by Sofia Aves
Maybe my boss was a good guy at heart, after all. Or maybe Mila had softened him up. I fervently hoped for Steph’s sake that it was the latter. She hadn’t done anything wrong, really — no more than having poor taste in her love life — Cal and I were both guilty of that.
The elevator doors pinged behind me again but I was too busy trying to read Cal’s lips — though he was half turned away from me — to notice the only other occupant in the room.
“That’s not going to end well.”
My head snapped sideways at the feminine voice. Blonde hair flowed to a white business suit and a pair of the longest, tanned legs I’d seen in ages. Still dressed in the singlet and running shorts I’d donned early this morning, I felt distinctly underdressed. A hand was proffered at waist level.
“Ally Sinclair. You must be Danny.” A warm smile accompanied brilliant blue eyes. I snapped my mouth shut before I drooled on her.
“I am.” My brain kicked into gear. “Uh...what are you doing up here?”
“I’m her replacement.”
“What?”
Her smile dimmed a little, possibly with her assessment of my IQ, but that wasn’t a problem.
“I’m the new receptionist.”
“Cal hired you before he sacked Steph?” Internally, I cringed but kept my face smooth as my eyes slid between the two women. Though only a thin wall of glass separated them, they were worlds apart.
Way to run off your mouth, Danny. You’re out of practice.
“Liam sent me down.” She shifted a small box in her arms. I took the hint and liberated it while she shook her arms out. The box was heavier than I'd expected.
“What have you got in here, a bowling ball?”
“Conscience of the men upstairs,” she bantered, the sparkle back in her eye. I laughed, placing the box on Steph’s — Ally’s — desk.
“Surely they wouldn’t all fit in something so small.”
“Coffee machine and thirty pieces of silver.” Startled at her humour, I laughed again.
“Time and a place, Danny.” Cal’s piercing gaze caught me as he escorted a despondent Steph through the office, making me feel like a school kid waiting outside the principal's office. Her head dropped as she collected her handbag, not making eye contact with any of us.
I wanted to make her feel better, but what do you say to the girl who got your boss’ girlfriend tortured? Cal looked briefly at Ally with a small nod as he passed, his hand between Steph’s shoulder blades as he propelled her into the elevator.
“He’ll be back in a moment.” I gestured to the office. “Want a tour?”
Ally frowned after Cal as the doors closed behind them. “He shouldn't be touching her.” Her voice was soft, but her tone brittle. I noted it for later, unable to help myself.
Always watching, never stopping.
It was the curse of any — decent — undercover cop. Even in the office, or at home, I couldn't just switch it off. Always on edge, waiting for them — or me — to make a mistake. It wasn’t logical or rational. But it was part of me - and something in our new receptionist was bringing out the old paranoia. Time to test the waters.
“Well, you know what she did, right?” I turned away but watched Ally’s in the reflection of the fishbowl.
“Ooh, no. Tell me.” A swishing sound drew my attention to those long, slender legs swinging over the edge of the desk. She tilted her head back, perched on the desk, a speculative look in those bright eyes as she surveyed me.
I gave Ally an easy smile, leaning my back to the desk next to her, not answering. If Liam hadn’t told her, then she didn’t need to know. I relaxed, close enough to be in her space, but not touching her. Especially not after that comment aimed at Cal.
I might not always get along with the man, but he was my boss, and he’d earned my respect more than once in recent months.
I just hoped I could earn his back.
“What’d you do to catch Liam’s eye? Guy’s a machine,” I commented, not looking at her. She gave a soft snort.
“He works hard,” she acknowledged, but there was a pause in her voice I didn't like. Something seemed off about this girl who had just walked into our office, and how she got here. I needed to know more.
“But…?” I pushed. She shrugged, flipping blonde strands over her shoulder.
“I don’t know. Just… He’s got an agenda.” She shrugged it off, flipping her sheet of straight blonde hair over her shoulder in a practised move.
The stairwell door creaked. I turned to look straight at Ally as Cal walked back into the office, running a hand over his shaved head. A clear face and clear eyes stared back at me. I knew that look, because it was mine, every time I was in a situation with work. My mask.
“He does. Us.” I pushed off the desk, waiting for Cal. “You alright, boss?”
Cal nodded, shadows shifting beneath his skin as energy seemed to leave him, though it wasn’t yet midday.
“That never gets easier.” He threw a forced a grin at me, and turned to Ally. “Thanks for coming down so quickly.”
Ally smiled, never moving from her spot on the desk.
“Thanks for having me in here. This one’s mine?” She stroked the desk beneath her. Cal followed her hands, gaze sharpening.
Not the right guy to flirt with, not now.
Especially after having to have the talk with one of his staff. My estimation of our new receptionist was sinking with each moment. Cal nodded in her direction, and she simpered at his attention. I hid a grin, knowing what was coming.
Hell, I was becoming as jaded as Cal and Liam. Was it possible I was growing up? I snorted. Never going to happen.
“After what I’ve just had to do, let’s keep everything professional and above board, shall we?” Cal raised an eyebrow at our new receptionist until her head bowed under his sharp gaze. She hopped off the desk, fiddling with the box of things she’d brought with her. Cal’s eye caught mine. “Got a job for you.”
I nodded. “Thanks,” I nodded to Ally, “good luck.”
“You, too.” She smiled thinly, but I couldn't help thinking there was more to what she wasn’t saying.
Cal squeezed my shoulder, and I headed into the incident room. Four terminals took up the space, with a blank wall at the far end, and a new sheet of blackboard wallpaper spread across it. Cal had taken the old one down right after our last case and given us all time off.
It had been a hell of a case, and we’d earned the downtime. All of us. I rubbed my neck where I’d been jabbed with horse tranq and woke up after all the action had been done with. I winced — we’d all gotten complacent, but I’d let my guard down.
I couldn’t afford to let it happen again.
I flicked my terminal on, slumping in my chair. I always felt odd sitting at the tiny desk, too bulky for it, by far. Not as bad as Micah — the man dwarfed everything he touched. The glassed door to the office rattled as Cal came in. I sat up straight. I wanted to be part of his unit, but unless I could give him something more than I had in the last case, I wouldn't last long. Elite meant being elite — the best — all the time. I needed to up my game.
“She seems nice,” I nodded to Ally setting up her desk on the other side of the glass. Books emerged from the box, followed by a stationary caddy with lots of sparkly accoutrements. At least there wasn’t anything fluffy in there.
“Keep your eyes in your head, Danny. Haven’t you got enough to deal with on that front, right now?” Cal glared at me. Not the best start. It took me a minute to work out what he was talking about.
“Whoa– Dude, we broke up. And I'm not after an office affair. Too bloody messy.” I held up both hands in mock defence, grinning to de-escalate. “Besides, you said you had something for me?” The thought of a new job revved me up. Nothing worse for a cop than boredom.
“Good.” Cal hefted a file from his desk. The thing looked like a bible, post-its and tags dangling from all sides. He canted his head and tossed the file to me. I caught
it — just.
“What’s this?” Cal nodded, and I opened the cover, looking at a much younger picture of myself. “Cal?”
“You’re up for professional development. I’ve booked you in with a coach. You start tomorrow, and it will run as long as it needs to.”
“No.”
“No?”
I closed the file.
“You're wasting both my time and yours. Put me in undercover or get me a hacking job. Somewhere I can be useful.” I waved the file. A pink post-it fluttered to my feet and settled on industrial-grade carpet. “Do something, more than just sitting around.”
Cal grinned. “You sound like Liam.”
That caught me off guard.
“What about Liam?”
“He’s on leave until further notice.’” Cal grimaced, “Until we get a new caseload. Something decent. I’m working on it, but he’s...not taking downtime well. Selena’s babysitting him.”
“Ouch.”
“So, until then...you’re on PD. The coach is–”
“I told you, I’m not doing this.” I could barely keep the desperation out of my voice. “Just put me somewhere I can do something. Please.” My voice had a whining quality I instantly hated.
“You need this,” Cal held up a hand, “to specialise. You can’t work undercover forever, and you need a career path if you want to stay here.” His gaze connected with mine, and I slumped back into my chair.
And there it was. What I couldn't get past. If I wanted to stay on the team, it was Cal’s way, or I wasn’t on the team.
A few months ago, I’d decided to sleep with Cal’s — my boss’s — ex. Very recent ex, who was now my recent ex. If that wasn’t enough, I’d decided to top it off by sucker-punching the arrogant bastard. He hadn’t deserved it, not really — my own insecurities shone through, chafing about authority when I thought I could do Cal’s job better than him.
Cal pulled out the chair at Micah’s desk opposite me, scooting forward.
“Danny, you’re the smartest guy on this team. Hell, you’re always going to be the smartest guy in the room, apart from maybe Liam.” I smirked at that. “I know you work hard at looking like an idiot–”
“Gee, thanks, boss–”
“But, you need direction. So, let's find where you’re going. All the info for your coaching is in there. You just have to turn up tomorrow. Plus, Liam insists.”
Awesome. If Liam had his hand in this, there was no way I was getting out of it. I rose, gripping the file, so it bent in the middle despite how thick it was. Cal leaned back, looking up at me, but didn’t stand.
“Is this the part where I say I’ll have your job?” I gritted my teeth before I said anything I’d regret. “Guess I’ll see you when you have real work for me.”
I strode out of the office, making sure the door didn’t bang on my way out. I’d lost my temper and Cal had seen it — again. Damn it, I needed to get a handle on this. Glad I’d worn my running shorts in — the gym wouldn't cut the edge off my energy, but a few laps around the lake might.
“Leaving so soon?” Ally popped up from behind her desk, a tangle of phone and computer cords in her hands. I gave her the same easy grin from before, slipping comfortably back into my mask. Shoulders relaxed, stride turning to a strut. Hide everything.
“Gotta keep the guns big.” I flexed, and she giggled. It was a pathetic routine, but at least I didn’t have to go into the argument I'd just had with my boss. Besides, it was in me to flirt just because I knew it would irritate Cal further. I winked. “See you ‘round.”
“Bye, Danny.” She waved as I got into the elevator, her facade as fake as mine, I was sure.
Danny’s story continues in BLINDSIDED.
www.books2read.com/Blindsided/BBB2
Read Liam & Selena’s story in Politics & Paperwork
www.books2read.com/PoliticsandPaperwork
