Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 125248 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 501(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125248 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 501(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
“Um, I think they were trying to buy a star map,” Day answered.
God closed his eyes.
Greer stared at him. “Excuse me?”
“They’re hell-bent on finding Keanu Reeves’ house.” Day pfft’d. “I can’t explain it.”
“Look guys, this comedy act might work on your superiors in Atlanta, but I’m not amused.” The captain scowled. “Witnesses say the man they were chasing was eating in a restaurant when your guys engaged him, assaulted him, and chased him through the service exit when he tried to get away.”
Day feigned outrage. “Poppycock!”
Free snorted.
Detective Pike chuckled. “Lieutenant, I’m the lead on Xander Vale’s case. He was in the restaurant with your detectives, the same detectives in the video footage of his property after his break-in last night.”
Day’s humor cooled a couple of degrees.
Pike stood and rested both hands on the back of a chair. “Help me put the pieces together.”
God raised one brow. “Nothing to put together. Xander Vale is a close personal friend of Wesley and Lawson. They asked us to hang out with him while we’re in town. Keep an eye on their friend. Nothing more.”
Skeptical looks passed between the men, followed by a few low grunts of disbelief.
Pike smirked. “You expect us to believe that?”
“Of course. Don’t we look like we tell the truth and nothing but the truth?” Day asked.
Vega ignored him. “Are you investigating Xander Vale’s case or pursuing his attackers?”
“No,” they all said.
The young lawyer smiled.
“Look,” Vega said, tone hardening. “As a professional courtesy, I’m going to release your detectives into your custody. Your captain vouched for you, and no one at that restaurant is interested in pressing charges. The man they were chasing is in the wind.”
“All’s well that ends well.” Day smiled politely.
Vega didn’t seem to agree, “Your detectives never identified themselves as police officers. They pursued a civilian, who’d committed no crime, through a restaurant and onto a public street, putting innocent people in harm’s way. A waiter has a sprained wrist, and I’ve got three damaged vehicles blocking Vesper Lane because your detectives…wanted a star map.”
Vega’s gaze hardened on God. “If I find out you are policing in my city, I will bring you up on charges and hold you liable for any damages.”
Day watched his husband’s profile, the sharp line of his jaw, and the way his eyes narrowed. He’d never liked being threatened. He especially didn’t like being threatened by men who’d failed to stop two attempts on a man’s life.
“Understood,” God muttered and turned towards the door.
Vega stood. “I won’t warn you twice, Lieutenant. Leave the detective work to us.”
“I’ve never had a case go cold, and I don’t plan on it. I’ve also never needed a partner, because I’m that good.” Pike removed his fancy shades from where they’d been hooked on his collar and slid them onto his face. “I’m gonna find whoever’s harassing Xander Vale and make ’em pay.”
God stopped with his hand on the door handle, and Day knew the professional diplomacy was over.
God glanced over his shoulder. “Well, if Xander Vale’s life depends on you finding the threat before it finds him again, then you better hope me and my team inadvertently break this case before your ego gets that boy killed.”
The room turned to ice.
Day stood before anyone could respond. “That’s our cue.”
Free popped up cheerfully. “Excellent meeting. Great chairs by the way.”
Tech gave Vega a polite nod. “Captain.”
Steele pushed off the table and followed without a word.
God opened the door.
Day passed close enough to brush his hand against the small of God’s back, a touch too light for anyone else to read and clear enough for God to understand.
We’ve overstayed our welcome.
They were escorted through the precinct by Sergeant Benoit who looked as though he’d aged a year during the meeting.
Day dropped into a chair in the lobby and crossed one ankle over his knee.
God stood in front of him, arms folded, a dark aura of irritation circling him.
“You told them we were on vacation.”
“What? We are in California.”
God stared at him and Day gave him his most charming smile.
Free leaned against the wall beside Tech, thumbs moving over his tablet. “For what it’s worth, Pike and Salazar have three active threat boards on Xander. It’s not leading to anything useful, but they’re not completely asleep.”
“Are you crazy? Don’t—.”
Free waved God off. “Relax. I’m not in their system. I’m…adjacent to their system. It’s like I’m peeking around a corner while no one’s looking.”
Steele stood near the hallway, watching officers pass. “How long before they bring out the idiots?”
“They’re gonna take their time,” Tech said. “It’s a dominance thing. They wanna show us they have the biggest badge in the room.”
God grunted.
An hour passed. A very long hour.
Free spent most of it tapping away on his tablet. Steele walked the length of the waiting area ten times before Day told him he was making the admin at the desk nervous. God stood with his back to wall and stared at the officers coming and going.