"Where to?"

"Huh?"

"Where am I taking you? Home or do you need to stop for anything before then?"

"No home would be fine thank you."

We spoke no more words until he dropped me off at home and drove away. I realized then I haven't even given him the address; he had just known where I lived. I shook my head but wasn't all that surprised by the whole thing. I'm sure he could have found anyone if he tried hard enough, his job probably included it.

Sighing, I headed inside and tossed my bag on the chair in the living room.

"Oh! You're home late, I didn't even hear your truck." My mother said smiling from the kitchen, a cup of tea in her hand.

"I had someone drive me home, I got a nail in my tire. The shop couldn't get it in until tomorrow and I didn't want to take a chance at ruining the tires anymore."

"Oh, that makes sense."

There was no point in telling her that someone slashed my tires, it would only make her uncomfortable and she would rattle on about me finding a proper job. I enjoyed my job most times, so I didn't want to give her a reason to hate my job. I snagged a cup of tea from the pot she had made moments before; It was piping hot and smelled of earl grey. Looking at the white strands popping out among my mother's dirty blond hair, wavy enough that it looked like she spent her days sunning on the beach instead of inside the house. She didn't leave the house unless she needed something from the stores and had an appointment. She always told me this was because she felt close to my dad when she was here all the time. I got the house was the last piece of my father but I worried for my mother; it was why I couldn't leave her, not that she would actually allow me to leave if I wanted to. I was all she had.

The lack of my truck made me realize I was going to have to walk to work. I let out a sigh and made some toast as a meal before taking my tea with me to my room. I would have to be up now at least an hour before I would normally because I would need to walk. The station was a good half hour away from my house and I was never late, so I would leave early to guarantee that.

Mom would know I had gone to bed early because I would have to walk. Stopping at a framed photo of my father in the hall, I brought my hand up to my head in a salute motion and saluted to my father. I had done it every night since I was a boy, a boy of ten years old. Even now at thirty, I gave my father the respect he deserved, he was a hero.

When he passed all we got was a flag and his dog tags. My mother treasured both the items like if they disappeared she too would. I let out a deeper sigh than before as I sank into my bed after setting my tea on my bedside table. I set the alarm on my phone an hour before normal and sipped my tea. It felt nice to be in my bed again, After the long day I had had. I barely finished my tea by the time sleep had crept into my senses. I made a mental note to remember to take the cup back downstairs in the morning. I rolled over wrapping my arms around the pillow I had moulded to my body and closed my eyes. I heard mom moving around downstairs before I passed out.

The angry sound of the alarm beeping at six in the morning had me wanting to murder whoever had slashed my tires. This was all their fucking fault, and I was far from pleased by it. I grabbed running pants and an LHPD hoodie out of my closest; I was fucking thankful that I didn't have any mandatory dress or uniform I had to wear because I would lose my damn mind. The black hoodie was super soft on the inside and made me want to just crawl back into bed. I knew I couldn't however and forced myself down the stairs the coffee mug in my hand.

I tossed it lightly into the sink before grabbing a large apple off the table. Mom left them there for me to grab in the morning so that I ate something. Slipping my running shoes on and snagging my bag and keys I left locking the door behind me.

It was brisk out. I was thankful I had decided on this hoodie since it was a touch heavier than the rest I had. I got the sweater for a Christmas present from the Chief last year or the year before, I could hardly remember now. Checking my watch on my arm I had enough time to grab a coffee if I was quick about it. Though I would probably skip a normal coffee and go for espresso over ice with milk and a touch of sugar. I needed caffeine to jump-start me.

I made a quick pace of walking from the house to the coffee shop. They smiled when they saw me; I was a regular here. This was the spot I always stopped when I needed coffee or a massive dose of caffeine. There were only two other people when I walked in and they screamed not normal. If the black suits and the clearly visible guns on their hips were a sign. They stepped off to the side, and I ordered.

"Morning, Lukas! you want your normal coffee or you want us the kill you with caffeine."

"I'll take the death by caffeine Amber, I will pay whatever this morning."

"Death by caffeine, That will be eight fifty."

I tapped my card and stepped off to the side. I had chosen a fantastic day to wear this hoodie in public, for sure. I pretended not to notice the fact the two men were definitely sizing me up, surely they wouldn't do this shit here, they had to have some kind of peace bond with the cops or something right?

"Lukas, Here's your death by caffeine."

"Ah, lifesaver!"

"Long shift at the station?"

"Please, you're the first alive person I've got this close to in days," I said laughing lightly.

"Have a good day Lukas."

"Thanks, you too Amber."

Iced death in my hand I checked my watch and almost slammed right into another person. Looking up it was Andrei, He looked like he had yet to sleep at all.

"Morning," I said softly stepping around him. He waved at me briefly before going to get a coffee, I saw it as I walked by the window.