Stephanie Steele

Nixon hung up the phone and turned to Mia. “Your father’s on his way to pick you up.”

Mia lowered her head and slightly turned away from Nixon trying to disguise more tears which threatened to wet her cheeks.

She sensed that Mia wasn’t too happy about this news. “Hey, you okay? Mia?” Nixon swivelled Mia’s chair so the girl faced towards her.

Mia looked up and put on a brave face. She couldn’t tell Nixon the truth. It was too hard to talk about. How could she put into words the things that had happened to her? Instead she pretended she hadn’t heard and changed the subject to Steele. She thought Steele had to be the bravest woman she’d met. If only she could be like Steele, then no one could hurt her again. “Is it true what they say about Detective Steele?” She enquired, stalling for time. Time to hatch some kind of plan.

“What’s that then?” Nixon replied, glad Mia was sounding happier. Her father would be here soon and she’d be someone else’s problem. Right now, she didn’t need to be babysitting a messed up kid like this. Of course she felt for the kid. What had happened to her was horrendous, but why was it up to her to look after her? Just because she was a woman? She wasn’t even a human woman. Sure, she had the emotional upgrades of a human woman, but what did she know about looking after a kid? Thankfully this would be out of her hands soon.

“That she’s the best detective in the department.” Mia said with a great deal of admiration.

“Second. I’m the best.” Nixon ribbed and gave her a wink. “But she’s a hard ass son-of-a-bitch and stubborn too.” She realised her language wasn’t quite appropriate. “Sorry kid.”

“I’m used to bad language. My father uses it all the time. Can I get a drink of water?” Mia asked innocently.

The kid was toughing it out. Nixon could tell. She was relieved to get an excuse to get a break, even if it was just to get her a cup of water from the cooler. “Sure. I’ll be right back.” Nixon took the long way round the office to the water cooler by the door.

Nixon took a cup from the dispenser, placed it under the tap. She filled it with cold water, letting the water trickle into the cup so it filled up slowly.

Walt, a middle-aged detective, looked up from his desk towards her and over his glasses. “Babysitting Nixon? You get all the good jobs.” He said with a chuckle.

“Comes with the territory Walt.” She answered without looking at him.

Her thoughts turned to Steele. What she wouldn’t give to get that girl into bed. She sighed heavily. She’d tried just about everything from wearing her hair in different styles and adding a little make-up, unbuttoning her blouse and wearing a push up bra once or twice, to flirting, to openly just asking her out. She’d resisted everything, even an open invitation to casual sex, no strings, which she could handle. A relationship would have been preferable but the chance, even once, for a bit of casual sex was certainly something she wouldn’t turn down with Steele. That woman was playing it extremely hard to get. Okay, so she was still mourning the death of her girlfriend, but that was a year ago. Surely she’d be coming around from that now? Everyone needs someone in their life even if it was just a fuck buddy to service their needs every once in a while. And right now she needed her needs servicing.

She’d thought about pulling some random in the club, guy or girl, it didn’t matter. She swung both ways. Sometimes she liked a guy inside her just because it was different, but with guys it was usually over once they’d satisfied themselves. They could be selfish that way, unless it was a droid guy then he could go all night. Perfect. With another girl it was a different kind of sex. Females knew their own bodies and what did it for them, therefore they knew how to pleasure another woman better than any man. Not every man of course. She’d had some guys who really knew their stuff, but on the whole girls knew how to give another girl a good time better than a man. But right now she didn’t want anyone else. She just wanted Steele. It was almost as if she’d been programmed just to accept her alone.

The water spilling over the cup onto her hand brought her out of her daydream. She tipped out a little, shook off the drips on her hand and slowly headed back to her desk, thoughts of Steele still penetrating her hard drive.

But when she got back Mia wasn’t sitting in the seat where she’d left her. Nixon looked about the room to see if she’d wandered off. Kids were always curious. Perhaps she’d seen something of interest and gone to have a look. But there was no sign. Just cops typing up reports, taking calls and doing cop business. It took her a moment to realise something wasn’t right. Then she noticed her computer screen flashing a prompt. She’d foolishly left it logged in.

SEARCH COMPLETED. BEGIN NEW SEARCH?

“Shit!” How was she going to explain this to Edwards, and the girl’s father for that matter?

Twenty minutes later Nixon was explaining just that to Mia’s father. A rather abrupt man. Unshaven and unkempt in appearance, and slightly intoxicated from the smell of his breath.

“Mister Kalarjian I’m so sorry . . .” Nixon started.

“You let a thirteen year old girl walk out of a police station onto the streets alone just like that? What the fuck is wrong with you? Are you a cop or are you not?” He yelled. Every eye in the office was watching.

“She wasn’t under arrest and I underestimated her.” Nixon tried to explain.

Vern Kalarjian paced, running his fingers through greasy hair, trying to figure out what to do. “She’s got a habit of running away. Spoiled brat. How do you think she got into this trouble in the first place?”

“Mister Kalarjian I don’t think . . .” Again Nixon was cut off.

“You’re useless, the lot of you!” He glanced around the office at the other cops then turned back to Nixon. “Call me if she turns up. I can’t wait around here all day.” He yelled, turned and left, slamming the door behind him.

“Seems like a nice friendly guy. No wonder the girl ran off.” Walt offered. “What was she looking at on your computer?” Nixon was just about to reply when Edwards stuck his head out his office door.

“Nixon, in here, now!”

Edwards didn’t sound pleased. Nixon braced herself for a ticking off and headed into Edwards’s office.