Free SNOW GLOBE by Jeanne Skartsiaris Page B

trouble.”
    The female officer stepped up and told one of the other officers, “Doug go check the back door for signs of a break in. Clay, thanks for everything, but I think we’ve got it under control here.”
    “Look, why don’t I take over this call, babe,” Richards said to her condescendingly.
    “Babe?” She rolled her eyes. “Aren’t you supposed to be off duty?”
    “Yeah, go,” Aja cried. “And I’m filing a restraining order against you.” Her boldness wasn’t as firm as she’d wanted. She turned to the female officer. “I am allowed to file a restraining order even if he is a police officer?”
    “We’ll talk,” the woman said.
    “He’s one of the more decorated officers we have here,” the police officer named Doug said. “He’s here to help you, little-bit.”
    “Doug, go check the back,” the female officer ordered.
    “Did he just call me little-bit?” Aja asked. She was so tired and wide awake at the same time.
    “I’m Officer Smith,” the woman said, introducing herself. “Are your parents home?”
    “No, my mom is out of town. I’m here alone.”
    “How old are you?”
    “Eighteen.”
    “Is your father home?”
    “No,” Aja said. She didn’t want to have to answer questions about not ever having a father. In first grade, a teacher who’d planned a “breakfast with daddy day” had the children tell what their fathers did. Hands went up, and kids gave answers like accountant, fireman, doctor. Aja, waving her hand enthusiastically, yelled out, “sperm donor,” which stopped the teacher in her tracks. To this day, Aja still didn’t know if the teacher was laughing or crying as she escorted Aja to the principal’s office.
    Fiona stepped into the conversation, stubbing her cigarette out on the street. “Aja and her momma are friends of mine. Why don’t you stay with me until she gets home?”
    Smith ignored Fiona. “How often are you here alone?”
    “Not much. She had a job out of town tonight. I need to call her but ‘Mr. Decorated Hero,’ officer Clay Richards, crunched my phone under his boot.”
    “Why would he do that?” Smith was taking notes.
    “Ask him. He’s been following me around for days now.”
    “Did you provoke him?”
    “Are you kidding me?”
    “Don’t use a tone with me.”
    Aja backed down. She’d dealt with police before; they always stuck together.
    By the time the police left, they’d determined that someone had forced the back door open, and they found Aja’s phone in pieces on her bedroom floor. Aja had seen enough CSI episodes to know they did nothing to investigate who might have done it.
    It was two o’clock, and Aja was weak with exhaustion. She’d had less sleep all week than she needed in one night. Fiona let her come in and clean up, catch a few hours’ sleep and change at her house. By then, it was time to leave for school.

Chapter 14

    Aja plopped into a desk in Dempsey’s class. Just get through this day, Aja thought. She was off work tonight and her mother was coming home. She’d be able to sleep all afternoon and night.
    She wanted to talk to Walker but thought of Kendall. And, since her phone was smashed, she couldn’t call anybody. Since she’d been ignoring Walker’s texts and phone calls for the past few days he’d probably moved on anyway. Right into Kendall’s arms.
    Dempsey called on her a few times in class, and Aja managed to answer the questions. She could tell Dempsey was pissed and got some satisfaction from that. The rest of the day, Aja managed with energy drinks and pinching herself.
    When the final bell rang, Aja headed to her car. Relieved. She was going straight home to sleep. She prayed her mom had made it home.
    Standing next to her car was Walker.
    “Hey.” He jogged up to take her book bag. “I’ve been calling and texting you.”
    Aja let him take her books. “My phone’s broken. And I’m sure Kendall’s not interested in a threesome.”
    “That’s what I want to talk to