Erin faltered for a second, then sniffed. “What’s the difference? You and Remi are like a two-for-one special anyway.”
I lunged.
Jack caught me by my middle. Barely.
Harlan’s eyes ping-ponged between us like a man watching his world implode.
Then, finally, he snapped out of it.
“Enough,” he barked. “Sergeant Voss, not another word.”
She opened her mouth.
“Not. One.” He cut her off.
Erin retreated with a scoff, and Harlan turned to me.
“For the record, I haven’t had any sort of relations with Sergeant Voss since accepting my role as her superior and Chief of Police.”
I snorted at the audacity of this man. “I couldn’t give a flying fuck who you diddle, Chief. You could be hosting department-wide adult-consenting-orgies for all I care. Just make sure your people do their damn jobs.”
Jack and Harlan groaned at the same time.
I took a step forward. “Now. Are you sending someone to check on Sofia or not?”
Harlan hesitated. “On what grounds?”
I stared at him, incredulous. “On what grounds? Are you kiddingme right now? She was supposed to be at the clinic and didn’t show. Her ex showed up instead, with a weapon. She hasn’t answered her phone. Her aunt hasn’t either. And you want a list of legal justifications?”
He didn’t answer fast enough. Just stared at me wide-eyed like I was speaking a language he couldn't understand.
“Fine. I’ll go myself,” I said, spinning toward the exit. “Jack, get Remi out of here. Call me if anything changes.”
Harlan called after me. “Ms. Sinclair, you still need to be questioned.”
I didn’t slow. “Wasn’t important hours ago. You can wait now.”
And with that, I walked out of the precinct, praying I wasn't too late and that, for once in my life, my gut was wrong, and Sofia was ok.
CHAPTER 4
HARLAN - THE CRACKS
The bullpen felt colder now.
Not physically. Just… wrong. Off. Like something sacred had been broken open, and we were all pretending we didn’t see the pieces.
Ava Sinclair’s voice still rang in my ears.“I couldn’t give a flying fuck who you diddle, Chief. You could be hosting department-wide adult-consenting-orgies for all I care. Just make sure your people do their damn jobs.”
The entire interaction left me feeling like I had whiplash.
Jesus Christ.
I stood rooted for a full minute after she left, jaw locked, pulse still pounding. Jack was rubbing his temples. Erin was glaring daggers at the floor like she could burn through it.
“What the hell just happened?” I asked.
Neither answered, and maybe I didn't expect them to.
