Barrett studied it and passed it to the other cop. "Do you have the rental details?"
"In the car. It'll show there was a full tank of gas, and you can see how much I've used," Walker said.
"We'll take copies and then we'll leave you alone to…uh…." Barrett flushed as he realized what they could be alone to do.
"I'll put the coffee on," Mark muttered.
Walker really needed caffeine. "Make it strong."
"See you for my appointment Tuesday, Mark?" Barrett sounded unsure of his welcome.
Mark nodded curtly. "See you then."
After receiving Walker's assurance he would be in the area all weekend and Mark insisting Walker would be staying with him until his return flight on Sunday, they left. Walker expelled a huge breath as he watched their car turn left and vanish at the end of the road.
Mark laid a hand on his arm. "Let's go inside. Coffee."
Walker jumped, not realizing Mark had come outside.
"Are you sure you still want me to stay?" Walker asked, concerned he'd outstayed his welcome.
Mark slung his arm around Walker's shoulders. "You're not going anywhere. You told the cops, remember?"
Walker managed a wan grin. "As I recall you told the cops."
"So I did. I'll cook breakfast while you call Mitch and Jake."
He tried not to flinch. Mark was right. He needed to call them, just in case the cops came back. Hell knew what they would make of this. He'd call them first and then Doyle.
"It'll be okay, Walker."
Mark sounded sure of himself and Walker decided to trust him. He followed Mark back inside and accepted a mug of steaming black coffee.
"Creamer or sugar?" Mark asked.
"Half and half if you've got it," Walker said.
Mark went to the fridge to get the half and half while Walker put the coffee down on the kitchen counter and pulled out his phone.
"Get it over with," Mark suggested.
"Yeah."
Walker scrolled down for Mitch's number. He answered on the second ring.
"Mitchelson."
Mitch sounded sleepy and Walker realized he didn't have a clue what time it was. He looked up at the clock on the wall. 05:00. Which meant it was 07:00 back home. That was almost civilized.
"Yes? Who is it?" Now Mitch sounded pissed.
"It's Walker," he said hastily.
"Walker? What's wrong?"
Walker heard rustling and another sleepy voice asking, "Walker? Is he all right?"
"I'm fine," Walker said hastily. "We got woken up by the cops, and I didn't realize what time it was. I'm sorry, I'll call back later."
"Gimme the phone. Gimme the phone."
That was Jake insisting. Despite himself, Walker smiled. Jake would mother-hen them till the day he died.
"Walker, what's wrong? What's happened? Is Mark all right?"
Jesus, trust Jake to remember that. Walker took a deep breath.
"Mark is fine."
"I'm fine," Mark called out. "Stop worrying."
"Wait, how did you know I spent the night with Mark?" Walker demanded.
"So not the point," Jake said, dismissing his question. "What happened to you?"
Mark rolled his eyes. "Si's a narc."
Walker gritted his teeth.
"Get on with it, Walker," Mitch snapped, and Walker realized he was on speaker. He would die of mortification as his sex life was discussed in front of his section leader.
"Two deputy sheriffs tried to arrest me for stealing gas."
"What? Where are you now?" Mitch demanded.
"I'm still at Mark's. I had a receipt from the gas station for snacks and the rental paperwork showing I had a full tank of gas when I left the airport. Mark told them to look at the clerk."
"They didn't arrest you?" Jake asked.
"Not once they discovered I worked for you."
He heard someone snort loudly and guessed it was Mitch. "I just wanted to let you know in case they try to arrest me a second time. I'm sorry, I know it’s early."
"It's okay," Jake assured him. "You did the right thing telling us. Have you called Doyle?"
"Not yet."
"Okay. Call him too. Although maybe leave it a couple of hours," Jake suggested.
"Why does he get to sleep in?" Mitch grumbled.
"We'll get Ruiz to call the sheriff's office and smooth things over with them." Jake ignored his husband.
"We can call the sheriff's office," Mitch said.
"Uh…no. You and the sheriff don't get along. I want Walker to stay out of trouble."
Walker blinked, and Mark snickered.
"Okay, is that it?" Mitch demanded.
"That's it," Walker said.
"Don't be late Monday."
The call was disconnected abruptly.
Walker stared at his phone and then at Mark. "Okay then. I'd better call Doyle."
"Do it later," Mark ordered. "Better still, message him and tell him to call you. Drink your coffee. I'm gonna make pancakes."
That sounded like a great idea. Walker sent Doyle a quick message and put his phone away. He picked up his mug and inhaled the bitter aroma of java. But then his phone rang. Doyle's ringtone. Walker put down his mug and answered the phone.
"Doyle?"
"Who did you expect it to be?" Doyle snarked. "What the fuck just happened?"
"Why are you awake?"
"I haven't gone to bed yet. I just got in."
"Oh."
"So what happened? You in trouble? Do you need me to get on a plane?"
This was why Doyle was the team leader and Collins wasn't. Doyle's first reaction was to look after his team.
Walker took a deep breath and started the story of the morning's events again, leaving out the fact he'd woken up in Mark's bed. He ended with, "I'm fine. I'm not arrested. Mitch and Jake are going to deal with the cops."
"You called them first?"
"Yes."
"Next time you call me."
There was no hurt or anger in Doyle's voice. Just an order he expected to be obeyed. Walker didn't want there to be a next time, but Doyle was his team leader and expected to be there to back up his team. It was good to know. "Next time I'll call you first."
"Make sure you do. Call me if the situation changes."
"I will," Walker promised.
"And Walker…?"
"Yes?"
"If Raines gives you a hard time, you tell me that too."
Walker's jaw dropped open. "How did you know…?"
Doyle openly laughed as he disconnected the call.
Mark looked over from the hob. "Everything okay?"
"I guess I'm not as good at keeping a secret as I thought I was."
"He knows you're here?" Mark didn't sound surprised.
"He wants to know if Raines gives me a hard time."
Mark barked out a laugh. "I can see Doyle being just as much an asshole as Si."
"He's more like Mitch," Walker admitted.