Officer Jones

Chapter 32

Gilbert, Arizona

Labor Day Weekend-1995

“Are you almost ready?” shouted Lucy Enriquez.

Kyle took another glance in the mirror, playing with his short-cropped hair. He was admittedly pretty average in all regards, from his looks to his medium height, and he certainly wasn’t one of those charmers who could captivate a room with his personality. So he was as surprised as most that he was able to attract such a desirable girlfriend as Lucy, even if she wasn’t always a ray of sunshine.

When he stepped into the foyer, he immediately stopped in his tracks. Lucy looked annoyed, as usual, but also beautiful. He was drawn to the dark curls that fell onto her tanned shoulders like she just appeared out of a shampoo commercial. At work, where she was his commanding officer, she always wore a ponytail and little makeup, along with the stiff blue and gold police uniform. It had nothing on this sizzling pink number she was wearing for the picnic.

“Wow,” was all he could say.

She smiled. “Don’t even think you can charm your way out of making us late, Kyle Jones.”

After spending most of his life in the military, he’d never been late for anything. But since becoming a “civilian,” and meeting Lucy, his outlook had changed on a lot of things.

“Should I see if Grady wants to join us tonight?” he asked, already bracing for the answer.

Her smile suddenly disappeared, and she looked like she was fighting back every urge to lash out. It reminded him of Mount St. Helens, a dormant volcano three hours from Seattle, where he went on the anniversary of his parents’ death to spread their ashes, as was their request. He knew that Lucy could erupt at any moment.

“It’s not bad enough that you pay his rent-now you’re going to subsidize a night out for him?”

“Shh … he’s in the next room.”

“I really don’t care, Kyle!” her voice raised. “He sits on the couch all day watching that stupid murder trial, hoping you’ll feel sorry for him and keep supporting his free ride!”

“He’s been sick, Lucy, and he’s had some tough luck.”

When Kyle left the Air Force, law enforcement felt like a natural transition. As an “army brat” who’d lived everywhere from Germany to Lake Cumberland, Kentucky, he welcomed putting down roots in Gilbert, which was near Luke Air Force Base, his last stop in the military. It provided a stability he thought he’d never find again after the deaths of his parents.

But post-military life had been a struggle for Grady. He was lethargic and sick all the time, and blamed it on a mysterious illness the media was calling Gulf War Syndrome. This was completely different from the Grady Benson that Kyle remembered from their Air Force days. Back then, he was one of the most brash and daring pilots that Kyle had ever known. And when he wasn’t flying, Grady spent his time on the ski slopes and rollerblading around the base.

But that man had vanished. This Grady would sit on the couch, watching endless hours of the OJ Simpson murder trial. He talked about the players as if they were his friends-Kato, Marcia, Johnnie, and Judge Ito.

Grady had bounced from menial job to menial job. Each one that didn’t work out seemed to sap more energy from him, adding to his bitterness. But the bigger issue for Kyle was the strain Grady placed on his relationship with Lucy. And when she sighed again-this time like a dragon exhaling fire-Kyle knew he was on unsteady ground. He’d found out the hard way that three sighs meant no sex for a week.

“He’s been to all those doctors and they haven’t found one thing wrong with him. Not one thing!”

“Come on, Lucy,” Kyle pleaded. He tried to put his arm around her, but she pulled away. “Please keep it down-he’s in the next room.”

Her voice rose again in defiance. “Tell me why you put up with it!?”

“You don’t understand-we have fought the same battles.”

“I understand that he can’t hold a job, and sits on his ass all day while you pay the rent.”

“By battles, I don’t just mean the war.”

Lucy took a deep breath to fight off her frustration, and attempted a calmer approach, “Kyle-it’s tragic what happened, but it would be cheaper for you to hire a whole team of psychiatrists for him, than letting him slack his way through life on your dime.”

Lucy would never comprehend their bond. He and Grady were only children who lost their parents within a year of each other, both under tragic circumstances. Kyle still couldn’t grasp the irony of his own parents’ death. After surviving all the years living the dangerous fighter pilot life, including numerous combat missions, they had retired to a tranquil community “on the lake,” only to have their lives taken in an instant.

Kyle had faced those who were responsible for taking them away, and convinced himself that he’d gotten the closure he needed to move on with his life. He thought he’d put it behind him, but lately he felt the emotions bubbling underneath the surface … like his own version of Mount St. Helens.

Lucy stared at him, which made him feel like an enemy MiG was locked on his soul, ready to fire. But she showed restraint this time, choosing to ease off the trigger. “Fine, see if he wants to go,” she said, flashing Kyle a peace treaty smile.

Maybe she did understand after all.