why I hate Halloween," he repeated his thoughts and started walking. He tried to find the woman in the crowd but gave up after a few minutes. He wasn't sure why her words should matter. "People and their superstitions and weird crap. Maybe I should move out of New Orleans when I get my bar exam results."
Fox enjoyed his job, but he was ready for a change or rather his health caused him to need a change. He was young and healthy, but a couple of years ago on a routine check-up his doctor found he had a septal defect— a hole in his heart. He was born with it and when he was a baby his parents had it fixed, but a couple of years ago it opened up again.
The doctor had repaired the damage but had warned Fox that since the hole had opened before it might do so again, He’d suggested he change his career. Four years ago, he started attending law school at night and on weekends with the thought of opening his own practice as a criminal lawyer.
Vale chuckled, shaking his head. "Why would you want to move out of New Orleans? I love it here."
"You just like it for all of the superstitious shit that happens here."
Vale turned and looked at him. "That's part of it."
What's the other? Fox wanted to ask but held off, not sure if he wanted to know the answer.
"Well," he said, clearing his throat. "You can stay here with all this stuff while I find another town."
"What if I told you there was a town like this, but it's surrounded by magic?"
"Seriously, Vale. Magic?" Fox scoffed, shaking his head.
"Yes," Vale answered. "Magic is everywhere. It’s just stronger in some places."
"If magic exists, then you're telling me witches are real?" In the two years they'd worked together, Vale had said a few things that had made Fox scratch his head, but magic was a new one.
"They are very real," Vale said with certainty.
"You're trying to tell me that wand carrying, spell casting, and potion making women with crooked teeth and large moles on their faces, who dress in all black and pointy hats are real?"
"The wands and pointed hats aren't a thing, neither are the crooked teeth and moles. That's just something humans made up. The witches I know and have met are not only women but men. They’re all drop-dead gorgeous, as well.”
Fox shook his head at their nonsensical conversation, wondering if he should have the captain order Vale to have a psych evaluation done.
"I feel like we've had this conversation before where you tried to convince me werewolves and vampires exist too. I mean, you seriously think President Armand Boroson-Dracul is a vampire? I get his name sounds weird but come on, a vampire?"
Vale grinned. "You’ll never believe me, will you?"
"No, I won't."
"What if I tell you men could get pregnant," Vale said seriously.
His words made Fox stumbled a step, but he played it off or tried to by coughing.
That's it, this dude might be gorgeous as hell, but he is getting a psych evaluation as soon as we get back to the precinct.
"I can tell what you're thinking."
Fox looked at his partner, wondering if he should respond. The man was younger than him; Vale’s thoughts were a bit immature even if he didn't act that way. Fox thought his partner might be playing a prank on him to see how he’d react.
Don't play into his hand, Fox.
"Men can't get pregnant. Now stop this crazy talk, and let’s focus on our job."
"I'm focused on my job, but there's nothing wrong with us talking while we work."
That is true.
"Then let's talk about something else. You’re freaking me out with all your crazy talk."
"Okay, what do you want to talk about?"
In the time they'd been working together, they had talked about a few things but nothing too personal. Fox knew Vale came from a wealthy family, yet there was some distance between them not only in status but in emotions. He knew Vale had been adopted when he was a kid, and it made Fox wonder if he'd tried to find his birth parents.
"You said you were born in Scotland, right?"
"Yes."
"How come you don't have an accent?"
"I haven't lost my accent," Vale said in thick Scottish Gaelic.
Fuck, that is sexy. Fox cleared his throat, not wanting to show how affected he was. "Do you ever go back?"
"I have." Vale stopped walking and stood in front of him. "Why are you