Chapter 2

After the big cities he’d worked in Acker was… perfect—even with how the LGBTQ population seemed to have boomed recently. He just hoped there wouldn’t be any more incidents with violence. Makai Stone being shot by the town drunk domestic abuser a while back had been bad enough, even if it hadn’t been Mark in front of that bullet to appease his father’s wrath.

He let himself deflate and fill with relief. It would be a week before another call. Before another attack on his person and the town he’d come to call home.

Mark had gone to college to study criminal justice. It hadn’t been what he’d wanted to study, but it had been one of the things his parents would pay for. When he had a degree under his belt in order to move onto the Academy, he’d done that. Part of his rush had been to get away from college but the promise of escaping his parents’ hold on him had spurred him on even more.

At thirty-three, he should’ve been his own man in every possible way. Growing up, he’d hoped that one day he’d be an adult, free from his parents’ prejudices and expectations, and maybe… happy.

Mark was used to, if not quite okay with, with not being happy by now. The moments of contentment in his life were fleeting and far between, but they sustained him enough. Wednesdays were always rough, though. That was why most of his trips to other towns every month or two happened on Fridays.

He’d been to Minneapolis three weeks ago. The drive there was over four hours even in good weather, and since it was mid-November now, it wouldn’t be an easy drive. He would have to go somewhere closer.

He must’ve frowned, because when the door to the station opened and Nora Newman, the sheriff’s wife, stepped in, her smile turned into something almost worried.

“Deputy Forrest? Is everything all right?” she asked as she approached the desk with a huge cake carrier in her gloved hands.

Mark made sure there was enough room for the carrier on top of the desk and that she put it down safely.

“I’m fine, I was just thinking about something unpleasant, ma’am. Thank you for asking.” He hated that she’d asked, but tried to give her a small smile anyway. His mood wasn’t her fault, after all.

“Well, I was experimenting with cakes again and I thought I’d bring it over to you guys.” She smiled, clearly proud of whatever she’d made. “I’ve started to make more cakes and things to order, but I need to figure out what works and what doesn’t. You get to be my guinea pigs!”

Mark couldn’t help but chuckle. “Well, if this is anything like the cupcakes last week, Mrs. Newman, I’m pretty sure we’re going to be very happy with it.”

“It’s Nora, I’ve told you time and time again, Deputy Forrest. Please tell Erin my husband isn’t allowed to eat half of the cake. She’ll keep an eye on him.”

“Will do, ma’m.” Mark smiled at her as she turned to go, and then shook his head. She was a powerhouse. He could see why Sheriff Newman was clearly in love with her, even after decades together.

* * * *

On Friday afternoon, after he got off work at three Mark went home and prepared for his trip.

He’d rented a little house a mile or so from the station when he’d first moved to Acker. He liked the place, it was small and in relatively good condition, and he had been thinking about asking his landlord if he’d be willing to sell it.

It wasn’t anything special, even with the little improvements Mark had made over the last few years, but it was home now, and Mark knew better than to take that lightly. Sometimes he wondered if he should adopt a pet of some sort, but so far he hadn’t made a decision. When the sheriff’s kid Emil and his partner, Makai, had had their ad up at the diner for kittens, Mark had thought—but no. Not with what he’d done at their property in the summer.

The thought grated on him, still. How he’d ran his mouth after panicking over all the happily queer people around him. The worst thing was that his boss had been there. He still felt the sheriff’s gaze on him every time anyone who was part of the LGBTQ community or an ally was brought up while Mark was there.

Hating himself a little, Mark put together his duffel bag with a clean set of clothes and toiletry kit, and locked the house.

He’d decided it had been long enough since he’d last gone to a particular bar in Green Bay, which was maybe three and a half hours from Acker, if it started to snow on the way. Anything closer than that, he’d been at too recently.

The weather held, so it was a quicker drive than he’d anticipated even with a coffee break, and he ended up in Green Bay around seven. It was too early to go out yet, so he went to the motel he’d stayed at before and checked in. It wasn’t a fancy place, but he wasn’t in town looking for anything fancy.

He responded to a meme text from Erin, confirmed Jason’s question about a case, and got ready. As usual, he put on his nicest jeans, a vintage Jurassic Park shirt under a button-down, and made sure his dark blond hair was in some sort of order. He left the stubble and shrugged into his leather jacket. With the combat boots, it should be enough to get him to a Chinese restaurant for dinner and then to the bar, even if the night was turning out to be a bit chilly for his liking.