Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 84871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Since it’s the weekend, there’s an entirely different crew of officers than I’m used to seeing. A guy I’ve never met mans the front desk. I guess they do give Tara a break every once in a while.
To my surprise, Bishop and Montgomery are both at work. As I approach, Bishop takes a call and walks off, leaving me with Montgomery.
“Hey,” I say, voice clipped. “Any leads?”
Montgomery frowns. “On what?”
I blink, waiting for the punchline of a stupid joke. “The homicide from last night. Don’t play cute. I’m not in the mood today.”
His jaw muscle ticks. “I’m not being cute. I thought you were expressly told not to touch this case.”
“I’m not touching it,” I grumble. “I’m asking about it. That’s not a crime, Montgomery.”
“No, but it goes against a direct order.” He crosses his arms over his chest and leans back in his desk chair. “Back off, Thurman.”
I know he’s right, but it doesn’t mean I have to like it. With a frustrated sigh, I storm over to my desk and decide I’ll do my own digging. I’m barely scratching the surface when Tanaka breezes past me, motioning for his office along the way.
“Now,” Tanaka barks over his shoulder.
I glower at Montgomery for tattling and he simply shrugs. As I pass Bishop, he mouths, “sorry,” to me. Whatever. If I could survive last night’s interrogation, I can survive another bitch out from Tanaka. As soon as I close the office door behind me, Tanaka lays into me.
“You have to distance yourself from this case,” Tanaka hisses. “Why is that so damn hard to understand?”
I take in the fury flickering in Tanaka’s dark eyes and the grinding of his molars. The cool, unflappable chief of police is actually pissed.
Because I care about this case?
Or because he’s hiding something and I’m dipping my toes somewhere they don’t belong?
“Let the detectives do their job,” he says icily. “I don’t know how many other ways I can say that for you to get it through your thick skull.”
My nostrils flare with anger, but I reel in a scathing remark that might get me canned. “Montgomery is an idiot. If we actually want to catch this killer, we need all hands on deck, Chief.”
“I disagree with one of those statements.” He narrows his eyes at me. “And we don’t need all hands on deck. Especially not yours. The deceased is your sister’s boyfriend, for fuck’s sake, and your nephew is a suspect!”
I shake my head in vehemence. “I told you. He didn’t have blood on him. He was scared.”
“You’re his aunt. Of course you’re going to see what you want to see. Like I said, you’re too close to this case. Goddammit, don’t make me put you on leave over this.”
Shrinking back from his words, I study his eyes for the truth. He’s hanging on by a thread. If he puts me on leave over a disciplinary action, I may as well kiss my career goodbye. Gritting my teeth, I force back all the arguments I’m desperate to unleash.
“Got it, sir.”
Tanaka nods and huffs out a sharp breath. “Good. Thought so. Now go enjoy the rest of your weekend. We’ll handle it from here. I promise.”
His promises mean nothing to me.
“Thanks,” I grind out. “I hope you catch the real killer soon.”
While Montgomery chases his tail in circles, I’ll get to the bottom of this on my own time. If I have to submit anonymous tips, I will. Maybe I can even get Dempsey to help me.
One way or another, I will figure out who did this and clear my nephew’s name.
Hopefully, I’ll manage not to lose my job in the process.
Dempsey
Sloane: Can you come over again tonight? I miss you already.
I grin at my phone. Seeing those words from Sloane makes this relationship of ours all the more real. It’s not one-sided or unrequited.
She’s one-hundred percent in it with me.
Me: I have to make it through our family dinner tonight but then I can escape.
Sloane: Where did you tell them you were last night?
I hate that I lied to my parents. I’d wanted to tell them where and with whom I shared a bed last night, but I played it off and said I was at a friend’s house.
I’m such a pussy.
Not that I’m afraid of getting in trouble or anything. It was more that I wanted to stay in my little bubble of undisturbed happiness for a while longer. When they find out who I’m sleeping with, they’re going to make it a huge dramatic thing.
I’d rather put all my energy into pleasing Sloane, not fighting with my parents.
Me: A friend’s. How are you feeling? Sore?
Sloane: Very. Not sure I can handle any more tonight. I’m down for kissing and cuddling.
Me: Can I kiss and cuddle your pussy?
She sends me a bunch of shocked emojis that make me snort with laughter.