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“Thank you, sir.”
Marvin chuckles and heads off. I walk into the precinct and up the stairs to the admin floor. At the end of the hallway, I take a breath. Shit, a drink or two would probably help right now. I’m not nervous or anything. But I am about to go in there and look my Chief in the face when I just watched him murder someone.
I take another breath and then knock.
“Come on in.”
I twist the knob and step inside. “Hey, Chief, you wanted to….”
I frown. Chief Millbrook isn’t alone. Sitting in the chair across the desk from him is Kip Clausterman.
“Officer Leer,” Kip smiles thinly at me. He stands and walks around Chief Millbrook’s desk to lean against the wall.
Christ, I’ve never liked this asshole’s smile. I’ve never liked any smile from pricks like him. It’s always so predatory; so condescending. I don’t hate Kip Clausterman because he’s rich. But I do hate him for being a douchebag. I’d hate him even if his fucker of a son hadn’t shot me and gotten away with it. Not to mention getting Tanner fired.
“Mr. Clausterman,” I growl thinly.
“How’s the…shit, where was your injury?”
“Ass.”
He chuckles. “Christ, that’s right. Damn am I sorry that happened on my property, Officer Leer. I really hope they find the prick who pulled that trigger. I mean honestly,” he shakes his head. “Can you imagine trying to hurt an officer of the law?”
Half the time, I’m convinced he’s just being a smug asshole and rubbing salt in the wound. Other times, I think he really might actually believe his son is innocent. Either way, I know what I was told after that whole thing was neatly tied off. I’ve been a cop long enough to know how to read between the lines.
And what I read and what I was nicely told was that this is over. Nils Clausterman is untouchable, because his father is untouchable. End of story. So officially, they’re still looking for this mystery shooter who put a bullet in my ass. What a waste of everyone’s time.
“Imagine that,” I say thinly.
Chief Millbrook eyes me. “That was some solid work tonight up at the Kenner estate.”
“Thank you, sir,” I mutter thinly.
“Cartel, in our town?” He’s laying the indignant thing on thick. I might even believe it if I hadn’t just seen what I saw.
“Imagine that,” I growl again.
He nods. His eyes hold me closely. “So, walk me through this report. You got the alarm trip from Loretta’s system. And you rolled up there by yourself?”
“Yes sir.”
“With two guns?”
“Officer McCoy—” I frown. Chief Millbrook and Kip smirk. “Tanner,” I grunt. “We were at a range a week ago and he lent me his Beretta. I brought it with me when I took a look around the property.”
“And that’s when they started shooting at you?”
I frown. The report is right there in front of Millbrook. I know he’s read it. What’s he doing, trying to trip me up in a lie? It’s not a fun thought. He’s not exactly a genius, but I am vulnerable. I’m hiding a witness, and Tanner too. I even went back there and wiped evidence. I mean hell, that’s tampering with a crime scene. That’s a big deal.
“No, sir. That would be after I stepped into the second floor bedroom.”
“Through the sliding door that you found ajar?”
“Exactly, yeah.”
Tom and Kip glance at each other. Kip turns to me and smiles that shit-eating smile again. “Anyone else there?”
I frown. Why he’s even here is concerning enough. But why the fuck is he the one asking questions? And yet, Chief Millbrook just nods at me.
