Nocere Read online

  Nocere

  By Max Ellendale

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Nocere

  Copyright © 2020 Max Ellendale

  Cover Artist: Victoria Miller

  Editor: Deadra Krieger

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

  Max Ellendale

  www.maxellendale.com

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Epilogue

  Chapter One

  "It isn't just the sleeper cell that was the issue, Chief Walsh," I said as I sat across from him at his desk. "I truly feel we've escalated toward a more global threat."

  "What are you angling at, Bryant?" Walsh lifted a silver vape pen from his desk and puffed on it. It made the whole office smell of carnival cotton candy.

  "It's my opinion, Sir, that the Westside Takers gang had some sort of connection to them. The patterns of violence point to such, and one of their members was arrested during the siege." I set my report on his desk, including the map where I circled the various areas of increased violence. "I'm predicting that the next assault will happen around here." I pointed to the purple circle west of our location. "They're after weapons."

  "Well, Bryant. What can I say?" He cleared his throat and knocked on the desk. "You're one of my best analysts."

  "Thanks…" I lifted my bag and nodded toward the documents on his desk. "You can keep all of that."

  "Have you reported it all to Sadie?"

  "She's aware," I said, draping my bag over my shoulder. "Have a good day, Sir."

  "You, too, Bryant."

  I left Chief Walsh's office at the Seattle P.D. headquarters to return to my office. Detectives and patrol officers bustled about around me on a busy Friday, until I heard someone call my name.

  "Rosie," chirped a sweet sing-song voice. I swung around to see Ainsley Monson scuttling down the hall. The sight of her brought a smile to my face as I paused my exit to greet her.

  "Hi," I said when she pulled me into a cautious hug. My tense return didn't offset her happiness, however.

  "Hi. Free for lunch today?" Ainsley's bright smile warmed my insides.

  "Sure. What are you doing out here today?"

  "Dropping off a report to Angelina. Can you head out now?" She jabbed her thumb over her shoulder. "It's almost one."

  "I can. Yes." I nodded to the door.

  Ainsley cocked a brow at me and folded her arms over her chest. "Do you mean yes or are you flexing to my will?"

  I chuckled at her question and shook my head. "I mean it. I swear."

  "All right. C'mon." She spun on her heel and led me out the front door. "How about Florrie's Cafe across the street there?"

  "Works for me. And before you ask, I mean it." I laughed softly and Ainsley linked her arm with mine.

  Once we settled in our booth and placed our orders, Ainsley and I relaxed into casual conversation. We'd been friends for a few years at this point, after meeting at the annual forensics conference here in Seattle.

  "How's Jordan?"

  "She's great. You know she's going to attack your hair the minute she sees you, so be prepared." Ainsley grinned and wagged her brows. "It's her thing."

  "I know. She doesn't have to… I can manage." I ran my fingers through my hair and let it fall against my shoulders.

  "I know you can, Rosie." Ainsley reached across the table and gave my hand a soft pat. "How've you been?"

  "Pretty good. Work is good."

  "Any dating prospects lately?" She jumped right to it, as she always did.

  "Not really. I had a date a few weeks ago, but I didn't like her much." I toyed with the wrapper of the straw on the table. Tension tightened my stomach and I worried about Ainsley's reaction. The pressure to be coupled off wasn't unwarranted in my group of peers.

  "How come?" Ainsley's unassuming smile, as gentle as always, eased some of my concerns.

  "I don't know. She didn't make me feel comfortable. I think that's it."

  "Understandable. You'll meet someone eventually, Rosie. When you're ready," she said, patting my hand again.

  "You're always kind to me, Ainsley. Thank you."

  "You're easy to be kind to. Tomorrow night, Jordan and I are having a few friends over. Will you come?"

  I shook my head right away. "No. I don't think so. I don't like parties. Thank you, though."

  "This time it isn't a party. Just us and our friends, Alice and Stella. They're bringing their daughters. It's just dinner."

  "Maybe…" I glanced out the window at the busy streets and watched the cars stopped in traffic. Taxis stood out among the fray, and people crowded the streets with feet in hurried tenure.

  "Rosie." Her voice beckoned me and I looked back to her. "I'll pick you up if you like."

  "It's okay." I leaned away from the table so the returning server could set down my salad. Ainsley's posture mirrored mine when he placed a burger in front of her.

  "I promise, it's just the four of us and the kids. Think about it?"

  "I will."

  We tucked into our meal and my mind continued to race. A part of me wanted to go to Ainsley's dinner. The last time I went it was a nice time. Today for some reason, making the commitment proved difficult.

  As always, Ainsley allowed me the quiet moment to consider her offer while we settled into our lunches.

  When I returned my attention to her, she asked, "How's Rebecca?"

  "She's good. I had dinner with her on Sunday and my foster brother. I can't believe he's twenty-two already."

  "He's at U.W. for school, right?"

  "Yup. Studying criminal justice like I did. Rebecca had a strong influence on us." I smiled at the notion and Ainsley chuckled.

  "Maybe he'll turn out to be an intelligence analyst, too."

  "Or perhaps a medical examiner if he angles toward med school." I nodded in her direction. "He was entranced by you when he met you. I gave him some of your research papers to read and he loved them."

  "I love that little nerd. He's the sweetest," she said, grinning around a bite of fries.

  "He is." I chuckled when I thought of Jason and his dedication to his studies.

  "How is Alex doing now that she's finally broken it off with Frankie?" asked Ainsley. "I haven't seen her lately."

  "She's good. We had dinner last night after work. She hasn't been at the salon?"

  "She has, but I haven't much lately. Jordan's been coming right home after work instead of us philandering in the apartment above." Ainsley's smile broadened. "It's been great."

  "The two of you are super cute even after all this time together. Do you ever go to Wildrose?"

  "We do. Not as often as we used to, but a few times a month. I bet you Alex has been hanging out there, celebrating her new freedom."

&n
bsp; "I'm sure she has," I said, finishing off the last of the grilled chicken on my salad.

  "How come the two of you never got together?"

  "We've been friends for a long time. And I don't feel that way about her. Never have. We're like sisters."

  "She isn't your type, so to speak?"

  "I'm not sure I have a type. She and I are quite similar at times, and I don't think I'd like dating myself."

  Ainsley chuckled, setting her napkin on the table. "You're both sweet and gentle. I can see how that could leave you in a stalemate at times."

  "It does. She's very indecisive. I mean, I am too, but not about my own stuff. Just when I'm with other people. She's always indecisive and wants someone to choose for her, even if it's just what shoes to wear." I shook my head. "I'm not explaining it well."

  "You are. Alex is very passive about life and waits for things to happen for her."

  I nodded my agreement. "Right. I mean, I do that sometimes, but not with my career or general life situations. If I like a pair of shoes, I'm going to buy them."

  Ainsley let out a soft laugh and nodded. "I'm aware. You have great shoes."

  "Thanks." I chuckled and relaxed into our conversation after that.

  Lunches with Ainsley were usually the highlights of my work week. When I first met her, she was newly gay and dating Jordan. The two of them could hardly keep their hands off each other no matter where they were. Now, they still continued to act like that, but it didn't make me blush as much.

  We returned to our respective jobs and I ended the day as I always did, entering data into my crime map. A soft knock sounded on my office door and I looked up to see Rebecca, otherwise known as Detective Santoro, and my former foster mother.

  "Hey, dollface. You coming for Jason's birthday bash on Monday night? And by bash I mean pizza and cake with the four of us?"

  "I'll be there." I smiled at her as she dropped down to sit on a chair on the other side of the desk and crossed her legs. "I got him a subscription to one of those gamer boxes. Think he'll like that?"

  "Oh yeah. No doubt." She yawned and stretched while she watched me. "How's my girl?" Rebecca's terms of endearment lifted my spirits as they always did. I never quite processed how she ended up fostering me when I was sixteen and she was barely thirty. No matter though, she never made me feel uncared for or excluded. From day one, we were family and it meant more to me than anything.

  "I'm good. Work has been really good," I told her, closing my laptop after saving my work. "It usually is."

  "Because you're exceptionally good at it. Walsh told me about your report on the street gangs. He was tickled." She grinned and snapped her fingers. "A tickled Walsh is a giddy department."

  I laughed and shook my head. "At least temporarily. Sadie agreed with my suspicion at least."

  "Good. One day you'll be Lead Analyst. I'm convinced."

  "How is work for you?"

  "D.V. is D.V.," she said, letting out a dramatic sigh. "Violent men, victimized women, it's painful, but we get through. The new detective on my team seems promising though. Maya Brody. Know her?"

  "I don't. I'm glad that's working out though."

  "Me too." She nodded toward the door. "Ready to bolt, dollface?"

  "I am." I packed up my messenger bag and tossed it across my torso.

  On the way out, Rebecca wrapped her arm around my shoulders. "What's got you so quiet?"

  "I'm not sure. Ainsley is having a dinner party tomorrow and she invited me."

  "Not up to socializing?"

  I shrugged and allowed myself to lean into her on the way to the parking lot. "Not much."

  "Well, sweetness, you do what makes you happy. Hear that?" Rebecca kissed my cheek and released me by her car.

  "I'll try," I said, before climbing into the passenger seat.

  ***

  Every Friday, I looked forward to dinner with Rebecca. She called it our girls’ night out. When I was younger, we would go to the movies or the arcade, sometimes to a carnival or to get our nails done. Over the years, it morphed into more adult activities like dinner and drinks. No matter what, I always appreciated it.

  After rousing late with pangs of hunger in my belly, I made my way to the kitchen. I glanced at the clock which told me I slept well past noon, which wasn't all that unusual. Nearly two in the afternoon was a little new though.

  My phone chirped beside the coffee pot and I lifted it to see a text from Ainsley.

  What say ye, my darling friend?

  I'm not sure…

  Open the door.

  What?

  I glanced at the front door to my loft. A sharp, rhythmic knock sounded and I bustled over to yank it open.

  Ainsley stood there, her hands held palm up beside her shoulders as she struck a pose in the hall. "Ta-da."

  "Ainsley, what are you doing?"

  "My girlfriend has this motto," she said, sweeping in without my invitation. The hem of her pretty tunic fluttered behind her.

  "What's that?" I closed the door as I folded my arms over my middle. Ainsley sauntered around my tiny space, taking a lap around the coffee table before leaning on the arm of the sofa. "Also, I'm not wearing any pants."

  "Oh, who cares. I'm not wearing a bra." She waved me off. "Anyway, Jordan says, 'sometimes there are people in our lives that we care about who struggle to see what they're capable of.'"

  "What do you mean?" My brow furrowed and I tugged my sweatshirt tighter around me when I came to stand beside her.

  "She also says that sometimes it's our responsibility as a friend to give those friends a little nudge."

  "Okay…" Nervousness continued to twist my stomach, so I tucked my hair behind my ear in an effort to dispense with the extra energy. "So, what are you saying?"

  "I'm saying… Ta-da!" She posed herself as before, kicking one foot back so the tip of her boot thunked against the carpet. "I'm a nudge."

  A laugh escaped me and I nodded my agreement. "That you are."

  "It wasn't supposed to be funny." Ainsley snickered and hopped to stand in front of me. Both of her hands fell to my elbows and I tensed under her sudden touch. "I would really like you to come to dinner tonight, so I'm here to escort you."

  "Ainsley, I really...I don't know. I don't have anything to wear and—"

  Her expression fell so suddenly that I worried I'd said something wrong. "Rosie...no one cares what you wear. Jordan will probably be half naked before dessert."

  "Yeah, but I-I don't fit in. Your friends are doctors and business owners and I'm—"

  "Someone who analyzes crime and provides risk assessments in order to keep our families safe every day?" Ainsley's grip on my elbows relaxed and she slid her hands down to hold mine. "Rosie…you're important to me as you are. You're my friend. You're my friend, for who you are."

  A swell of emotion struck me and I searched her expression. Her eyes, soft and doe-like, spoke of the passion in her statement, though part of me still worried about her sincerity.

  "I'm sorry, I just—"

  "It's okay." Ainsley's entire demeanor shifted from silly to serious in a heartbeat. "Come sit with me."

  "Okay." I let her lead me to the sofa as I swiped at the stray tear that managed to escape, hoping she didn't see it.

  "I didn't know how difficult this was for you and I'm sorry for being pushy. Sometimes I get excited," she said, her voice soft.

  "It's not difficult. It's just…" I drew in a deep breath, and she offered me a small smile.

  "Difficult."

  "Yeah. I don't have many friends. I'm used to keeping to myself."

  "I know. That's why I'm the nudge. Jordan and I really enjoyed your company when you came to lunch for my birthday. Alex speaks fondly of you, and some of the girls are interested in meeting you. Jordan collects lesbians, so we're in the mood to recruit."

  I couldn't help but laugh at the notion. "She doesn't."

  "Oh, she does, my friend. She does." Ainsley smiled and patted my hand. "If
you would like to come, we are happy to have you. If you really don't want to, I'll respect that."

  In all the time I'd been on this Earth, no one pursued me the way Ainsley did. At least not for friendship. I watched her, glancing from her face down to the space where she held my cold hand in her warm palm. I wanted so badly to believe that she wanted me there. Rebecca's words about doing what made me happy played over in my mind. The problem with that was that I didn't know what made me happy.

  "I do want to go, Ainsley," I told her, my voice soft.

  "Then what's stopping you?"

  "What if I get overwhelmed?"

  "You can leave. The doors open both in and out."

  "What if I get tired?"

  "You can have a nap in the guestroom." She smiled and leaned her elbow on the back of the sofa. "I might have an answer for everything. Be careful."

  "Your house isn't on a bus line. What if I want to leave? I don't want you to have to leave to drive me…"

  "That's what Uber is for," she said, on the tails of a chuckle. "See? Answer for everything."

  "It's just Jordan and your two friends?"

  "And their kids. Three girls under seven. That's it." She held her hands up in a gesture of good faith. "No surprises. You know Alice, too."

  "Yeah. She was always nice to me."

  "If you decide to come, I'll stay here while you get ready."

  I considered everything she said, and glanced around the room. Bookshelves built into the wall cradled the television perched on a small stand. I read over the titles of some of the books while I waited for my heart to stop pounding.

  "Okay. I'll go."

  "Hooray! My nudge worked." Ainsley leaned forward and smooched my cheek. The gesture shocked me, and she grabbed my hands a moment later. "Go ahead and do what you need to do. I'm self-entertaining."

  "I think you're generally entertaining." I stood from my spot and gestured toward the bedroom door. "I need to shower and stuff."

  "Go ahead." She nodded and made some sort of sound with her teeth as she browsed my bookshelf. She picked up a ceramic cat statue that I painted on a craft night. "What's his name?"

  "Um...Ziggy."

  "Well then, we'll get acquainted while you ready yourself." She grinned at me and I laughed my way to the bathroom.