Rock Star Billionaire

"Don't say a word," I said as I swung my axe. "Not a fucking word."

He nodded and we worked with only the sound of the water flowing from the hose outside and our axes hitting the walls as we tore the building apart.

#

Nobody said anything to me once we got back to the station when I took Tesla out to the yard to play ball. I stood there throwing the damn tennis ball thinking about what had happened and how close to home the situation had been. My eyes were dry, but my chest was tight, and I felt the weight of the world bearing down on my shoulders.

More than anything, I wanted to talk to Alex. I wanted to feel Alex's body pressed against mine and her lips moving under my own. I wanted Alex. I pulled out my phone and stared at the screen for a long time before I scrolled through and found her number. I debated whether I should call or not and then hit the dial button and waited.

"Hey, Cam, what's up?" she said and I could hear the smile in her voice.

"Nothing much, just bored out of my skull," I said smiling back.

"Oh, so I'm your fall back for mind numbing boredom? Good to know," she laughed. I could hear noise in the background.

"You sure you're not busy?" I asked.

"No, I'm just helping Liz with a project she started but couldn't finish on her own," she laughed as I heard running water in the background.

"Uh, okay?" I said as I picked up the ball that Tesla dropped at my feet and chucked it halfway across the yard. I watched as she tore off to find the ball in the dark yard and smiled when she did.

"Liz started dying her hair and got stuck because she couldn't reach the back strands," Alex explained. "So now I'm here playing stylist as we try to even out the peacock blue highlights she attempted to put in. It's a mess!"

"You girls are nuts," I laughed as I imagined Alex trying to apply highlights to her friend's head.

"Indeed we are," she laughed with me. "Look, can I call you back? We're at a crucial point and -- Liz sit down and wait! God, she's my best friend but she's a major pain in the ass!"

"No problem, call me back if you have time," I said as Tesla wandered around holding the ball in her mouth, a sign that she'd had enough catch for one night. "And be careful!"

"I'm trying! Talk to you later!" Alex laughed before the line went dead.

I put the phone back in my pocket and wished I could be there to witness the chaos. I just wanted to be near Alex again. I shook my head and looked down at Tesla.

"I'm nuts, girl," I sighed. "Just flat out nuts. And I'm not sure what I'm going to do about that, so if you've got any ideas, throw them my way, would you?"

Tesla dropped the ball and barked once as she headed for the station door. I sighed as I picked up the ball and tossed it in the toy basket before heading inside.

"You okay?" Newsome asked quietly.

"Yeah, fine," I nodded as I grabbed a soda and sat down to watch television with the guys. My mind was a million miles away as I stared at the screen and thought about the past, present and future.

#

The next morning, after I got off shift, I drove home and dropped Tesla off before I headed to the CSC offices to find Leo. It had been an uneventful night at the station, which had left my mind to wander. I wanted to know what information Victor could possibly have and then I wanted to find a way to shut it down.

"Morning, Becky," I said as I entered the office. "Leo in yet?"

"He is, indeed," she said. "Not a good morning, though."

"Why? What's up?" I asked stopping at the desk.

"It seems Mr. Marini got some bad news this morning and he had a bit of a meltdown," she sighed. "I hate mornings like this."

"I'll see if I can't go turn it around," I said. "Keep your chin up, Becky. It's bound to get better."

"One can only hope, sir," she sighed as she turned back to the ringing phone.

I walked down the hall to Leo's office and noticed that several of the pictures that had been hanging on the walls were now on the floor. One frame's glass was cracked, and I frowned when I saw it was the shot of the state capitol.