Chapter Six #2
He slams his fists down onto the metal table between them, and the clang rings through the air.
Before I can see what he does next, I’m out of my seat, swinging open the door and pushing aside the officer who tries to stop me.
My fingers grip the handle of the room Katie currently sits in.
The light above the door is on, indicating that an interview is taking place.
My pulse is in my throat, my body growing hotter by the second.
I need to get my hands on Katie and yank her out to safety.
Regardless of how I feel about her. Regardless of the fact that she annoys the hell out of me.
I don’t want her to be hurt. I’d never want that.
A large hand yanks my hand back, pushing it behind my back and slamming me against the wall. Detective Biceps calmly bends my wrist behind my shoulder blades, threatening to snap it if I don’t stop.
“She is more than capable of doing her job. You cannot go in there.”
“I thought you liked her. Leaving her in there with no protection at all. What kind of man are you?” I hiss through clenched teeth.
“The kind of man who trusts her to do her job. If you go in there guns blazing, you’ll undermine her authority in front of the suspect. He’ll only ever see her as a damsel in distress. I have more respect for her than that. Do you?”
I blow out a big breath, and my shoulders sink. Having won the battle, the detective loosens his hold on my wrist.
The dickwad is right. I hate that.
I head back into the room behind the mirror and throw the chair out of the way.
The harsh clang of metal scraping against the floor before crashing into the wall rings through the air.
I’m standing now. And if that little murdering prick threatens her again—if he so much as sneezes in her direction—I’m hauling her out of there.
◆◆◆
It’s twenty minutes later when my phone vibrates in my pocket, and I have to step outside to take my call.
I’m slightly concerned about leaving these idiots to watch Katie, but what can I do?
Sergeant Major Tilly is on the line, and I can’t exactly ignore my boss right now because I have a sudden urge to watch the girl who has an intense dislike for me like a hawk so that the suspect who may or may not have murdered a woman in cold blood doesn’t also murder her.
And breathe.
I might be losing it.
I press the green button on my phone. “Jones,” I answer.
“Jones, how are you getting on?” Sergeant Major Tilly’s lyrical voice sings through my phone.
“Dr. Murphy is interviewing the suspect as we speak, sir. Can I call back later?”
There’s a muffled sound as if he’s covered the microphone with his hand. I wait for him to respond, but after another thirty seconds of silence, the colonel’s booming voice enters the conversation.
“You’re on speaker, Jones.”
“Colonel.”
“It’s the third day. Are we any closer to getting this under military control?”
I’m not exactly sure how he wants me, someone who has never even worked a murder case, to get a police investigation under military control.
But this is my boss, and anyone who has been in the military understands that when the higher-ups want something done, it gets done.
But that’s usually internally. It’s different when there are civilians involved.
“Colonel, with all due respect, they aren’t going to hand over the case to the army. The investigation is in full swing, and I don’t have any leverage here.” I keep my voice low as police personnel hurry down the corridor.
“What about the girl? You could persuade her. You’re friends.”
I suck in a deep breath, a sharp twinge niggling between my shoulder blades.
“Dr. Murphy is contracted here. She doesn’t have sway over who is involved in cases.”
He sighs. I imagine his mustache bristling with annoyance as I await further instructions.
“I’ll speak to the judge again. But on your end, I want this wrapped up quickly. I don’t see why they’re wasting their time investigating when it’s obvious he did it.”
Why is the colonel pushing this so much?
Sure, I get that someone has been murdered, but something feels off.
The fact that he’s trying to pull this under military control is odd.
It’s clearly a civilian matter. Sure, he’s in the army, but the crime took place at a bar—the victim was a civilian.
I’m contributing very little here, and honestly, Katie has it handled, so I can see why Detective Biceps is grumpy about my presence here.
Even if it’s mostly because he wants to get into Katie’s panties and sees me as a threat to that.
I’m not, but I’m not going to correct him.
“Sir, can I be frank?”
There’s a pause before I hear a heavy sigh. “Go ahead.”
Sergeant Major Tilly remains silent.
“Is there a reason why this needs to be under military control?” I look around me quickly to check that no one can overhear my conversation. “As you said, it seems obvious that this is an open and shut case. Does the military need to be involved at all?”
He ignores my question. “I need you to keep an eye on this, Jones. And for God's sake, don’t let that girl put any funny ideas in your head. Connor Maddox did this. And I want this resolved by the end of the week.”
The phone clicks off, and I’m glad for it.
His voice was getting more and more irate.
I’m used to people shouting at me. It’s part and parcel of being in the military, so I let it wash over me, despite the annoyance I feel.
Sure, I’m here as a guest. But I can’t just take over a police investigation and get it closed following none of their procedures.
Hell, I don't even know what those procedures are.
Can any case be closed within a week? I would at least expect them to do their due diligence.
I slip my phone into my pocket and rub my eyes, kneading my knuckles roughly against my skin.
My hazy vision focuses slowly until I see Katie standing at my side with a concerned look on her face.
I pull my shoulders back. She’s out, and she looks okay, better than okay.
She’s tired, as usual, but it doesn’t take away from how utterly stunning she manages to look under the fluorescent lights of the precinct.
“Did something happen?” I look at the closed interview room door. I would have noticed if they had brought Maddox out, surely.
“No, I’m fine. Are you okay, though?” Her brows knit together with a mix of concern and confusion. Her green eyes flicking between mine.
“You worried about me, princess?” I say, my voice low.
Her shoulders push back, and her chin lifts.
“I think he’s had enough for the day. Did you want to ask him a few questions, or can you wait until we get back from interviewing the families?” she says, ignoring my question completely.
I’m exhausted. So fucking tired. It feels like my whole body has been tense for hours, and I could use an honest to God nap, a soft blanket, a kiss on the forehead, and a whisper of sweet dreams. Thank you very much.
“All good, I got enough for my notes for now.”
“Was that your boss?” she asks.
“Yes.”
“What did he want?”
I don’t hesitate before responding. She deserves to know what’s going on. “A progress report.”
“On what?”
“My lifestyle blog. How to cook your way into a woman’s heart,” I say, my face deadpan. “The case, obviously.”
“Obviously. I’ve tasted your chili. It was flavorless. I hope you haven’t put that recipe on there.”
“If I wanted to, princess. I could have a woman spoon-feeding my chili to me by the end of the day.” I smirk.
She steps forward, closing the distance between us as she lifts her chin.
Even in her heels, she has to tilt that perfect face up to me.
Her pink lips soft and kissable, her mascara elongating her lashes.
She’s so pretty it’s annoying. I smell her perfume; it invades me like a parasite working its way into my system.
I inhale deeper, like a welcoming host body.
“What you spend your money on is no business of mine.”
“You think I’d need to pay for it?”
“Oh, I know you would.” She sneers.
“Seems like you’ve thought about my sex life a lot, Katie. Why would that be? Maybe Saturday night gave you a sneak peek, and you want to know more. You just have to ask, you know.”
Her cheeks flush crimson, and I can practically feel the heat rolling off her.
I half expect her to spit venom at me, but before she can open her mouth, we’re interrupted.
Because I forgot we’re at her place of work.
A police station. And instead of sparring with her, I should be focused on the murder investigation at hand.
“Dr. Murphy,” Detective Biceps interrupts, and Katie jumps back away from me. “Everything okay?”
“Perfect, Detective Williams. Would you mind providing the transcript of the interview? I believe Dr. Jones missed the last part.”
She turns away from me, the click of her stilettos warning the precinct to get the hell out of her way. She-devil incoming.
Detective Biceps is quick on her heels, arm muscles bulging out of the signature black T-shirt he’s wearing. I rub my face.
“Want to make them jealous?” a small voice saddles up next to me, making me jump.
I look down, seeing Officer Sanchez with a grim expression on her face.
She’s young, probably too young for the detective who looks to be the same age as Katie and me.
She’s in her early twenties, no doubt fresh out of the academy, and has those heart eyes when she looks at Biceps.
I hadn’t seen Katie give him heart eyes, but then again, I’m not sure I could imagine her giving anyone a look like that.
Just pure adoration. She’s more of a black widow.
Ensnaring them before eating them. Wait, maybe that’s a praying mantis.
I should look that up for when I want to insult her sex life next.
“There are plenty of people out there you could use for that,” I say, giving her a small, consolation smile.
“Yeah, but somehow I think it would piss him off more if it were you.” She shrugs. “Think about it.”
She heads down the corridor, following the detective and Katie.