AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I wish. This shit’s been nothing but trouble, and I’d like to give him a piece of my mind. I’m out, man. I’m straight from now on.”
Likely story. Even Frankie’s lawyer rolled her eyes.
Luke had one last question before they cut him loose. “Who’s the friend who hooked you two up?”
“He didn’t say.”
Simone and Luke left Frankie and his lawyer to work out the details with the probation officer.
“Jesus,” Luke muttered. “That was a waste of a fucking day.”
“At least we know the guy’s method now,” Simone countered. “It wasn’t a complete waste.”
“Maybe we should look at the employees again. It sounds like someone on the inside helped out. The lock and the alarm code… Then again, it’s not as if there’s a common employee that links all these businesses.”
“Maybe the guy has a way with people. Or maybe he blackmails them into helping.”
Luke frowned as they reached their desks and sat down. “Too much exposure, though. He’s careful not to put himself at risk. No real contact with the accessories. No chance he’ll trip an alarm and get caught. No way anyone will stumble upon him crawling out a window with the stolen property. He’s good. I can’t see him leaving a different witness at every site.”
“Yeah.” Simone leaned back in her chair, resting her head so she could stare at the ceiling. A burst of laughter exploded from one of the offices. She scowled. “It’s too damn noisy to think in here.” Luke watched the way she rubbed at her holster where it cut into her shoulder.
He was surprised by the sergeant’s voice when it came, but not as surprised as Simone. “It’s time for you to think about desk duty, Detective Parker,” he said from past Luke’s shoulder. Simone wrenched forward, her chair squealing in protest as her eyes popped open.
“Excuse me?” she gasped.
“You look tired.”
“It’s this chair that’s hurting my back,” she snapped
. “I’ll go on leave when it’s time, but I’m not going to volunteer to sit on this torture instrument for eight hours a day. Sir.”
Luke kept his mouth shut. He didn’t like to see Simone mixing it up with criminals, either, but he knew better than to step into that mess. Simone was quiet, and her bite was way worse than her bark.
Maybe the sergeant had realized his mistake, because he stayed silent behind Luke before he finally walked away. Luke sighed in relief. Simone closed her eyes again.
“So what are you thinking?” Luke asked.
“I don’t know. One more month. I’m not waddling like a penguin yet.”
“No,” he said startled. “I meant…” He let his words trail off. Was she really talking to him about this?
“Plus, it knocks them off guard,” she added.
“Who?”
“The suspects. Haven’t you noticed?”
Yeah, he’d noticed. Of course he had. It was exactly what he liked so much about her. She wasn’t big and tough and threatening, and she worked it to her advantage.
“Listen,” Luke said. “I’ve got to call Ben Jackson in Denver and find out what the hell’s going on with these files. Then why don’t we check out of here on time for once? We’ll head to my place and brainstorm for an hour. Like we used to.”
She rubbed her temples and shifted uncomfortably in the chair. “Yeah. Let’s do that. I need a milk shake.”
“What?”
“I’ll stop and get one on the way. I’ll see you there.” She pushed up awkwardly and stretched again. “You want a shake?”
“Um. No, thanks. I’m fine.” Fine was a good word for it. Simone was finally opening up. Sure, it wasn’t much, but it was something. Luke found himself smiling down at his desk for a good ten seconds, and then he picked up his phone and got back to work.
