Night Ride Home

"Did he... get along with his employers? Any... trouble between them?"

 

Martin shakes his head. "N...no. He just. Was anxious about going outside, but he liked his work."

 

"... alright. Alright. Then... the best thing you can do right now is keep yourself and your friends safe, alright?"

"Do you need a ride home?"

 

He thinks about saying no. But.


He nods, mutely. "...I... don' wanna. Walk right now."

 

"... It's alright. My car's right around the corner."

 

Martin nods, standing quietly. "O..okay."

 

The cop leads him to a marked squad car. "Where are we headed?" He leans over to clear off the passenger seat, shoving a battered paperback into a cupholder.

 

Martin looks at the book. "Uhm. Spring Life apartments?"

 

It's ... Definitely a romance novel. A trashy bodice-ripper, with a man in a kilt on the front.

"... Down by the park, huh? Alright."

He shifts the car into drive, and starts heading that way.

 

Martin smiles slightly, reaching forwards to gently touch the cover. "...is this one good?" He pauses, squinting at the author's name. "...I think I've borrowed a few of hers from the library."

 

The cop smiles back, warm and relaxed. "Yeah, she's pretty good. Real fond of Scotland, for some reason."

"Mm... Mary's the heiress to an old castle, I think she's gonna end up with the town priest."

 

"I think it's the kilts. Shows more off," Martin nods. "...oh? Any twists, or is it 'you gotta read it' material?"

 

"Sounds about right," he says, chuckling. "Just whether the ruffian bandit really loves her."

"Turns out he's in love with the priest too."

 

"Ooh. Maybe they'll all get together?" Martin perks up visibly, smiling a cute, crooked smile.

 

Half-smiling. "We can hope, huh? This way, yeah?"

 

"Yeah, this way." Martin nods. "...tho I guess the priest and the bandit might not get along too well, even if the bandit does like him, huh?"

 

"... I dunno, the priest seems like one of those guys with a wild past." Quirking a smile. "How about you? Read anything good lately?"

 

"Not too much. I mean. A friend had a book of short stories published a few weeks ago, and it's good? I like romance better, tho."

 

"Yeah," he nods. "Sometimes you just need to know that nothing bad's gonna happen, in a book."

 

"Exactly. It. It's nice." Martin smiles. "I like happy endings, they feel better than sad ones."