“This place and the job are conditional on me ‘not putting myself at risk’,” Bryn said. “They also surgically implanted a tracking device into my spine. In case they ever need to come rescue me from anyone that isn’t them.”
“That sucks.”
“Yeah. My life is a bed of fucking roses.”
“And now you get to work with me.” Gunnar grinned.
“Just fucking peachy.”
Bryn wanted to stay in the apartment and do some unpacking, so Gunnar left him to it and went to find Warden. He suspected Bryn needed to be alone for a while.I can’t even begin to imagine what’s he’s been through the last few years. It’s a miracle he’s still sane.
Warden was in his study. The door was open so Gunnar went inside. Warden looked up from his work.
“So, Detective, have you decided to join us?”
“The kid intrigues me. It’ll be interesting to see how he can help with solving cases, so yeah, I’m in. I’ll need to make arrangements to get my stuff shipped over here.”
“That will all be arranged for you,” Warden said. “I need the key to your apartment and a list of items you want brought here. What will you do with the apartment?”
“Sublet, I guess,” Gunnar said. “The place is rent controlled so I don’t want to lose it in case things don’t work out here.”
“Fair enough. I can arrange a suitable tenant, if that’s amenable?”
“That would help me out.”
“We want your focus to be on the work rather than domestic affairs. This is experimental and dangerous. Initially we will offer your services across the city and you’ll focus on interrogations for only the most serious offenses. If things go well, we’ll consider expanding your remit to investigation, but we have to see how Bryn copes first. He’s had a lot of practice honing his skills but not in real situations. Using his gifts can be draining and he’s not so good at taking care of himself.”
“Noted. So where’s our first gig?”
“You’ll be briefed tomorrow morning. The investigating team will come here to our conference room and once you’ve heard what they need, it will be up to you and Bryn to decide whether you want to take on the case. I’ll arrange for a car to be at your disposal…”
“I’ll use my bike. It’s quicker in traffic and if I ever need to get Bryn out of a situation quickly, it’ll work better. Can you get him a helmet and leathers?”
Warden gave a brief nod. “Certainly. There will be a car available as well, in case of need.” He placed a sleek cell on the desk. “This is for you. There are several secure apps on there, including one linked to Bryn’s tracker. We’ll be asking you to report on each job, not just about the case but what you observe when Bryn works.”
“Does he know about that? I won’t spy on him for you,” Gunnar said. “Partners need trust.”
“He knows. You’ll need to write the reports together so that he can relay any physical impact. Psychologically, we have no way of knowing how he’ll be affected in the long term, but he’ll have regular sessions with a counselor who’s familiar with him already. His mental health is important. He’s the first augur to survive training and by far the strongest. The others couldn’t handle the strain of what they could do. One had a stroke, the other took his own life.”
Gunnar was beginning to suspect thathislife was about to get complicated. “His attitude is a defense mechanism. If he was a sensitive flower, he wouldn’t make it.”
“Quite. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t call him out on bad behavior. You have seniority. He obeys your orders or there will be consequences.” Warden steepled his fingers. “He’s very young. He’s developed an armored shell, but it’s brittle. He needs careful but firm handling.”
An image of what ‘firm handling’ might entail flashed through Gunnar’s mind and his cock twitched.He’s too young, you fucking pervert. Get your head out of your pants and concentrate.The devil on his shoulder was telling him that the age gap was only six years and that Bryn was exactly Gunnar’s type. Feisty but vulnerable and so very pretty.It’s been too long since I got laid.He tuned back in to Warden’s ongoing lecture. Hopefully anything he’d missed would be written down in a manual somewhere.
“If you turn right out of here and go to the third office on the left, one of my staff will explain the security arrangements for this building, give you your new credentials, get some paperwork filled out, that kind of thing. Welcome to the team, Detective. I’m surewe’ve chosen the right man.” He stood and offered his hand. Gunnar shook it, recognizing the dismissal.
“I’ll do my best,” he said, and meant it. It wasn’t in him to do anything less. The future was going to be interesting.And ain’t that the understatement of the year.
Chapter Two
That first night, Gunnar went back to his own place to check on the movers. He wasn’t especially attached to his apartment but it had been home for four years. By the time he got there, the team was almost done. They’d packed his clothes and all the obviously personal items. He added a few throws and pillows he thought Bryn might like and made sure his French press went into a crate. Most stuff was staying for the new tenant as the Marlborough Street apartment was fully equipped. Gunnar had never been a pack rat. Accumulating stuff didn’t interest him so his belongings were loaded and driven away in less than three hours. To avoid putting linens on the stripped beds, he camped out on the couch in a sleeping bag. He slept well and woke early, more excited than he had expected to be to begin his new job.
The back gate at Marlborough Street was locked this time and Gunnar had to use a code to get in. Another keypad got him through the rear entrance, a cameratracking his movements as he entered. Warden emerged from his office as Gunnar passed.
“I’ll walk with you to the conference room. Your belongings were safely delivered last night and have been taken up to the apartment. You’ll be staying here from tonight?”
“That bridge is burned. If I want clean underwear tomorrow, I need in those boxes.”
