“No, he’s not. I plan to spend the next year grooming him. Once he’s in place and running the show, I’m retiring. Jameson has also committed himself to Bo’s training. He’ll be in good hands.”
Lucky still didn’t trust O’Donoghue and would never forgive him, but the man wasn’t likely to piss off Victor. Or Walter. “What about him and me?”
“What about the two of you?”
“We’re a couple.” He’d love to say, “Married couple.” Maybe one day. “We can’t work in the same department, can we?”
“No, you can’t, and you won’t. If he accepts the position, Bo will head the Department of Diversion Prevention and Control, and you’ll lead the Southeastern Narcotics Bureau’s training department. You’ll both answer to my current superior, who mostly stays on the eighth floor and seldom makes an appearance.”
Bo? And Lucky? In upper management? “What about…”
“I’m afraid that accepting the job will put an end to Bo’s undercover career, although he might still choose to act as handler from time to time to keep his skills sharp. Your training duties may occasionally require you to play an undercover role, but you’ll be home most nights.” Walter hid a grin by turning and ruffling Moose’s ear. “Who’s a good dog?”
If something sounded too good to be true… “What about the classroom part? And who’ll head up the undercovers? We got a lot of newbies wandering around.”
“I’ve read your reports on Loretta Johnson. I believe it’s time to see what she’s capable of. I’ve received more transfer requests from other branches of the bureau. Not to mention resumes from current members of the Atlanta police department. We’ll get along just fine.”
Lucky fought not to smile and give too much away. Boss offered him one sweet deal. “You’ve got everything all figured out, don’t you?”
“Don’t I always? Do you think Bo will agree?”
Being home at night? Not getting shot at? A vision flashed through Lucky’s mind of Bo, carrying a tiny squirming bundle into the unused nursery in their home, tucking a child—their child—into bed. Almost brought tears to his eyes. “He’ll agree. If for no other reason than you asked.” Lucky wasn’t above begging. Anything to see his man safe and sound.
“Then I believe it’s settled.” Walter gave Moose a final pat. “Now, if you’ll excuse me. I’ve noticed Loretta hovering around the door. I believe she wants to talk to you.”
Walter slid the door open and stepped inside the house. “Hello, Loretta. He’s all yours.”
Oh shit. Lucky had been instrumental in putting her lover in jail. Since then, she’d never once mentioned Phillip or his fate, had never acted any differently toward Lucky.
Sooner or later they had to talk.
Maybe he should warn Bo to keep an eye on the back deck in case of violence. Lucky’s weak knees made sitting down a rational decision.
Johnson plopped down into the chair next to him. Moose headbutted her hand. Fickle beast. He’d trained her as well as he had Walter, only Rett had nice long fingernails to scratch beneath Moose’s fur.
“Hi, Johnson.”
The air dropped ten degrees from her frigid tone. “Oh, so it’s Johnson again, is it?” She half-rose from the chair.
“What? Oh, no! Sorry, Rett. Got a lot going on in my head. Take a load off. What you got on your mind?” Let it not be punching him out for her boyfriend’s arrest.
“I just wanted to say that you did the right thing.” She propped her elbows on the chair arms. Moose abandoned her for Lucky.
“On?”
“It doesn’t matter if he was coerced or blindly following orders. The truth is, Phillip broke the law. Like it or not, I’m sworn to uphold those same laws.” Rett’s voice remained flat, emotionless.
At what cost? “He didn’t take a plea deal, so he’ll go to trial.” A trial hadn’t helped Lucky’s case any. He’d gotten ten years.
“He might wriggle free yet.” She closed her eyes, pulled in a deep breath, and whooshed it out. “His parents promised to hire the best attorneys they can find. If money can bribe Lady Justice, he won’t serve a day. He’s under house arrest and can’t leave the state.”
“I have a feeling there’s a ‘but’ or ‘and’ coming.”
Her weak smile couldn’t have fooled anybody. “He had to agree to go back to law school.”
“Doesn’t sound too bad to me, if they’re paying, and if he’ll be able to get past the bar with this on his record.” He’d also need to pull his grades up one hell of lot since the last time he’d tried higher education—if he found a decent school to accept him.
“Oh, they’re paying all right. If he isn’t convicted, it’ll be like nothing happened, as far as the bar is concerned.” Rett let out a breathy, humorless laugh. “I should’ve known better than to get involved with a man so far out of my league.”
