“Up.” He gesticulated, approaching his chair.
Elea conceded, cradling her coffee mug as she walked to the other side of the desk. Swann’s office was organised and clean, his shelves filled with well-thumbed law books. But the office was too open for her liking. In Helsinki she had total privacy.
“You think you have it all figured out, don’t you?” Swan sat heavily in his chair.
Elea suppressed her smile. This was not a game to her, and she refused to be treated like a child. She was a determined crime inspector—the Finnish equivalent of a DI—who aimed to achieve results where others had failed. “I take it I’m staying, then?”
“Clever move, speaking to the super and getting her onside. But I’d prefer it if you didn’t go over my head next time.”
“Pata kattilaa soimaa, musta kylki kummallakin.” Elea drily spoke the words. Swann would know enough Finnish to understand “The pot bad-mouths the kettle.” Before he left his job in Finland,shewashisboss, which was why she would not allow him to treat her as an insubordinate now. “When is the briefing?”
Swann let her comment go. “We’re waiting on DIU. But speak to the team before you go galloping off somewhere else.” He had a point. The Divisional Intelligence Unit was a valuable resource, but Elea had little time to play with. Getting the rest of Swann’s team on board would do no harm in the long run.
“All right, if it makes you happy. We all want the same thing here, but remember: I’m best positioned to get it. You’re lucky to have me.”
Swann failed to keep the emotion out of his voice. “You’ll risk your job for this, but would you risk going to prison? Because that is where you’re heading if you pull another of your stunts. And what if we find Liisa then? You’re no good to her inside.”
He had a point. Elea couldn’t help her daughter from behind bars. But if she did nothing, then nothing was what she was going to get. She drained her mug and placed it on his desk. “Well, if that’s all.”
“Not quite.” Swan gestured through his office window and waved at someone to come in. “There’s one condition of you staying on this team, and it’s non-negotiable. And before you go running to the super, this comes from her.”
Conditions usually tied Elea’s hands, but judging by the colour rising in Swann’s face, this was not up for discussion.
Mitch Harding entered the room, more composed than the last time he had made an appearance. His shirt sleeves were folded to his elbows, and, unlike Swann, he wasn’t wearing a tie. But the cut of his clothes suggested that they weren’t bought from some cheap clothing outlet.
Swann stood, looking at Elea, his brows lowering in discontent. “You’re being partnered with Mitch. Wherever you go, he goes. Pull one more disappearing act and he’ll be giving you a ride to the airport.”
Elea blinked twice as she absorbed the news. “You’re kidding me, right?” Her voice was tinged with irritation. She didn’t want, or need, a chaperone.
“Not at all,” Swann looked at them both. “Mitch has been briefed, and I suggest you take the situation as graciously as he did.” Swann slid up his shirt sleeve and checked his watch. “I’ve got to be somewhere. Whatever’s happened before, draw a line under it, so you can get on with your jobs.”
Elea wanted toask him who the hell he thought he was talking to, but Swann did not hang around for a reply. This would cut deep on both sides. She knew it would pain him to pair her up with someone she’d slept with less than twenty-four hours before.
“I don’t believe this.” She rounded on Mitch as the situation sank in. “Well? Say something!”
“If it helps, I know this case inside out. I’ve been studying it in my spare time.”
“Police detectives don’t have spare time,” Elea snorted. “And I’m not having this.” She shook her head. “Talking to me like I’m some sort of probationer. I was his boss in Helsinki, did you know that? No, I bet you didn’t...” Her voice descended into muttering as she uttered some Finnish swearwords. It was just as well Mitch didn’t understand.
An amused smile rested on Mitch’s face. “Is the prospect of working with me that bad? I’ve not been long on the team, but I was an experienced uniformed officer and have more intel sources than anyone else in here. I’m respected on the street.” He gave her a sideways glance. “Hell, I lived on them once.”
“You were homeless?” Now that, Elea hadn’t expected. She sighed, releasing her anger to ground herself once more.
“Yeah, that and everything that went along with it. It’s made me a better officer. I won’t do anything to jeopardise my job.”
Great,Elea thought, resting a hand on her hip.He’s not only green, but a stickler for the rules, too.
“About last night,” he began. “I don’t want things to be awkward.”
“Awkward?” Elea stared. “Why would it be awkward? It was just sex. As long as you don’t go blabbing, then I don’t see a problem with it.”
“No problem.” Mitch cleared his throat, but seemed unable to meet her gaze. “Well, um...I’d better get back to work. Do you want to join me?”
“Where’s your office? I hope it has more privacy than this fishbowl.”
“Thisismy office. Swann’s office is down the corridor.”
“Then why?”
