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)
“Just doing my job,” I say lightly. “Following up on cases I responded to.”
“I see.” He crosses his arms over his chest and studies me. “You’re more thorough than our detectives around here.”
No surprise there.
The PMPD detectives are comfortable in their positions, and frankly, lazy. It’s a boys’ club I want no part of. Most of the day, they shoot the shit and stroke each other’s egos. Hard pass.
“The Ghirard case was checked out to you,” he rumbles, stern disappointment crossing over his features. “Wasn’t checked back in. Still dotting Is and crossing Ts of your colleagues’ work?”
I try not to fidget, but I feel like I’m being put on trial for asking questions someone—anyone—should have been asking.
“Is there a problem with that?” I ask, lifting my chin and meeting his gaze with a hard one of my own.
We’re interrupted when Tara knocks on the door. She peeks her head in and says, “Chief, the mayor’s here to see you.”
Tanaka glances down at his shiny Rolex and sighs heavily. “I’ll be with him in two minutes.”
She leaves us be and closes the door. We continue our staring game for what feels like a lot longer than two minutes.
“I’m going to ask you to stick to your patrolling and normal reporting duties. No need to go above and beyond. We have a whole department that goes over files to make sure everything is above par.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask him why? Why does he want me to back off? What’s he hiding? Too many files are coasting on by without much effort since he took office.
“You’re excused.” He rises from his seat and continues his intimidating stare-off. “Also, tell your little friend to park in the visitors’ lot. I won’t ask nicely next time.”
Gritting my teeth, I resist the urge to say more. In the end, I give him a clipped nod. “Yes, sir.”
I’m boiling by the time I exit his office. The mayor and a couple of other suits strut past me to greet Tanaka. They all laugh like they’re buddies who’re eager to catch up. Does the mayor know his perfect new chief is shady?
Bishop lifts a brow at me in question and I shake my head. Not exactly something I want to discuss. But there is one thing I’d like to ask him about.
“Hey,” I say as I approach his desk that faces Montgomery’s. “What do you know about the local motorcycle clubs around here?”
Montgomery lifts his head and frowns at me. “Why?”
“I’m just curious, is all.” I cross my arms over my chest and dart my gaze between them. “Ran into a few sketchy guys at the pool hall the other day—”
“Hold the phone,” Montgomery interrupts. “You actually do something on your time off besides obsess over police work?” He mock gasps. “Color me shocked, Thurman.”
I roll my eyes, turning to Bishop. “Anything you can tell me?”
Bishop rubs at his beard as he thinks. “I mean, there’re all the old geezers up the road, but I think they’re pretty harmless aside from a DUI here and there. And then there’s the Park Mountain Shadows MC. They mostly keep to themselves and don’t cause trouble. Only two clubs I know of.”
PMS MC.
Sounds like the guys who harassed Dempsey.
“You know where I can find them?”
Before Bishop can answer, Montgomery interjects. “Just leave it be, woman. You’re turning over stones and one of these days a snake’s gonna up and bite you.”
Unbelievable and useless.
I’ll figure out who these assholes are and what their problem is on my own.
“I have a surprise for you,” Kaden says as we pull into my neighborhood.
“Oh yeah? What is it?”
He grins at me. “If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise.”
I’m not sure what Kaden has done, but my mind won’t let me ponder it. I keep drifting back to Dempsey’s revelation and Tanaka’s subsequent warning. When I pull into the driveway, Dempsey and Gemma’s Tahoe sits right in the middle.
“You invited them over?” I ask in confusion.
“Yeah,” he says with a grin. “To play video games and eat dinner with us. You’re welcome.”
I frown as he climbs out of the vehicle. He’s acting like he did me the favor when he’s the one who craves hanging out with anyone but his dorky aunt. I follow after him. Dempsey steps out of the vehicle, dressed all in black like earlier and wearing a crooked smile that feels just for me.
We hugged.
He touched my hips and then my face.
His closeness had consumed me until Tanaka burst the lusty bubble I was in.
Now, he’s here and we’re away from all the prying eyes of my coworkers. This could mean trouble.
Kaden leads the way with Gemma on his heels. I shoot Dempsey a questioning look to which he shrugs. We go inside my house where Kaden takes Gemma to the game console straight away.