"Caleb, Manda's not here anymore," I say as my voice catches at the admission.
"Yeah she is. The body that I held in my arms every night, is just downstairs. I know every single inch of that body. The tiny freckle on her chest. The birthmark on her hip. There is even a bruise on her left leg where she ran into the nightstand last night," he pauses, taking a deep breath trying to fight back the inevitable tears. "The worst part is I've been in that morgue so many times while investigating. I know it like the back of my hand, and I can't close my fucking eyes without imagining someone pulling Manda out of a drawer. I can't go home and leave her in there alone." With that last word, he breaks down into gut-wrenching sobs.
I have no idea what to do in this situation. Being a detective you would think I would be used to the sadness that comes when someone experiences an unexpected loss. I've informed dozens of people that their loved ones were gone. I've witnessed death paralyze far bigger men than Caleb, yet I’m at a loss for what to do now. This just hits too close to home. It hurts to think that Manda is gone. When I think back to a few hours ago, when I thought it was my wife who lost her life, the panic nearly cripples me. I can't even begin to imagine how shattered he must be feeling. So I do the only thing that makes sense. I squat down in front of my heartbroken best friend and wrap him into a hug, holding him while he cries over the loss of his one love. I'm glad I did, because seven months later, Caleb would return the favor.
Brett
Four years later…
"WELL HELLO, officer."
"Hey, Jesse."
"The usual?" she asks, reaching over to grab the fruit and granola that I eat every morning.
"You know it."
"Did you see the Packers won last night?" she asks over her shoulder while making my coffee.
"Yes," I reply giving her nothing. I know she’s just prodding me for a reaction.
"Remind me again which team you bet twenty dollars was going to win?" She saunters over handing me my coffee, not releasing her hand even after I grab the cup. "Because as I recall, it wasn't the Packers." She smiles, a stunning white smile.
"All right, all right. You win! Here's your damn money," I say jokingly slapping a twenty dollar bill down on the counter, but walk away without paying for my coffee. "The least you can do is buy me breakfast, if you are going to steal all my money," I say as I sit down at the table closest to the counter.
"Hey, you're the one who keeps betting against Green Bay. Seriously Brett, they are 6-0. When are you going to learn? Though in light of my newly padded pockets, I will happily buy you breakfast."
"Gee thanks, you are just too kind," my voice drips with sarcasm. Damn, I hate losing, but Jess walks away giggling and I can't help but smile.
"What was that all about?" Caleb asks as he pulls up a chair across from me.
"Nothing, just losing my life savings to the football shark posing as a barista," I say loud enough for Jesse to hear, earning me yet another laugh from behind the bar.
"So when are you going to get off your ass and ask her out?"
"Who? Jesse?"
"Yes, Jesse, you dumb ass."
"Newsflash: I'm married!"
"You might still be married on paper, but you and I both know you haven't been married in a long time."
"I'm not talking about this right now," I wave my hand trying to dismiss the topic.
"It's been four years."
"Wow, thanks for the reminder, asshole. What would I ever do without your mathematical genius?"
"Whatever, you can be a dick all you want, but it only further proves my point that you need to get laid."
"Christ, Jones. Can you lower your voice?" I whisper yell, annoyed that he just announced my sexual status, or lack thereof, to the entire coffee shop.
"Oh come on, Jesse is hot in that girl next door, sexy librarian kind of way."
"Oh, Jesus." I shake my head while looking around making sure no one is listening to our conversation. “Well guess what, Jones. You're not married. Feel free to ask her out yourself."
"Nah, I'm still seeing Lisa. She would lose her crazy monkey shit if she thought I was even looking at Jesse."
"You need to cut that one loose. Preferably before you end up chopped into tiny pieces, buried under her floorboards."