“Maegan,” Milo yelled through the door. “We’re minutes away from total anarchy.”
“I’ll see you and your big gun later,” I said, planting a quick kiss on him and darting out the door. I was grateful to have the conversation started but wished it had come about under better circumstances.
“Are you okay?” Milo asked when I caught up to him.
“Better than I’ve ever been in my life,” I said, throwing my arms around his neck and hugging him tight. “I can’t take you seriously when you look like Mrs. Doubtfire though, so we’ll talk later.”
We walked into the bookstore together, and the kids started clapping excitedly. No matter how many times I told myself not to get my hopes up, I would cling to the bud of hope blossoming in my heart until I no longer had a reason to believe.
“GOOD MORNING, PARTNER,”ADRIAN SAIDwhen I arrived at work. “It’s a rare occurrence that I arrive before you do.”
“I overslept,” I said sheepishly.
Adrian cocked a brow. “You never oversleep.”
“I’m not late, Chicken Whisperer,” I said, earning an eye roll. “I’m just not as early as usual.” Maegan felt even friskier than normal that morning, and I would’ve been a horrible person had I not taken care of my woman before sending her off to work. Of course, I wasn’t telling him that part. It was my own damn fault for thinking I could just rest my eyes for a few minutes before getting in the shower. I woke up thirty minutes later.
“Captain is looking for you.”
“Already?”
“He doesn’t look happy either.”
“Why does this feel like I’m getting called into the principal’s office?” I joked while racking my brain for the reasons I could be in trouble.
“Markham,” Gabe called out firmly. I jerked my head toward the captain’s office and found him standing in the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest and wearing the surliest expression I’d ever seen on him. “My office, please.” He turned and went back inside his office.
“Fuck,” I whispered. “You weren’t kidding, Adrian.”
“What’d you do, partner? Did you forget to update us about the psychopathic biker gang leader with a vendetta, or is there a new asshole coming out of the woodwork?”
“No. I have no idea what this about, Adrian,” I said, shaking my head. I looked up to see Gabe had returned to the doorway, and his expression was even more thunderous. “Shit. I got to go.” The captain walked back in his office when he saw I was finally doing what he’d asked—demanded—the first time. “My apologies, sir,” I said once I walked into his office. I saw the faintest tilt at the corner of his mouth.
“I know all about Adrian’s penchant for ribbing his partners and gossiping.” He nodded to the door behind me. “Close it, please.”
“Uh, sure.” I closed the door and took a seat across from him. “What’s going on, Captain? You sound…pissed.”
“I’m fucking furious, Detective. I can’t recall the last time I was this angry.”
“At me?” I asked. “I can’t think of anything I’ve done to cause you to be so angry.”
“Damn it. I’m fucking this up all to hell.” The captain took a few calming breaths then started over. “I’m furious on your behalf, Elijah. I am not furious at you.”
“On my behalf?” I asked, sounding as confused as I felt.
“How well do you know and like your former police captain?”
“Well, it was a much bigger department than the one we have here, so we weren’t as friendly. The captain didn’t attempt to know any of us outside our jobs, and we returned his attitude.”
“Did you think he was a competent leader?” I opened my mouth to respond, but Gabe cut me off with a wave of his hand. “I think he’s a fucking idiot who doesn’t value the lives of the men and women working under him—past or present.”
Uh oh.That didn’t sound so good for me. “What’s happened?”
“So, the man didn’t call and speak to you directly?”
“No, sir.”
“Good,” Gabe replied, nodding his head sharply. “I asked him to allow me the courtesy to have this discussion with you first.”
