“Maggie, don’t talk to him about this case. Request another officer.” Hunter tugged me to face him—not hard, just firmer than I liked.
A muscle ticked in Graham’s jaw. “I’m the officer assigned.”
“I don’t care. She wants another. And she wants a lawyer.”
“She doesn’t need a?—”
Oh god, Hunter was going to be so fucking pissed if Graham didn’t back down. I don’t know why it was such a big deal that I talked to Graham about this. “Hunter, it’s okay, relax. It’s just questions. I’ll get my coat.”
“No. It’s not. He doesn’t need to know the intimate details of your private life. History or not.”
“Actually, we do. To establish anything that the killer may take an interest in. He’s most likely stalking her as well, since she’s built an online presence.”
“Stalking?” I brought my hand to my heart. “I’m just going to go with him, honey. I won’t be gone long.”
“I said, no. Not you.” Hunter grabbed my arm and pulled me to him. “Your online presence is my creation, so any questions should come through me.”
Graham’s eyes flared in rage. “Either she comes now, or the judge can issue a subpoena. He’s at the station now.”
“Well, I’ll join her then.”
“No.” He put his hand between us. “She comes alone.”
Hunter’s chin lifted. He took one slow breath through his nose before he spoke. “You can’t keep me from the station.”
“No, but I can keep you from interfering with an active investigation.”
“This is outrageous!”
“Doesn’t need to be. Meet us there in…” Graham glanced to the clock. “Three hours.”
Hunter’s eyes were red-rimmed, and he flicked the pad of his forefinger with his thumbnail—something he did when he was deep in thought. A moment passed before he spoke. “Three hours? Christ, mate. Can’t take that long to answer a few questions, can it?”
Graham moved to the door and held it open for me. “It can when we’re backed up. Today’s one of those days. Maggie...” He held out his arm directing me out the door.
I gave Hunter a quick peck, grabbed my coat, and followed Graham out the door.
Once in the interceptor, I settled in and clicked my seat belt.
I looked over at him as we passed through the Colonial District. He stared straight ahead, jaw set, yet the rest of him was relaxed—to casual for taking someone in—unless... there were no questions. “Three hours?” I asked. “How many questions could Nettles possibly have?”
“I thought you said we were going to the precinct,” I said, staring past the garland-lined barricades blocking the road ahead to the magical North Pole display set up in town square. Evergreens flocked with fake snow lined the streets, creating a sense of colonial holiday merriment. Dead center, in the middle of Five Corners, was a set, complete with Santa’s sleigh, a red velvet throne, and women in little elf outfitswith bells on their hats and tips of their shoes—hell, I wouldn’t have been surprised if their tits jingled all the way to the candy cane buffet.
“What the hell is going on?”
“I just have to take a few photos, and we can be on our way.” Graham unbuttoned his uniform, revealing black leather straps gripping his chest like he was something meant to be restrained.
Oh, my God, he’s wearing a fucking harness. Be still my horny little heart.
I blinked a few times at him while he removed his uniform and chucked everything over his shoulder into the back seat.
“What the fuck is happening right now?” I asked, both aroused and incredibly confused. “The town’s okay with you shutting down its epicenter so you can take naked pictures for the precinct?”
Graham paused for a moment, then that stupid rakish grin spread across his face again as he looked at me with a cocked brow.
“Baby, Iamthe epicenter,” he said smoothly as he removed his boots and shimmied out of his pants so he was sitting there inonlythat damn harness and a smile that could soften the toughest bitch.
I watched as his stomach rose and fell with each breath… how the leather creaked slightly, pulling tight with every inhale.
