Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92636 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92636 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
“Sure,” he said, giving in. Though from his tone, Mike could tell he thought Erin was nuts.
“How do you think everyone took the changes that I want to implement at the station?” Mike asked Sam.
Erin raised an eyebrow. “You mean changing everyone from partnering up to singles except on the night shift?”
“Word spread as far as the DA’s office?” Mike asked.
Erin shrugged. “We have to have something interesting to talk about.”
“Makes downtime more boring, but everyone’s okay with it,” Sam said. “Especially since we got guys retiring in June, and you’ll be able to add shifts to the rookies’ schedules.”
Mike nodded. “Good.”
Before they could change subjects, the server came with their meals and they all got distracted, important subjects off the table.
No sooner had he arrived back at his office when his cell rang. A quick glance told him Lauren was calling. Hopefully, she had information on the open case. Something that would put his father out of the running on any issues that cropped up. But Mike’s gut told him he wouldn’t get so lucky.
* * *
In the week since she’d been home from the city, Cara’s life had returned to normal. Normal meant she worked, she visited Havensbridge when she could, and she didn’t see Mike unless they were at work. When they acted professional at all times.
Unless she thought no one was paying attention. Then she studied him, her mind taking her back to that night in Manhattan, and she wanted nothing more than to be with him that way again. But she was busy, so busy she barely had time to think. Until tonight when she was off for another two days. First Joe’s, and then she hoped she’d see Mike. Her place or his, she didn’t care.
Lost in thought, she was startled when Mike’s assistant said she was wanted in his office. She glanced around the room. Everyone was either busy at their desks or changing shifts, so there were a lot of people coming and going, and nobody seemed surprised that the chief had summoned her.
She headed for the private room in the back corner, pausing in the doorway for a calming breath. Hard to be calm when Mike sat at his desk, wearing a charcoal-gray suit and a deep lavender tie, looking sexy as ever.
Then his dark eyes lit on her. “Come in and shut the door behind you.”
Cara did as he asked and remained standing, not comfortable that he needed a word now. Here. “Something you need, Chief?”
“Have a seat,” he said, in a serious voice that made her stomach pitch uncomfortably.
She gripped the sides of her chair. “What’s wrong?”
He muttered something under his breath. “You think something has to be wrong for me to talk to you?”
“Well . . . We’re at work. So I figured it’s work related and something’s up.” They hadn’t discussed the case they were working on, and she’d figured he hadn’t had any word from his contact yet.
His cell rang and he frowned. “Hang on.” He glanced at it and held up one finger. “I’ve been expecting this,” he said, and took the call.
“Good to hear from you,” Mike said, looking pleased. He paused, obviously listening. “You two sure work fast.” His deep laughter rippled through Cara, bringing back memories of the two of them having fun together in New York, laughing, having sex . . .
“I’d love to,” Mike said into the phone. He listened, then, “Sure.” Some more listening, and he replied, “Am I bringing someone?” He met Cara’s gaze and held on tight. “Yeah, I am.”
Her stomach knotted with the intensity she saw there.
“Thanks. See you then and looking forward to it.” He hung up and shoved his phone back into his pocket. “Sorry about that.”
Cara shrugged off the apology.
He rose and came around his desk, propping himself on the edge, close to her chair, and leaned forward. “As it happens, I have news on the case we were working on. Lauren called.”
Cara leaned forward in her seat. “What did she find out?”
“Nothing helpful. All she knows is that at the time the Serendipity Police Department turned the information into the feds, six months had passed since the driver of the car with the drugs and the cash had been arrested there and released on bail.”
“How did that happen?” Cara asked. “Who gave bail to a guy with a carload of drugs and money in the trunk?”
“Judge Marshall Baine.”
Cara turned the name over in her head. “I don’t recognize the name,” she said at last.
“He’s retired now. But the guy must’ve skipped, and nobody did anything about it. By the time anyone in Serendipity realized and contacted the feds, the perp had been hauled into jail in the Bronx for transporting cocaine over state lines. He was all too willing to make a deal in order to save his own ass and turn his suppliers over to the cops.”