Merciless

“That’d be so awesome!” Naomi scribbled in her notebook, ripped out a piece of paper, and handed it to me. “I won’t call you because I know you’re busy, but I got a new cell number, so you can call me when you get time.”

“Why the new number?”

Another scowl. “Because Mackenzie posted my old one in the computer lab with a note that I was a snitch.”

“Doing the right thing doesn’t make you a snitch.” I put the paper in my notebook. “Now get to class and balance some equations.” Her laughter followed me up the stairs.

Lost in thought, I literally ran into Officer Ferguson when I walked through the front door.

“Agent Gunderson. What are you doing over here? Hanging out with your boyfriend?” she joked. Then her face paled. “Oh, shit. I’m sorry. I forgot the sheriff is in the hospital. Sometimes I just open my mouth and don’t-”

“It’s okay.” I paused. “But I’m curious: Who’d you mean by my ‘boyfriend’?”

“Sheldon. In the archives department. I think he’s got a thing for you.”

I frowned. “Why would you think that?”

“He always asks about you.”

“You have lots of occasions to talk to Mr. War Bonnet, Officer Ferguson?”

She shrugged defensively. “I usually bring boxes of case reports over. Sheldon and I shoot the shit.” Fergie looked over her shoulder and then leaned in closer. “I’ve got a crush on him, okay? Not that I’d ever act on it.”

“Really?” I didn’t want to say eww, but… eww.

“I know what you’re thinking. But last year we had about thirty boxes to transfer here, and I wasn’t sure if Sheldon wanted me to load them in the elevator or bring them around back to the loading bay. When I got down here, I found the outer door open, which never happens on days the archives are closed. I poked my head in before I announced myself and saw Sheldon hefting huge boxes over his head. Then he climbed up to the top of the shelving unit like a monkey. He was wearing one of those wifebeater-type shirts, and it rode up.” She released a soft whistle. “I thought six-pack abs were a myth, but Sheldon has them. Man, and his arms are completely ripped. In fact, his upper body is really toned. It’s a shame he keeps it hidden under such baggy clothes.”

Why would Sheldon hide his physique? I’d always seen him as a doughy guy. Something Shay had said about Rollie jumped into my head. Did you see how he shuffled out of here like an old man? Trying to leave the impression that he’s harmless and helpless?

But it made no sense why Sheldon would want people to think he was gimped up. For sympathy? So people would assume it was from an injury he’d sustained in the service?

Fergie’s voice pulled me out of those thoughts. “I didn’t want to get caught gawking at him, so I ducked around the corner and waited a few minutes. Then I yelled real loud when I came in.”

“Did he stand on a ladder so you could admire him in all his sweaty, muscled glory?”

She chuckled. “No, he’d put on a long-sleeved shirt at least one size too big. I assumed it was a hand-me-down from his uncle.”

“Do you know his uncle?”

“He was in charge of the archives when I first started as a cop. Then Sheldon moved back to care for him and to take over the archives job. Harold is a sweet guy. Quiet.”

“Do you ever see him?”

Fergie looked thoughtful. “No, he has health issues. But Sheldon talks about him. Harold is lucky that Sheldon lives with him so he didn’t end up in a nursing home. Anyway, I have more boxes for him. I’ve been trying to dump them off for the last month, but he keeps telling me the storage area by the loading bay is full. I’m tired of getting my butt chewed by the police chief because we’ve got sensitive case files stacked in the hallway.”

“How full can it be back there? What else does he use the loading bay for?”

“Between us? Nothing. I saw a cot back there one time, but I never let on that I noticed his little R and R corner. So what if he’s made a little nesting spot to take naps? I don’t care. I just want him to quit stalling and take these boxes off my hands.”

Now that I’d thought about it, I’d never asked him about the locked door in the far back room. “Well, Sheldon isn’t here today. Maybe he’s taking his uncle to the doctor or something.”

“Could be. He’ll be pleased to hear you’re concerned about him.” She nudged me with her shoulder and grinned. “Sheldon is crushing on you big time, Mercy.”

“Maybe the tribal PD should start drug testing, because obviously you’ve been smoking crack.”

“Ha-ha. Seriously you wouldn’t see it. Bet you also don’t know your partner-I mean, your coworker, Agent Turnbull-has a big-time crush on you, too. As does my coworker, Officer Orson. Even Nancy in the jail told me you’re da bomb.”

What a load of horseshit. “I think you’re mixing up annoyance and affection, Officer Fergalicious, at least when it comes to my coworker,” I said dryly.