Don't Touch Me! - 44

 

The first thing Brent did when he got to the station was call Walt to tell him what had gone down. Then he handed his phone to the officer. Cody wasn't really too surprised when, moments later, the officer handed the phone back, saying, "I'll need statements from both of you, but given the circumstances, I'm not going to arrest you, Mr. Harding. Unfortunately, I have no reason to arrest Mr. Garey, the man you hit, despite what Mr. Paige told us about him."

"Figures," Brent muttered.

They were escorted into an interrogation room where they gave their statements to the officer. As they left, half an hour later, they saw Garey in handcuffs.

"I thought…" Cody said to the officer.

"It seems Mr. Garey had a couple of warrants out on him for assault and battery."

Cody sighed with relief. "At least he'll be punished for something, if not what he did to me."

"One can hope," Brent said. "Okay, let's call a cab and get you home."

"But what about lunch?"

Brent just stared at him for a moment, then laughed. "You're serious, aren't you?"

"I'm hungry." He really wasn't, but he didn't want to admit he was still too shaken by what had happened to go home, where all he'd do was think about it. It would be easier to regain his composure if he was somewhere neutral, where he had to act…normal.

"Okay, my man, let's get you fed." Brent slung his arm over Cody's shoulders as they walked out of the police station. When they were on the sidewalk, he said, "You may have fooled the officer, but not me. You're shaking like a leaf."

"From hunger," Cody replied defiantly.

"Bull. Shit." Brent glanced around and pointed. "They have decent food and cheap beer. Let's go."

Cody let himself be let to the tiny restaurant, muttering "Don't baby me."

"When have I ever?" Brent retorted.

The place wasn't crowded, much to Cody's relief. They found a vacant table in the back and soon had beer. Cody took a hefty swallow, willing himself to relax. Finally, he was able to say candidly, "I wish I'd had the guts to do what you did, but…"

"You would have. I just beat you to it."

Cody snorted. "I've never hit anyone in my life. I don't know how to. If I tried, I probably wouldn't do any damage."

"Then I'll teach you," Brent told him in no uncertain terms. He took a drink before saying acidly, "I hope they throw the book at the bastard."

"You and me both," Cody replied, scrubbing his hand through his hair. "I wonder if the other men are wandering around somewhere too."

"There's one way to find out if they're still in the city, but not until tomorrow. I don't think Walt would appreciate me asking him to have a serious talk with Garey until then."

"Will he be willing to do that?"

"Probably. I gave him a quick rundown about why I coldcocked Garey, so he knows what's what."