Fatal Consequences by Marie Force

often said the same thing about her, and Sam always took it as a compliment. “I prefer dogged .”
    “That too,” Freddie said. “Fine! If you must know, my mother is driving me crazy.”
    Sam hadn’t seen that coming. “Over what?”
    Freddie gave her a “you know” look.
    “Ahhh, Mama Cruz doesn’t approve of the girlfriend, huh?”
    “No,” he said miserably. “And she won’t even give Elin a chance. We had a good talk last night and I thought things would be better, but when I went to check on her before work this morning, we got into it again. Not sure if it’s the fever or what, but she’s making me nuts!”
    Sam stood up, clipped her portable radio to her hip and grabbed her car keys. “Let’s discuss this on the road.”
    He stood. “Where’re we going?”
    “First to talk to Regina’s boss and then hopefully to some of her coworkers.”
    “I’m with you, boss.”
    Sam waited while he got the trench coat that he claimed made him feel like Colombo and then led the way to her car. After starting the car she gave some considerable thought to Freddie’s predicament. “I can understand where Mama is coming from.”
    “Great,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Thanks for the support. I really appreciate it.”
    “Wait. Hear me out. It’s just that when I think of you with a woman, I see someone…different…than Elin for you. Someone…softer, I guess.”
    “What about what I see? Doesn’t anyone care about what I want?”
    “Hmm,” Sam said. “How to say this delicately?”
    “Oh, for crying out loud. Just say it. What do you care about being delicate?”
    “It seems…to those of us on the outside looking in…that you may be letting your, um, little brain do the thinking for your big brain.”
    Out of the corner of her eye, she caught the glare he directed her way. “That’s not the case.”
    “Are you sure of that?”
    “I like her! Why doesn’t anyone believe that’s possible?”
    “Okay, I’ll bite. What do you like about her?”
    “She’s…fun and nice and sweet.”
    “Uh huh. What else?”
    “What do you mean what else? Isn’t that enough?”
    “No. Fun and sweet and nice is not enough to build a relationship on.”
    “It’s more than Nick started with. There’s nothing nice or sweet about you.”
    Sam snorted with laughter. “Good one.”
    “Thank you. I try.”
    “What do you talk to her about besides ‘your place or mine’?”
    “We talk about sports and our friends, our work. The usual stuff.”
    “If you’re together three hours, how much of that time is spent talking?”
    “I don’t know. I hardly keep track of that.”
    “Guess.”
    She could see him squirming in the passenger seat. “An hour or so.”
    “So one hour talking, two hours screwing. Can you see why your mother might be concerned?”
    “No! She doesn’t know that!”
    “Freddie, come on. Of course she knows. You practically pant and drool whenever Elin is around. It’s obvious to everyone that you’re hot for her.”
    “I ask again…so what ? Why does everyone care so much that I’m hot for her?”
    “Because it’s not like you to be so…preoccupied.”
    “I waited a long time for this, Sam. I wish everyone would butt the heck out and let me live my own life.”
    “We’re worried about you. That’s all.”
    “Well, don’t worry. I’m a big boy, and I can take care of myself. I don’t need you and my mother ganging up on me and screwing with my head. I’m happy with Elin. Can’t that be enough for you?”
    “I’m sure you’re very happy when you’re in bed with her. It’s the rest of the time we’re concerned about.”
    “You don’t know what you’re talking about, and to be honest, it’s none of your business. Or my mother’s.”
    “That’s very true. So I will do as you ask and butt out.”
    “Good.”
    “Fine.”
    They rode the rest of the way to the Capitol Cleaning Services headquarters in uneasy—and unusual—silence. Inside,