Setting: Twin Peaks, Washington / Summer 1991

Special Agent Dale Cooper—known as Coop to his friends and colleagues—is waiting trial for wrongful drug charges. At the Twin Peaks sheriff’s station, Cooper sings the praises of his former colleague who’s been called in from the DEA to help clear up the case.

“Dennis Bryson and I worked together in Oakland,” says Cooper. “One of the finest minds in the DEA. Harry, we’re in good hands.” 

He’s talking to Sheriff Harry Truman as they commune in a private room with Deputy Hawk.

There’s a knock at the door, and in walks a tall brunette in a burgundy skirt suit, full makeup, nylons and heels. 

“Coop,” drawls the woman, a coy smirk playing at her lips.

Agent Cooper leans forward and squints as though he recognizes her but isn’t sure how. “Dennis?” he says as it dawns on him.

“It’s a long story, but actually I prefer Denise if you don’t mind,” says Special Agent Denise Bryson as she confidently whisks into the room and takes Agent Cooper’s hand in hers.

Coop smiles, welcoming his old friend with a handshake and a simple, “Okay.” He then introduces Bryson to Sheriff Truman and Deputy Hawk. 

Sheriff Truman blushes beneath Denise’s disarming gaze, curious tingles prickling below his gun belt. There’s something about the way Denise is looking into his eyes that makes him feel seen in an unfamiliar way. He’s not sure if he likes it but he’s intrigued. He shakes off his confusion and re-centers his attention to the reason Agent Bryson is here in the first place. There are criminals to catch and a cocaine ring to bust.

“I understand we’re both staying at The Great Northern,” Denise says to Cooper after they’ve discussed the drug charges. “How’s the food up there?”

“Denise,” says Cooper with a delighted smile, “You’re in for a real surprise!” 

“So are they,” Sheriff Truman says under his breath. But as soon as he says it he regrets it. Normally he wouldn’t think twice about making an off-color joke, but now it gives his stomach an unpleasant twist. Denise is clearly an intelligent, competent and self-assured person. The Great Northern will be lucky to have her. Fortunately, it doesn’t seem like anyone heard his remark. Either way, he’ll make sure not to say anything so insensitive again.

Denise turns to leave, taking Sheriff Truman’s hand in goodbye. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Sheriff,” she says in a sultry voice that makes the Sheriff’s cheeks glow as red as a police light.

After work, Sheriff Truman visits his girlfriend, Josie Packard—the widowed heiress to the town’s lumber mill. She’s quiet and emotionally evasive, wrestling with her inner shadows. She looks to the Sheriff for comfort, inviting him into her bed to help ease her fears.  

Sheriff Truman—who’s in love with Josie but has recently started questioning if she is who she says she is—slips off his shoes and unbuckles his gun belt, hanging it on Josie’s headboard before joining her in bed. He holds her in his arms, kissing her neck, her mouth, slipping down the straps of her satin negligee, when suddenly he realizes that his mind is somewhere else. He’s aroused, of course, and eager to make love, but his fantasies have turned to another woman. A woman with long brown hair and dark red lipstick. A woman who walks through the world with more daring than he’s been known to exhibit in his bravest moments on the job.

He moans into Josie’s neck, his growing erection pushing out against his khaki Dockers as she sighs into him. He traces his work-roughened fingers down her slender arms, imagining how different it would be to graze the muscular curves of Agent Bryson’s athletic arms... imagining how she might flip him on his back, pinning him to the bed and holding him there, teasing him with her suggestive smirk and leaving him to wonder what she might do next.

He’s surprised to suddenly picture himself with a more assertive lover. He enjoys making love to typically submissive Josie, but the more he imagines being with Denise, the more his fever grows. 

Josie undoes his pants and takes him out, aweing at his hardness. “Look at you,” she swoons, gripping his earnest cock that’s stiffer than usual at her touch.

Sheriff Truman tosses his pants and shirt to the floor, burying himself in Josie’s fragrant flesh. As his climax rises, he imagines Denise’s mouth taking his full length to the back of her throat while she looks up at him with flirty eyes. The Sheriff moans so loud he practically shouts. Josie giggles with delight at her own seductive powers. Harry is too easy, she thinks. 

Over the course of the week, Sheriff Truman finds himself bumping elbows with Denise on several occasions as they work together to strategize the drug bust, and most recently to find a way to free Cooper, who’s being held captive by the traffickers. 

While Sheriff Truman goes over plans with Agent Bryson in his office, he comes up with an idea he believes will save Coop. Half-blushing, he looks down at Agent Bryson’s legs. “How would you feel about wearing a waitress uniform?” he boldly asks.

Denise raises her eyebrows. “I’ll wear anything you like, Sheriff.”

Sheriff Truman clears his throat, a blushing smile lifting his lips.

“But one question,” says Denise. “Where will I keep my gun?”

Her teasing question warms him like a fine whiskey on a winter day. He takes her teasing a step further, and says, “I was thinking...a garter? High up on your thigh?” 

Denise crosses and uncrosses her legs, drawing Sheriff Truman’s eyes to them.

“Are you saying, Sheriff, that you think my legs are a distraction?”

The Sheriff clears his throat again. “Yes I am.”

Denise stands and puts her hands on Sheriff Truman’s shoulders and gives them a gentle squeeze. She leans in, her mouth against his ear and whispers, “Thank you.”

Sheriff Truman pulls back to look her in the eyes, the whiskey warmth now spreading throughout his chest. “I’m really glad to know you,” he says. He takes a deep breath, realizing just how much he means this.

“So am I, Sheriff,” says Denise, squeezing his shoulders one more time. “Now let’s go make a scene!”

Sheriff Truman grins at Agent Bryson. Whatever may happen between them in the future, they make one hell of a team today.

*Based on the TV show Twin Peaks, Season 2, episodes 11-13

~This story originally appeared in OUT FRONT Magazine