You'd Have to Ask - 38. Chapter 38

Tuesday – Chief’s office and questioning Stevens

Cole arrives at the station just before eight. He would normally start earlier but since he is officially on assignment he comes in when the Chief starts.

“Hey there Wheeler, no uni?” An Officer stationed at the desk asks. He knows Cole is on assignment, he is just bugging the man. The Officer wishes he could get an assignment some time.

“Nah, here to see the Chief, he in?”

“Not yet, Sergeant is here though.”

Cole heads over to the Sergeant’s office and knocks.

The Sergeant looks up, he takes in the fact that Wheeler is not in uniform. This is not normal to him as he is used to them all being properly dressed when on duty.

“Come on in, take a load off.”

Cole closes the door and sits down.

“How’d it go yesterday everything set?”

“Just needs the Chief’s approval.”

“What about Stevens?” the Sergeant asks.

“Shit, I forgot!” Cole says and then looks at how he is dressed. “Don’t worry Sergeant I have a spare uni in my locker.”

The Sergeant laughs, he finally caught Wheeler in a gaff. “The guy’s human after all.” He says to himself.

“I think you better get dressed before the Chief shows up, he might not share my sense of humour!”

“Sorry Sergeant, I stayed in Edmonton last night, didn’t get a chance to go home.” Cole says as he heads to the door.

This is venturing into an area that the Sergeant would like to avoid. He watches as Cole leaves his office. The guy appears no different than before. But what’s with the smirk on his face.

Cole changes and reports back to the Sergeant.

“He’s here, let’s go.” The Sergeant leads Cole to the Chief’s office.

After knocking they enter. Both men sit down and the Chief opens the file.

“Well Wheeler, I spoke with Captain Boudreau yesterday and everything is set from our end. Sergeant, I need to have you here for the administration part.”

The Sergeant says ok but he would like to hear the whole plan but obviously the Chief is the point man on this.

The Chief pulls some forms out of the file. He had previously filled out most of the spaces.

“Wheeler I need you to fill in the blanks on this form. Basically it is your transfer to EPS. Don’t worry it’s temporary.”

Cole takes the form and fills in the blank spaces. He sees a space for next of kin and he pauses. He normally just puts his parents names here, as he didn’t have anyone else. He puts Greg’s name in there. He doesn’t know why but it felt right. He puts the contact number down but he can’t fill out address. He completes the rest of the form and then hands it back to the Chief. The chief reviews it and signs he has Cole sign and the Sergeant witness.

“Sergeant, I am thinking of breaking the rules for the next step. I need to know how you feel.”

“I have a feeling I know what you are referring to Chief. I will back you up on your decision.”

Cole says nothing he figures this has to do with his weapons, badge and uniforms.

“Do you see any problems Sergeant, any thing that will come back and bite us in the ass?”

“I thought about this Chief, Wheeler has significant ties to the community and he owns a house nearby. I don’t think the Officer is a risk to our trust.”

“Ok Wheeler, I concur with the Sergeant. You get to keep your uniform, weapons and badge. Do I have your word that you will maintain your oath?”

“Yes Sir!” Cole sits at attention and gives a parade ground response. He feels proud that his superiors trust him completely.

“I have prepared a form, showing that we agree to this deviation for the norm, if the trust is broken the penalties will be significant.”

“I understand and I will sign it Sir!”

The three men sign the form in the appropriate places. The Sergeant is dismissed when this is done.
“At ease Wheeler.” The Chief says as he looks at his Officer.

“I want to thank you Sir.” Cole says.

“No need for thanks Wheeler, I trust you will do the right thing. Now let’s go through this” The Chief says as he holds up another pile of paper.

The papers outline Cole’s assignment in Edmonton. He will be working out of the West-End Station in the same area of town where Mike lives. All parties agreed that he might be remembered in the downtown Station where the bar is located. Cole will be assigned a partner and do regular policing. This is part of the cover, his main purpose though will to be to get inside the organization at the bar. The file on Rick shows that this may have already occurred with him. His contact will be an Officer from Internal Affairs. Cole is to make regular progress reports to him. They have set up a system by which he can do it. Cole is familiar with the plans, as Captain Boudreau had managed to go over most of it the day before. The only unknowns at this time are who is partner and liaison officer will be.

The Chief tells Cole that they are venturing into new territory and he is not sure how things will be. He stresses many times that officer safety is tantamount and that Cole should be cognisant of that at all times.

“Lastly Cole” the Chief says solemnly, “This goes against everything that you know. It is going to change you, you will have to lie, cheat and do countless other things in order to get this job done. Do you have a partner?”

Cole feels his face flush. “Yeah it’s Greg the guy listed on the transfer form.”

“Well, be prepared for a rough ride, this will be a serious test of your relationship.”

“Thank you Chief.” Cole feels numb as the implications of this assignment start to sink in.

“If there is any consolation Wheeler, they brought this to the table. They have to be shown that we will not accept this type of behaviour!”

They sit silently, Cole digesting the information and the Chief waiting for any questions.

“I have a favour to ask Chief.”

“Just one?”

“Yeah, Greg is moving tomorrow and I offered to help. I think I need to earn some brownie points. Would it be possible to start Thursday?”

“You didn’t read that first form when you signed it Wheeler?” the Chief smiles. “You start on Monday at the job. We gave you time to set up your bona fides.”

“Thanks again Chief!” He has a smile on his face as he says this.

The Chief’s phone rings. “Send him in.”

The door to the Chief’s office opens and Officer Comry comes in. He sits when the Chief points to a chair. Mark smiles at Cole as he shrugs his shoulders.

“I have decided to have Officer Comry sit in with you when you meet with this Stevens guy.”

“Is there a change of plans, Sir?” Cole asks.

“Not too much of a deviation, Comry came to me with a suggestion. He thinks we should get as much information as we can out of Stevens before we let him walk.”

Cole looks at Mark with a puzzled look on his face.

“Well Chief, I have worked with Officer Comry for years, I trust him completely. However is he aware what could go on in there if we push this guy?”

“Well, Officer Comry?” The chief asks.

“Chief, I have been a police officer for awhile and if there is one thing I have learned is that there is always something to learn.”

“If I may speak Chief” Cole looks to the Chief, who nods, “This is not going to be easy and the guy is going to be slinging dirt at me. I am not sure Officer Comry will be able to be objective.”

Mark listened as Cole said this and he knew his friend would try to say something like this to get out of having him there. He had to explain this to the Chief as well. Mark is sure he can do it.

“Officer Comry has already discussed this with me. I agree with you Wheeler but we have to go with what we know. Comry has no problem with your sexuality, he is a good Officer and”, the Chief looks directly at Mark, “he will remove himself from the room if he loses his objectivity.”

“Yes chief!” Mark says.

“Well I’ll let you men get to it.”

“Yes Chief.” The two officers say at the same time. They get up and leave the office.

“Are you sure you know what you are getting yourself into?” Cole says in the hallway.

“Cole, I am your partner and I have your back, that’s all that I need to be sure of!”

“Well I am sure you have been exposed to worse. Let’s go.”

They see Stevens he is seated in the waiting area.

“Hey Wheeler how is it going?” Stevens asks. “Here to check in, as requested.”

“It’s going fine Mr Stevens, Officer Comry is going to take you to an interview room. I’ll be there in a minute.”

Mark leads Stevens to a room. He asks Stevens if he wants anything to drink. Stevens asks for a coffee.

Cole gets some forms, a tape recorder, some blank tapes, a pad of paper and some pens. He sees Mark come out of the room and head to the coffee machine. Cole smiles.

Cole enters the room he places the stuff he is carrying on the table. He sets up the tape recorder and tests it.

Mark comes in with the coffee and sets it in front of Stevens and then he sits down.

“Hey Wheeler what’s going on?” Stevens asks, “I thought I was just coming to sign in as a condition of my release.”

“Well some things have changed.” Cole starts the tape recorder and pulls the form towards him.

“I am Officer Cole Wheeler, badge 1274 and this is Officer Mark Comry, badge 1273. Mark do you want to read his rights while I start filling this form out?”

Mark advises Stevens of his rights and asks Stevens if he wants a lawyer present.

“I don’t need a lawyer, but I do want to know what is going.”

“We just have some questions. When did you arrive in Lacombe?”

“I came to town earlier that day, the day you arrested me.”

“What was the purpose of you visit to Lacombe?”

“Just came to see what’s happening, it’s a free country!”

“Yeah it is a free country, I have no problem with you coming to see what’s happening, but I do have a problem with you coming all the way from Edmonton to steal a car.”

“Well maybe I decided that Lacombe was too quiet for me and I wanted to go home.”

“You couldn’t wait for a bus?” Mark asks.

“Nah didn’t feel like it.” Stevens says.

“How did you get down here?” Cole asks.

“Well a friend of mine was heading to Calgary and he dropped me off.”

“Why didn’t you go to Calgary with your friend?” Mark asks.

“Just felt like coming here.” Stevens is starting to get nervous about where this is going.

“Later in the car, after I had arrested you, you mentioned something about seeing me in Edmonton. I find it strange that the day after seeing me you are suddenly hanging out in Lacombe. Can you clear that up for me?”

“There is nothing to clear up, it just a coincidence.”

“A coincidence now there is my problem. Maybe you can help me work it out.”

“Yeah sure, but there is not much to tell.”

“Well first off, who it the friend that drove you down here?”

“I don’t remember.” Stevens is really nervous now.

Cole looks at Stevens with an incredulous look on his face.

“It was a guy I picked up in the bar.” Stevens says, “We did it and then he told me he was heading to Calgary and I asked if I could get a ride.”

“Which bar?” Cole asks.

“The Eagle.”

“So you did it with this guy and you don’t know his name?” Mark asks.

“It’s like that, most of the time you see some guy and you want to get it on, names and stuff aren’t important.”

Cole smiles reassuringly.

“Ok now after the guy drops you off in Lacombe, what did you do?”

“Well I walked around the downtown and stopped at a bar for a beer.”

“Were you cruising?” Cole asks.

“Yeah, I guess I mean if I got hit on I wouldn’t have turned it down.”

“So after spending time looking to get laid and having no success you decide to steal a car and go back to Edmonton?” Mark asks.

“Yeah that’s it.”

“How’s your coffee?” Mark asks, “You want some more?”

“It’s fucking gross man!”

“You forget to make a fresh pot again Comry?”

“I keep forgetting where the filters are.”

“Here, I’ll show you.” Cole gets up. He takes the tape recorder with him and they head to the coffee machine.

“I’m not buying this at all Mark, I think he was down here to meet me.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because if his story is true he should have been with his friend when he saw me in the restaurant.”

“How do you want to handle this?” Mark asks.

“He doesn’t know you know, I think I will use that, you game?”

“Yeah, I am going to enjoy this.”

They re-enter the interview room. Cole starts the tape recorder again, states his name, date time and location.

“I have some problems with what you told me Mr Stevens.”

“Yeah, what’s that?”

“Well you told me in the car that you saw me together with the owner of the Hawk. Then today you said that you were with this unknown friend and asked to get a ride off him. So first off, when you were in the restaurant, were you alone?”

“Yeah, I was. I picked the guy up that gave me the ride in the restaurant.”

“In the restaurant. Ok so between the time you saw me, you picked up a guy had it off and then decided to come to Lacombe?”

“Yeah, that’s it.”

Cole reads the notes he was scribbling on the page. It says it right there, the guy said he picked up the man in the bar.

“Earlier you told me that you picked up the guy in the bar.”

“Well I was mistaken, it was at the restaurant.”

“Ok, It was a stressful day for you, you probably have problems remembering what happened before you were arrested.”

“That’s bullshit man!” Mark exclaims, he tells us one thing and then changes the story when we question him on it.

“Calm down Mark! I am sure Mr Stevens is telling it the way he remembers it.”

“No way this guy is yanking our chain!”

“Mark, step outside for a minute, I think you need to cool down.”

Mark glares at Cole and then he gets up and leaves the room, slamming the door.

“Sorry about that, Mark gets upset when he thinks people are lying to him.”

“It’s Ok, but one more outburst like that man and I am outing you!”

“No, there is no need for that!” Cole pleads. He wants to make Stevens think that his fear of being outed is the most important thing on his mind.

“Well let’s get this over man. I gotta get back to Edmonton ASAP!”

“Ok, how well do you know Mike, the owner of the bar?”

“I’ve seen him around. I mean he owns the bar I hang out in, of course I am going to see him.”

“Ever slept with him?”

“No, I guess I am not Mike’s type.”

“Come on you’re a good looking guy Stevens, you obviously work out. You are masculine, I think you are Mike’s type.”

“Well to tell you the truth I have wanted to get it on with Mike for a long time.” as Stevens smiles.

“So what has stopped you?” Cole says sympathetically. “To tell you the truth, I would like to get it on with you, if we met under different circumstances.”

Stevens leans back in the chair, spreads his legs and smiles. Getting cruised by a cop in uniform, wait till Mike hears about this.

“Well Mike doesn’t do it with…” Stevens catches himself, he immediately puts rights the chair.

Mark was watching, he decides it is time for him to re-enter. He goes in and sits down.

“Did I miss anything?” Mark asks.

“Nah, we were just chatting.” Cole winks at Stevens. “You were telling me that Mike doesn’t do it with and you stopped. Whom doesn’t Mike do it with?”

Stevens doesn’t say anything he looks from one officer to the other. He is fucked, he has opened the door and he can’t see anyway out of it. He looks Wheeler in the eye defiantly.

“I ain’t gonna tell you, it’s none of your business!”

“Come on Mr. Stevens, just tell me and pretty soon this will be all over.” Cole says.

Mark fidgets in his chair, he is not sure who Mike is but he feels Cole is close to finding out what is going on.

“Hey man, please just let me go, it really is the best thing for all involved.”

“Let you go! You stole a car and then you proceed to blackmail my partner!”

“Blackmail, I didn’t blackmail anyone.”

“Sure you did Mr Stevens, you have been threatening me since I have arrested you.”

“With what, I have made no threats!” Stevens is confused, Wheeler obviously doesn’t care if he is outed.

“You were going to tell everyone that I am gay and you were using this to get the charges dropped and it almost worked.”

Mark stares at Cole and his friend looks back at him.

“You’re gay? I have a faggot for a partner!”

“Sorry Mark, listen we gotta talk about this later. I just want to deal with this guy and get out of here.”

Stevens watches, he sees that Wheeler’s partner is really pissed. He can’t understand why Wheeler outed himself though. But one thing he does know if this guy is willing to do this he won’t settle for anything but the whole truth.
“So Mr Stevens, why won’t Mike have sex with you?”

“Because I work for him.” Stevens mumbles.

“Could you say that again, a little louder please?” Cole asks.

“I work for Mike.” Stevens says.

“Mike who?” Mark asks.

“Ok I get it, I work for Mike the owner of the Hawk, a bar in Edmonton. If he finds out I told you this I am a dead man!”

“Why would he kill you, you only work in a bar?” Cole asks.

“Mostly I work outside the bar.”

“What is it you do for Mike?”

“Well I am sort of a freelance guy, Mike calls me up when he needs a favour.”

“A favour?” Mark asks calmly.

“Can I get a glass of water?” Stevens asks. His body language indicates that he has no fight left.

Cole gets up and leaves the room.

“Why’d he do that?” Stevens ask Mark.

“You don’t know my partner.” Mark says softly, “Obviously I didn’t know him too well either.”

“Looks like Mike picked the wrong cop to fuck with.”

“Damn straight!”

Cole re-enters the room with the water and Steven’s file, he got a glass for himself as well. He likes the way this is going although the thought of Mike using him is not good.

“You said that Mike uses you for favours. What kind of favours?”

“Well the bar has a scanner at the door. When a guy enters we ask for ID and nine times out of ten the guy gives a driver’s license. We have programmed the computer to identify cops, there is a special code on your license.”

“So when you identify a cop what happens next?”

“Well when we identify a cop, Mike is notified. You see he has some things going on in his business.”

“What kind of things?” Mark asks.

“Well the room at the back, the one where the guys get it on, that is not legal. If it were raided the whole club would be shut down. Then there are the cameras which tape almost everything that goes on in there.”

“I wondered how he got away with that stuff.” Cole says to himself and then he remembers that he will be on one of those tapes.

“Anything else?” Mark asks, “Can’t imagine this guy just using leverage on cops just for that!”

“Well he is a drug dealer as well, which is kind of tricky as at any given time there may be a cop in the bar while a deal is going down.”

“Any idea how many Police Officers have been in the bar?”

“No idea man, I know I have had to go out and try and test them.”

“Test them how?”

“Well normally, Mike goes through the whole welcome thing, he turns on his charm and usually tricks with guy. The morning after he takes the guy out for breakfast. The Denny’s for instance. Mike usually gets in touch with me and tells me where to go to see them together. Later on, Mike has me go steal a car or something like that.”

“How do you know when they are working?”

“Pillow talk.” Stevens says, “Mike tries to find out when the guy is working next.”

“Then you go do your job?” Cole says as he opens Steven’s file. He notices the guy doesn’t have too many charges.

“Yeah, I usually do something like steal a car, then I look for the cop on patrol and then get his attention, usually with a traffic infraction. Once the guy stops me, I negotiate with the cop.”

“I guess it didn’t work with me.”

“Well it was fucked right from the start, you weren’t supposed to have a partner.”

“So that threw a wrench into your plans?”

“Big time! Mike told me not to play my card to wait it out and see if I could get you alone. But there always seemed to be another cop around, so I waited and waited.”
“You didn’t tell anyone?”

“No it wouldn’t work if I did. Mike is very clear on that.”

“Sure you didn’t tell some one?”

“No, I am sure, the Officer in the lock-up pretty much knew I was a fag after the first day. But nothing about you man. Mike’d have my balls!”

Cole wonders how the person that left the note in his truck found out, if what Stevens said was true.

“So anyway, I was getting pretty fucking bored in there. I called Mike and said he would have to pay me double.”

“What did he say?”

“He said he was going to work on it again from his end.”

“How was that going to happen?” Cole asks as he remembers that he hasn’t seen Mike for a while nor has he been in the bar.

“That’s his business, all I know is I was stuck here!”

“How many guys does he have doing this?” Mark asks.

“Me and another guy.”

“How many cops have you co-opted this way?” Cole feels uncomfortable as he asks this, as this is an answer that he does not want to hear.

“Seven.” Stevens looks down as he answers.

“How about the other guy, how many?” Mark asks. He is not too comfortable either.

“Not sure as we don’t hang out together often, but I think he has done six.”

“Where are these cops?” Cole asks.

“Mostly in Edmonton and Calgary, but there are some all over Alberta and Saskatchewan.

“I think I better get the Chief.” Cole says.

“No Cole, I think we should finish this up and give it to him all at once.” Mark says.

“Ok so once he gets the cop onside, how does that affect his business?”

“Well it works best with the Edmonton and Calgary cops. He owns another bar in Calgary. He tries to get the guys to transfer into the division where the bar is. Once they are there. These guys are to respond to any calls about the bar. Of course they don’t notice any indiscretions in the back room.”

“What kind of calls?”

“Well some guys manage to get robbed in the back room or a dealer gets questioned. Anything that a Police Officer would be called in for.”

“So how were you going to use me or any of the other cops not in Calgary or Edmonton?”

“You are assets, Mike considers all cops an asset. He never knows when he has to use you, but he will.”

The word hits him in the stomach like a knife. He tries to figure out all the variables. What if he was alone that night, would he have given in? Mike has him on tape, is he going to use it?

Mark senses what Cole is going through. He doesn’t like Stevens at all and he hates what he is doing. But the implications to Police Services are really big. He wishes he were going to Edmonton with Cole.

“Well I have enough here.” Cole says, “I think I need to talk to the Chief. Mark do you want to take this guy’s statement?”

“Sure Cole, what ever.” Mark says.

Cole leaves the room again and heads to the Chief’s office and knocks on the door.

Cole runs through his notes and relays all the information to the Chief. The Chief is stunned. He had an idea of what this involved but he didn’t know how organized it was.

“So where is he now?” The Chief asks.

“Comry is taking his statement and I think we are going to need protection for the guy. He said Mike would kill him. Based on the information I feel his fear is credible.”

The Chief weighs the options, the easy one would be to let the guy go and watch him. Then nab Mike if he tries anything. But this could take a long time. He figures the plan that he has worked out with Boudreau is the most efficient.

“I think we may need to use Stevens in the play, Chief.”

“I think you are right, it sounds like this Mike is watching what is going on. If he doesn’t see Stevens soon he will think something is going on.”

“I’ll talk this over with the guy, suggest that it may be in his best interests to cooperate and not blow my cover.”

“If the threat is real Wheeler, I don’t think we’ll have a fear of that.” The chief says, “Besides tell him I’ll put in a good word with the Crown Attorney’s Office.”

“I’ll relay that to Stevens.”

“Well you did a good job Wheeler, I think we are better prepared for the road ahead. By the way how was Comry?”

“He was great Chief a natural, not a thing to worry about.”

“That’s good, I look forward to hearing the tape on how you guys did this.”

“There is one more thing though Chief.” Cole says seriously, he wasn’t going to say anything but this could deep six the case. “It seems that Mike has video cameras and tapes anything that goes on in the back room. I may be on one of these tapes.”

“Ok, tell me what you did.”

Cole tells the chief about a guy performing oral sex on him.

“Did you do anything?” The Chief doesn’t know if he wants to hear the answer.

“No Chief, I did not do anything.” Cole remembers the scene, he kissed the man but the other guy was the active participant.

“Good, you’re sure that’s all?”

“Yes Chief that is all.”

“Are there any signs in the bar?” The Chief asks, “Something about video surveillance.”

“Not that I noticed, if there are they are pretty well hidden.”

“Well it appears that Mike was illegally taping you, that may play in our favour.”

The chief watches Cole waiting to see if there is anymore he should know.

“Is that all Chief? I want to get some things done before I take off for Edmonton.”

“That’s it, be careful Wheeler.”

“I will Chief.” Cole gets up and returns to the interview room. Mark is tapping the pen on the table and Stevens is looking around the room.

“How is it going Mark?”
“Pretty good, Mr Stevens did not add anything to the statement. What next?”

“I spoke to the chief about your situation and we are going to have to let you go.” Cole says as he looks at Stevens.

“Let me go! Are you nuts?”

“Well at the moment Mike does not know that you have betrayed him, we are taking steps and unfortunately your disposition could affect the investigation.”

“So what do I do? Stevens asks.

“The same as you were doing before.” Cole says, “however we are going to have a word with the Crown Attorney’s Office on your behalf.”

“That’s if I am alive long enough!”

“Our hands are tied.” Cole says.

“You’re free to go Mr Stevens, I wouldn’t think of running though as you’d have the Police and your buddy looking for you.” Mark says.

“Okay.” Stevens sighs.

Mark and Cole get up and lead Stevens to the door.

“How am I getting back?” Stevens asks.

“Here!” Cole hands Stevens some change, “There is a phone booth just up the street.”

When Stevens has gone Cole and Mark head back into the interview room to debrief each other.

“Well that was a very productive first step parts” Cole says. “Now step two!”

“Good luck up there, man I wish I was going with you!” Mark says and he hugs Cole.

“I’ll be Ok.” Cole says, “Now I gotta get changed and head out.” Cole opens the door to head to the locker room.

‘Wheeler, aren’t you forgetting something?” Mark says with his fist up.

Cole laughs and bounces his fist off Mark’s.

“Take care buddy!”

“Thanks, I will!”

Kat and Cole

After Cole has changed and said by to the Sergeant he heads down the street to get a haircut. He asks the receptionist if Kat is in and the woman pages her to the front.

He sees Kat as she makes her way from the back of her shop.

“Hey Cole!” She says with a smile. “I didn’t know you were off.”

“That’s sort of why I came to see you, besides its getting kind of long.” Cole tugs on his hair to make a point.

“So what’s new with you cowboy?” Kat says with a big smile as she leads him to her station.

“Well two things both of them pretty big actually!”

“Well, let’s start with the one Lance told me about.” Kat starts to cut his hair.

“His name is Greg and the weekend went really well. I was up in Edmonton yesterday and surprised him with a visit. Got back this morning”

“Why were you up in Edmonton?” Kat asks.

“Well that has to do with the other news.” Cole says, “I am on an assignment up there for a while.”

“Assignment?” Kat asks.

“The Chief thought it would be good for me to get out of town for a while after I came out. Let the dust settle, so to speak.” It was the best reason he could think of, as he could not tell Kat the truth.

“Sounds like big changes in store for you Cole.” Kat says, “Any chance you will be staying in Edmonton?”

“I sure hope not, I’d hate to have to leave my friends and family here!”

“Let’s hope it doesn’t happen then.” Kat says softly.

“Don’t worry Kat I don’t think it is in the cards, but if it does, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.” Cole says with a little bit of life.

Kat doesn’t respond she just cuts his hair. She remembers how she used to love to run her fingers through it after they had made love. She is happy that Cole has found another man to share his life with, but she is sad for what she has lost.

“Hey, enough about me, what’s new with you?” Cole says as he watches her reflection in the mirror.

“Well, I met a woman form Calgary. We have seen each other on and off for about a month. I met her when Lance and I went down there.”

“Good for you!” Cole smiles.

“The really great thing is she has a portable job, she works for an Internet company. Give her a phone line and she is set.”

“So you thinking of asking her to move up here?”

“More than thought of it, she is moving her next month!”

“Boy, oops Girl you move fast!”

“She was not adverse to it as she is tired of living in the city. She is originally from a small town in Saskatchewan.”

“Big changes coming to Lacombe, Lance and his guy, you and your girl. Now if there is someway that I can get Greg to move here.” Cole laughs.

“If it is meant to be, you’ll find a solution.” Kat says as she finishes up his hair.

Cole stands and digs in his pocket for a twenty, he stuffs it in her tip jar. He notices Kat is silent and he turns to her. “Are we going to be Ok?”

“Ah yeah sure.” Kat says and it is obvious he has spoken with Lance. “I just...”

“Kat I honestly didn’t know how you felt, I never meant to hurt you.” Cole says as he offers to hug her.

Kat moves next to Cole and lets herself be hugged. She enjoys the strength with which he does it. It reminds her this is something she is going to miss.

Cole wants to talk about the whole thing with her but he feels that he should do it when things have calmed down.

“Well good luck in Edmonton Cole.” Kat says as she pulls away. “Don’t be stranger!”

“Trust someone else with this hair?” He asks with a big smile, “No frickin’ way!”

They walk to the front of the salon and Cole hugs her again and then goes out the door. Kat stares out the window as she watches him walk away, she doesn’t know why but tears start to form in her eyes.

Cole shakes off the emotions that he feels. As much as he loves Kat he realizes it could never work. When he gets back to the station he gets in his truck and heads home to pack.

He phones his Dad and tells him he will be working in Edmonton for a while, his Dad asks what is going on. Cole said it was work related and he couldn’t say anything. He asks his Dad to come out and check on the place. His Dad says he’d be glad to. Before he hangs up he says he’ll call his Mom later tonight.

He then calls Lance and leaves a message that he will be out of town for a while, but he will still have his cell phone.

He only has to pack civies, as they will issue a uniform in Edmonton. The bag is packed and he is downstairs running through a checklist when he remembers his chaps. He bolts up the stairs and grabs them.