Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 94076 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94076 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
She snorts. “No, so we can work cases together.” That’s what I thought. Mina and I always shared a connection, but as far as I know, she never leaves her computer cave. She’s more of a loner than I am, which is just as well. I can’t risk her getting too close. “Come on, you’re the only one who bribes me properly.”
“Gummy bears, the small ones. Your favorite is the pineapple flavor.”
“See? No one sends me those anymore. They just yell at me to do my job. You have to come back.”
“No can do. I’m one of New Rome’s finest now.”
“You’ve certainly had a first-hand seat to the rising crime stats. Is your plan to solve cases by being an eyewitness to as many as possible?”
It’s pretty much what Cuccinelli said, but only Mina’s allowed to give me shit.
“Just a streak of bad luck.”
“No such thing. You know there’s a connection.”
“Yeah, the vic was probably coming to bang on my door when he got ganked.” I repeat the detective’s working theory.
“But why you?”
“Just random.” Even as I say it, the back of my neck prickles. Like Mina, I have the sense that there’s something more going on.
But I don’t tell Mina that. She’s already spinning out on conspiracy theories. “Maybe the brass lured you there to target you so they could solve the crimes—”
“So the Chief of Police is involved? I hope you’re not on a work phone.”
“Hell, no, who do you think you’re talking to? I routed this call through seven states and a NASA satellite. Good thing, too, because if you’re being targeted—”
“Mina, it’s a coincidence. Correlation doesn’t equal causation.”
“Oh yes, baby, talk nerdy to me.” She fake moans.
“Oh my god.” I fake disgust even though I’m living for this conversation. It’s been too long since I’ve bantered with her. “I have to go.”
“Hot date?”
I arch my back, stretching in a way that makes my bruises shriek. Mina is the only one I’ve trusted with the knowledge of my kinky side. Mainly because she’s kinkier than a poorly stored garden hose and proud of it. “No. I’ve been ordered to attend a fundraiser with the brass. A gala. Black tie.”
“Ugh.”
“Right? They want to show off their shiny new consultant.”
“At least they’re not sticking you in some basement in a box labeled ‘Freak Show.’”
“Mmm, I just spent the day being questioned about whether I murdered the vic left outside my door.”
Her outraged shout leaves my ears ringing. “Are you serious?”
“Shhh, Mina, it’s okay. It’s procedure. They’ll clear me so they can work the case.”
She sputters, and I think of a way to distract her. “I have a gift for you. One of the detectives here is named Cuccinelli.”
“Oh.” Her chair creaks as she leans back. I can imagine the bliss on her face as she dreamily says, “Christmas has come early.”
“Right? It’s too bad his partner isn’t named Dick.”
“It would be too much. The gods would smite them for being too perfect. No, one is good enough. Please tell me you call him The Cooch.”
“Me? Never. But everyone else. . .”
Mina cackles with pure delight, and a dusty laugh creaks out of me.
My cell vibrates in my hand, and I pull it away from my ear to cancel the alarm that’s going off.
“Mina, I really have to go. The gala’s tomorrow night, and I don’t have a dress.”
“Okay, Cinderella. While you’re training mice to sew or whatever, I’m going to look into your cases. Send me any details you have.”
“Will do.” I asked the detectives who interviewed me for details, and they stonewalled me, but I have another way in.
“And you have fun with The Cooch.”
“If you met him, you’d know how gross that statement is.”
“But—”
“Bye, Mina.” I end the connection.
My face feels tight after talking with her. I touch my cheek and realize I’m smiling. It’s a strange feeling.
My other two voicemails are from a Midwestern number. No name, but I know who it is because I memorized the number. Detective Collins was my mentor. My savior. I cut ties with her years ago but couldn’t bring myself to block her. It’s not fair to her, but life isn’t fair, and of all the people in the world, she can best guess why I ghosted her.
My smile fades. I need to be careful. Even connecting with Mina to get her to help me with my cases is dangerous. I need to cut ties with everyone. It’s the only way they’ll be safe.
I step back into the hall to head to the incident room when a snippet of conversation makes my steps slow.
“The Bondage Killer—” someone is saying. The name knifes through me, the pain so intense it makes me swallow my gasp and stop short before I reach the door.
“The Bondage Killer?” Now Bonds is asking. “I remember him. Terrorized some small town, Alira or something. . .”