Parks Department. What are we doing here exactly?”

Now the girl gave him a duh look, “you wanted help with your little problem, didn't you?” Then Leslie went to looking something up on her phone and was mumbling something about, “Ricky, you are a pathetic little bitch, sometimes.”

“I'm not asking,” Tony told her and then took another look at the building before pointing out, “somehow, I don't think this is where Norm envisioned us being.”

Still engrossed in her phone, Leslie mumbled, “there it is.” She then perked up again, “would you relax. I got the whole jewelry store thing covered. Look, Norm's a cop. He understands.” When Tony just shrugged in confusion, Leslie rolled her eyes at him, “oh god Tippet. You've never seen what cops do when they start their shift?”

Tony took a stab at it, “uh, I don't know, they answer a call?”

Leslie slapped her forehead, “most of them go get something to eat. A few go home and take a nap but, today, we have some personal business to attend to.” She opened her door, smiled brightly, and slapped Tony on the leg, “and we are multitasking, so, the way I got it figured, the tax payers are coming out ahead.”

As they walked to the front door, Tony was seriously wondering exactly what kind of work they were going to get done here. Like with every other city office building, this non nondescript little brick building, located a few blocks from South Beach, had any number of Tony's relatives working in it. He wondered which one was going to see him and, more important, how long that would take to get back to Barbara.

This last thought made Tony even more jumpy than he already was and this was not a fact that was lost on Leslie who said, “I'm guessing you had a long night last night, big boy.”

“How do you get that,” Tony easily replied and it did not work.

Leslie slapped her forehead again, “you big idiot! I told you not to sleep with her again.”

They stopped at the front door, let someone pass, and then Tony protested, “all I said was how do you get that?”

“Tony,” Leslie poked him in the chest, then ran her finger down it, “I know it wasn't Danni because, before they left this morning, she was up in ops, bitching about her mother. I did, however, notice a certain queen bitch red head walking around with a twinkle in her eyes. You fucking moron. If you got to scratch it, then let Danni get you out of her system so everything can go back to normal, and Barbara will stop riding your ass all the time.”

He huffed. He looked away. He looked back at her. Then Tony finally snorted out, “you been waiting all day to say that, haven't you?”

Leslie considered and then agreed by correcting him with, “most of the morning, yeah.”

When it was clear that Tony either had no idea what to say, or was simply out of words, Leslie walked in the building and led him up to the third floor where she whimsically entered the office of the guy that Tony was pretty sure was the boss over here. Tony was not really sure the guy had been doing much of anything from behind his desk. He certainly didn't look busy but, that is not what he said when he frowned and in a glum tone said, “Tatersall, what an unexpected pleasure. Now get the hell out of my office please.”

Leslie kept right on smiling as she sat on his desk and leaned over, propping herself up with one hand, “big Ron. I'm here about my old job.”

Did this guy, Ron, always sound as excited as a round of televised golf? Tony was pretty sure he did because, if he had any personality at all, then one of Tony's many cousins might have actually mentioned the guy. As far as Tony knew, no one had. It made Tony wonder if the guy ever even got out of that desk chair. Maybe he came with the furniture?

Ron might have been bland but, he was pretty solid on his opinions, as proved by the fact when he told Leslie, “we've already been over this Leslie. You broke that guys arm. I can't hire you back.”

Leslie made it clear she was only pretending to be frustrated, “he grabbed my ass, Ron. What did you expect me to do?”

In a flat and disinterested way, Ron made it known, “not break his arm.” Then he continued, “look, it's out of my hands. You know my bosses downtown would never go for it.”

“Maybe a few weeks ago,” Leslie said with a smile as she pulled out her badge and dropped it on his desk, “but what do we have here, ta dah!”

Ron's head never moved. His eyes drifted down and then back up to Leslie's, “I didn't know they gave those to bounty hunters.”

Now Leslie's frustration seemed more real, “it's not a bounty hunter badge, dumb ass. I'm a CG-4 now. I'm legit. Look at it, it says right there that I'm a Colonial Ranger.” Tony had remained quiet and somewhat confused up till this point. Now he became very confused when Ron did seem to know who they were. That was a first! Leslie then continued, “so obviously I have gainful employment. I'm not down here begging Ron. I just thought you could use a little help over by the third street pier. You know that nobody wants that tower.” It was clear that Ron was considering it and that led Leslie to pointing back at Tony, “him too, by the way.”

Ron did not look up from the badge, “is he...?”

“Yup,” Leslie snapped back.

Now Tony was more than a little confused. He was also alarmed, “excuse me.. what are we talking about here?”

Nobody bothered to answer but, Ron's eyes studied Tony from head to toe before he noted, “he kind of has the right look. I might be able to... Let me run down to personnel real quick.”

When Ron left the office, Leslie wasted no time planting herself in his chair before she began thumping away at his computer screen, “ok, quick, give me your phone?”

Tony handed it over but, he was still demanding answers, “I don't need another job, Leslie. I don't even know what job we're talking about here and, what was all that about the way I look? What the hell are you doing on his...”

“Would you shut up,” Leslie snapped back, “ok, there it is.” As Leslie began comparing what she was seeing on Tony's phone, with what was on the computer screen, she explained, “nobody over at IT would ever let us see this shit. Ron hasn't changed his password since Texans were throwing up a lean-to over at First Landing Park. You wanted a router trace, right? Well this is the only way I knew to get into the city mainframe. Now would you go watch the hall please?”

Tony did as requested but, this did not stop the questions, particularly about his looks. As Leslie did her work she explained, “oh they don't give a shit about what you know with this job. You just have to look like a fashion model.” She paused for a second, looked to Tony and winked, “and you got two chicks fighting over you beefcake. I kind of figure that means you're good enough for Ron.”

Tony was now very frustrated, “what job?”

Leslie closed out the computer app, stood up with her usual perky smile as she announced in a grand fashion, “lifeguard!”