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“Boyd,” Liam said with a solemn shake of his head. “You’ve no idea.”
Boyd’s shrewd gaze narrowed a fraction. “Listen, Liam. I know we knew each other as kids, but you’ll want to call me Captain Thompson in the office. Proper protocol, you know.”
Liam clenched his jaw. Since when had Boyd ever been concerned about propriety?
“You wanted to see me, Captain?” Cora stood in the doorway like a sudden spark of light. The whole station was cloaked in a palette of dull, shadowy grays, from the painted walls to the cold, tiled floors, but Cora seemed to emanate a glowing warmth with her presence. It made Liam smile.
“I want the two of you to work together this week,” Boyd said.
She flicked an annoyed glance in Liam’s direction before addressing Boyd. “You sure that’s a good idea? I’m in the middle of—”
“It’s a great idea,” Boyd interrupted. “You’re one of our best officers, born and raised here. You know this town better than anyone, and it makes sense for the two of you to pair up.” His phone rang, and he placed his hand on the receiver. “That will be all.” Boyd dismissed them both by tipping his head in the direction of the door before answering his phone.
Cora led Liam out into the pen, looking none too pleased. “I was just on my way to make some inquiries on a robbery that happened yesterday, so I guess you’re coming with me.” She pointed to an empty desk at the far end of the room. “When we get back, you can take that desk over there near Otto.”
A fat, balding officer glanced at Liam. He had squinty eyes magnified by thick glasses, a ruddy complexion, and a face like the full moon. He heaved himself out of his desk chair and offered Liam a sweaty but firm handshake. “Otto Simpson. Good to meet you.” He gestured to a thin man with a sharp, sullen face sitting at the next desk. “That’s Happy Blankenship, my partner.”
Otto’s partner gave Liam a tight-lipped, barely perceptible nod. The two men were exact opposites. Where Otto looked like a smiley, squishy marshmallow, his partner, Happy, looked like the charred, brittle stick it was roasted on.
“The man’s name is Happy?” Liam asked under his breath as Cora led him out into the hall.
“Yep. And he rarely smiles. I think it was a nickname he got when he was a kid, and it just sort of stuck.” She pushed through a door and stepped into a spacious kitchen. Three vending machines lined the far wall along with a sink and a refrigerator. A few round tables and chairs filled the rest of the room.
Cora made a beeline for the coffee maker and spoke to a man sitting in front of a box of doughnuts. “Looking pretty lonely there, Hopper. Where’s your partner?”
Unlike Otto and Happy, this man looked strong and athletic. He had brown hair, blue eyes and an arrogant smirk. He sized up Liam, then turned his attention to Cora and drawled, “I wouldn’t be so lonely if you’d come sit with me, McLeod.”
Liam bristled. He didn’t like the overly familiar way the man spoke to her. She didn’t seem to notice, though. Or if she did, it didn’t seem to bother her.
Cora made the introductions as she filled two paper cups. “Rob Hopper and I went to school together,” she told Liam.
Rob pushed the carton of doughnuts toward them. “You want?”
Cora shook her head. “We’re heading out. I heard you guys found the carjacker last night during that store robbery.”
“Yeah, but he got away.”
“What? I thought it was a done deal.” Cora walked over to Liam and handed him a cup of coffee.
“We had him cornered,” Rob said around a mouthful of doughnut. “But he gave us the slip. Hey, try one of these. They put cream and jelly in them.”
Cora frowned. “I don’t understand.”
“I know, right? Who puts jelly and cream together?”
“No. How’d he get away? There were three cops on him.”
“He jacked a car from the Gas n’ Go parking lot and took off before we could catch him.” Rob took another bite. “A hybrid.”
“The car?”
He held up the half-eaten pastry. “A creamy, jelly hybrid.”
Cora let out a frustrated breath. “You’re impossible, Hopper. Did you at least get the make and model?”
Rob slouched back in his chair. “Relax, Peaches. We’re on it. It’s not even nine o’clock yet. Why don’t you take a load off and have a cup of coffee?”
She lifted her cup. “Having it. And if you call me Peaches one more time, I’ll—”
