Free Just Another Job by Casey Peterson Page B

I see developing across your faces. And another
reminder, I need to see both of you after today's patrol. I need to
evaluate where your stress levels are post duty.”
    “You two look amazing,” said Carla with a
cheerful wave. “Have fun out there if you can. I wish I could join
you.”
    “Be safe,” said Art, standing next to his
wife. “And I have to say one joke. It's not to be cruel, but while
you're out there call a fair game.”
    Carmen held a test tube and waved it as they
passed, forgetting the liquid inside that spilled all over her lab
coat.
    Alex walked away from his computer long
enough to take in the commotion too. “I like the black,” he said
and disappeared.
    Erik greeted them outside with his top lip
curled in a dubious smile. Chris waited for something sarcastic to
come out of Erik's mouth, but with Frank holding back steam from
shooting out his ears Erik stayed quiet. This ended up being a
better tactic than Chris at first realized, because the silence
proved worse than any comment Erik could make. Frank shoved Chris
in the back to move ahead to the SUV and then positioned himself
face to face with Erik.
    As Chris got into the backseat he watched
Frank tower over Erik. The back of Frank's head and tensed
shoulders said everything that Chris couldn't hear. Of course Erik
playfully talked back as if this was the show he had planned all
along and Frank was merely reading off the script Erik supplied. It
was only a minute's worth of back and forth before Frank stomped
his way to the SUV. Chris slid over the leather seats to allow
Frank to take his place. Thoughts to calm Frank down or lighten the
mood flickered through Chris's head. None of them seemed likely to
work.
    The driver didn't give much wait time
either. He headed out of the parking lot as soon as they were
buckled in, which confused Chris. “Wait. What about Johnykin and
Klaus?”
    “They're already there. Don't worry. I'm
sure nothing exciting's happened yet,” said the driver.
    Traffic was thin as they headed down 580 and
into Dublin. Chris thought it strange that Erik didn't tell them
where they would be making their world premiere. How long would
they be driving? Even with cool air pumping through the vents, the
usual nervous sweat began its trickle down Chris's lower back. Were
there going to be reporters waiting? Cameras?
    The answer and destination came sooner
rather than later, though. The Stoneridge Mall with its two-story
grey walls stood unimpressively as the SUV snaked through the
parking lot to the equally ordinary main entrance where
'Stoneridge' was spelled out for anyone unclear as to where they
were.
    “The Supers are inside,” said the driver.
“Bring me back an Oreo Blizzard when you're done.”
    Frank and Chris hustled out of the SUV and
squinted at glass doors leading to duplicitous merchandise in an
overly comfortable, climate controlled environment. Like the gym,
both men tried to spend their time in different surroundings. But
none of that mattered when they remembered what they were
wearing.
    “Watch it blue,” said a teenager in tight
jeans and a fauxhawk who slithered around them, chuckling.
    Frank readied to punch out the mall regular,
but the teenager skipped inside all too aware of the physical
danger lollygagging could bring.
    “Come on,” said Chris, and held the glass
door open for Frank.
    Inside, the teenager that taunted Frank was
eyeing shoes from a store front. Frank came toward him to let out
some of the aggression that had rebuilt once they arrived at the
disappointing gala. The teenager was more alert than Frank gave him
credit for. As soon as Frank took a step near him, the teenager
skipped away again while giving Frank the finger.
    “Run you little fucker,” said Frank.
    “What are you doing?” said Chris. “We're the
good guys or something. We need to act like it and we need to find
Johnykin and Klaus.”
    “What the hell are we doing here? I'm going
to kick Erik's ass. He said