But I also demanded justice for my father.
So, foolishly, I took the bait. “I don’t care what it was signed off as, I knew my father. What do you want, Torres?”
“Just helping one of the detectives with acurrentcase, and it might be related to one from a year ago. I need the evidence box for 12-1-00193-3.”
Casting a glance around, I gritted my teeth, trying to convince myself it was a coincidence she was asking for that box at this exact moment when it was clear I was midway through organizing that shelf, and the boxes were strewn across the floor. It was organized chaos, but I had them in a certain order so I knew which order to put them back on the shelf. Moving one now would throw me.
I don’t believe in coincidences.
Bitch.
Plastering on a smile I hoped looked as fake as it felt, I said, “Sure thing.” I stepped awkwardly over the boxes to find the one she needed. Placing it on the table, I moved to sign it out to her, and after she scribbled her name on the page, she muttered something.
“What was that?” I asked, sickly sweet and dripping with malice.
Her smile told me what I needed to know before she spoke. She was going to test me again.
Don’t take the bait.
“I said…” Karolina started, her shit-stirring grin looming. What the fuck did she know that I didn’t? Why was shebothering to torture me with this? I found it difficult to believe this was all because of her loyalty to Kim. To me, Torres was just as corrupt as he was. She licked her lips before continuing, savoring the moment of torturing me. “Maybe your father shouldn’t have assumed his empire would never fall.”
She knew something.
I wasn’t strong enough to be the bigger person, and I snapped. Grabbing her shirt collar, I yanked her forward until we were face to face. “What the fuck did you say?”
Her smirk waivered at my aggression, realizing a moment too late at our physical difference—while I was younger, I was taller and fitter. Once again, I was underestimated, and this time it worked in my favor. A hint of fear sparked in her eyes as she replied, her voice small and lacking the glee from a moment before. “You heard me.”
Tugging her down, I held her in a headlock under my arm, and when she tried to break free, I twisted her arm painfully until she cried out. “Tell me what you know,” I said, gritting my teeth as she dug her nails into my arm, trying to squirm out of my hold.
“Kline!”
Fuck.
Releasing Karolina, angry tears stung her eyes as she stumbled away, and I glared at her even as I faced Burke, lowering my eyes to the floor. I was in deep shit. “Sir.”
“Don’t yousirme, Kline! Someone tell me what thehellis going on in here?”
“She attacked me, sir.” Karolina stood with her back straight, angry red marks appearing on her neck as she rubbed it.
“She said—” I started.
But it didn’t matter. I’d already made an enemy of the sergeant on more than one occasion. Besides, her baiting me really wasn’t a reason to attack, I knew that. I had no defense,and I was about to pay for my lack of willpower.
“I don’t give a goddamn what shesaid,Kline,” Burke bellowed, my name sounding like an insult from his lips. “We don’t tolerate violence in this precinct.” Karolina’s face was barely containing her smug expression, and I scowled as Burke continued, “Apparently, you’ve got too much going on in your personal life to conduct yourself in a professional manner here. Take some time. Effective immediately, you’re suspended—”
“Sir!”
“For four weeks. One more word from you, Kline, and I’ll double it. Now go downstairs and sign over your gun and badge.”
My mouth hung open, and I stared at him.
“Just one word, Kline…” Burke muttered, eyeing me, daring me. “Give me a reason.”
Closing my mouth, I said nothing, hoping I could glare the man to death.
After a beat, he hollered, “Dismissed!” and Karolina marched out of the locker room with the evidence box, leaving me to skulk past Burke before he followed, making sure I went straight to administration to sort out my suspension.
They asked where my handcuffs were, and I told them the truth—they were at home, and I hadn’t found them due to recent renovations.
