Building Empires (MidKnight Blue Book 1)

by Sherryl Hancock

  Midnight shook her head in disbelief. “Joe, God, I’m going to have to get you checked out; interviews yesterday, remember, you got out of them, Spider sat in, hello?”

  She picked up her baton that was always nearby and, reaching across the desk, tapped him on the head with it.

  “I knew it!” she exclaimed, looking at Randy and smiling. Randy smiled back in spite of herself. “Empty!”

  Reaching up lightning fast, Joe grabbed the baton from Midnight’s hands and then laughed at the look on her face. She could never get used to how fast her partner was.

  “If you’re going to play with your equipment,” Joe said wagging the baton at her, “then we’re going to have to take it away.”

  He stood up facing Randy. Without looking back, he flipped the baton over his shoulder and Midnight caught it deftly by the side handle.

  Joe walked over to Randy, stopped just in front of her chair, and stood looking down at her for a moment. She decided she better stand. Randy was five foot seven, but when she stood, her head came to about an inch below Joe’s chin, so she still had to look up at him. She was also stood very close to him since he had walked right up to the chair she sat in. Randy felt very uncomfortable because the proximity of this man was very unsettling.

  Suddenly, she realized, to her dismay, she was very much attracted to Joe Sinclair. Standing this close to him she could smell a mixture of cologne and leather. That, coupled with the fact that he was staring down at her with those incredible blue eyes, was a lethal combination. All Randy could do was look up at him. When a slow smile spread across his face, she thought she would die. She had never been attracted to a man in this way before and she didn’t know how to handle it.

  Joe could sense her discomfort, and he knew he should back off, but for some reason he didn’t want to. He wanted to get this close to her and see her reaction and he had, that was what caused him to smile. They stood looking at each other for a long moment, Randy unable to look away from him, but totally uncomfortable with the idea that she was staring at her boss in this way.

  Finally, Joe turned his head to look back at Midnight. “She doesn’t say much, does she?”

  “Well, Jesus, you’ve probably scared the shit out of her, Sinclair,” Midnight said, walking over to where they stood.

  She looked up at Joe then shoved him back a few steps. With a smile still on his face and his eyes watching Randy’s, Joe stepped back and sat on the edge of Midnight’s desk with his arms crossed over his chest.

  “Randy, don’t let this guy get to you,” Midnight said, walking back over to her desk. “He’s just into making people react to him.” She eyed Joe, shaking her head at him as he laughed.

  “Yes, but you love me,” he said then, grabbing Midnight by the waist as she moved past him.

  He pulled her over to him and she stood between his long legs, his hands on her hips, looking up at him defiantly. Joe smiled down at his partner and Randy saw what an attractive couple they made. Midnight was so small, especially compared to Joe. She seemed to be able to handle him pretty well though. She didn’t seem phased by him at all. Randy wondered how they could work so closely together but not be attracted to each other. They clearly had a very close relationship.

  Randy wished once again that she could be confident, but she was cursed with shyness. Darrell’s friends had been showing up at the house lately, asking her out. She’d gone out with a couple of them, believing they liked her. In the end, however, she found that not only were they all crass, but they were also blatant about wanting to get her into bed first. They all knew that she was a virgin and they treated it like it was some kind of prize to be won. It made Randy sick. She would never go out with guys like that again, and she would definitely not sleep with someone who thought that way.

  Now, Joe Sinclair probably knew how to treat a woman, without being a pig like Darrell’s friends. Randy realized suddenly that within ten minutes of meeting her new boss that she already had a major crush on him. Oh brother! Randy thought, Talk about a dumb thing to do.

  Randy watched as Midnight’s hand went up to Joe’s face and touched the cut on his left cheek tenderly. Joe looked down at Midnight, his eyes softened at her touch and he smiled. They were sharing a private moment, and Randy was embarrassed to be witnessing it, but she was totally entranced. Somehow, she couldn’t look away. Midnight murmured something to him and whatever it was it made him laugh softly.

  Randy thought she had to be at least three shades of red, she was afraid they had forgotten she was there. She looked down at the floor. She thought maybe she should leave but wondered at their obvious intimacy. Maybe they were a couple.

  When she looked up, she saw that Midnight had turned around to look at her, still leaning against Joe. His arms were draped on either one of her shoulders. They seemed so comfortable together; Randy couldn’t imagine ever being that comfortable with a man.

  “Randy,” Midnight said, smiling at her. “You’re going to work in my office today, only because Joe here has to get his proverbial shit together, before any normal person can figure out the deranged system in his office.”

  Midnight laughed as Joe’s arm came up around her throat, as if he were trying to choke her. Joe’s eyes were on Randy, and he was smiling at her, but not a smile like he had smiled for Midnight. Randy wondered about them, but she knew she would never be brave enough to ask.

  “Okay,” Randy said, her voice almost cracking.

  She realized then that had been the first thing she had said while Joe had been there. Obviously, he realized it too, because a mockingly surprised look appeared on his face.

  “Hey, she can speak! Good, you got us a secretary that can talk, that will be useful,” he said, grinning.

  “Shut up, Sinclair!” Midnight said, elbowing him in the ribs. “She’s shy that’s all, and don’t you give the kid a hard time, or I’ll come after you.”

  Joe rolled his eyes dramatically at the threat. Then putting his hands on Midnight’s slim hips, he moved her forward, so he could get up from the desk.

  “Well, I guess I’ll go work on my mess then,” he said, leaning down to kiss Midnight on the top of the head.

  With his hand on the door, he turned back with a comical look on his face. “Is this kind of like cleaning up before the maid comes?”

  Midnight picked up a handful of paperclips and through them at him. He dodged them, laughing, then winking at Randy, he walked out and closed the door.

  “Well,” Midnight said, looking at Randy, “on the bright side, he was in a better mood than I expected this morning, but I suspect that you had something to do with that.”

  Randy looked at her, confusion clear on her face. “Me? Why?” she asked.

  “You have no idea how pretty you are, do you?” Midnight said, sitting back against her desk.

  “You think I’m pretty?” Randy asked, surprised. She thought that Midnight was beautiful, and she’d never thought of herself as pretty.

  “Yeah! Jesus, kid. I’m going to have to get you into some self-esteem classes right away. You’re very pretty, and the good thing is it’s natural, not all that plastic and paint, you know? I hate women like that,” Midnight said, walking around to sit behind her desk again.

  Randy nodded, unsure of what to say at that point, so she kept quiet.

  The morning progressed with Midnight working at her desk and Randy still filling out paperwork. It was noon when Randy heard the door to the office open. Looking up, she saw Joe standing in the doorway with another man behind him.

  “Randy,” Midnight said, as she noticed the visitors, “this is Rick Debenshire, he’s also a member of FORS. Our newest member.”

  “Hi,” Rick said.

  Randy looked surprised at hearing another English accent. “Hi.”

  “He’s English too,” Midnight explained, “he was Joe’s gang second back in England.”

  “Oh,” Randy said, glancing at Joe who stood leaning against the wall. He was looking
at her.

  She looked away immediately, but not before she saw him smile. He really did like to see what reaction he would get from her.

  “Hey,” Midnight said, looking at her watch, “let’s head over to The Pit for lunch, Tom will have our usual table.”

  “Sounds good,” Rick said. Joe nodded.

  “Randy, you come too,” Midnight said.

  As Randy watched, Midnight reached into her desk drawer, pulled out a holstered gun, and placed it in her jeans at the small of her back. Then she pulled her FORS jacket off the back of her chair and shrugged into it.

  “Let’s roll,” she said.

  Rick and Joe waited for the women to precede them, and then followed.

  Once out in the street Randy noticed that both men took up rear positions on the walk over to The Pit. They were both keeping an eye on the street ahead and to the sides. Randy glanced at Midnight then, silently asking her why.

  “Relax,” Midnight said, “it’s a cop thing.”

  When they reached The Pit, Joe held the door for everyone, still watching everything around them. When they all sat down Midnight and Joe sat on the same side with their backs to the wall. Another cop thing Randy assumed.

  Lunch was interesting. Midnight knew the owner; he had gotten her through a pretty rough time, she explained, and he was the one responsible for her being where she was today. Tom looked like a proud father when he talked to Midnight.

  “So what’s happening with you these days, Sinclair?” Tom asked, eyeing Joe critically.

  “Not much,” Joe replied. “Just keepin’ an eye on your girl’s back,” he said, nodding at Midnight.

  “That’s what I expect from ya,” Tom said, grinning.

  Midnight chuckled, as did Joe. Tom was very happy that she now had someone in her life she could depend on.

  “Well I better get back,” Tom said. Then he turned to Midnight. “You take care of yourself, young lady. I can tell you’ve been overdoing it again!”

  Midnight threw him a mock salute and said, “Sir, yes sir!” Laughing, Tom turned and left.

  Later that afternoon, Randy finally finished with the paperwork she had to read and sign, and she walked over to Midnight’s desk to hand it back to her. Midnight was working on the computer and she was making a particularly nasty face at it when Randy approached. “Oh damn it!” Midnight said, hitting the desk. Then she scrubbed at her face with her hands.

  “What’s wrong?” Randy asked.

  “Oh this goddamned file just disappeared on me. If I lost it, I’ll just shoot myself now.”

  “Maybe I can help,” Randy said, walking around to Midnight’s side of the desk. She looked down at the screen for a moment.

  Midnight stood and gestured for her to sit down. Randy started to work on retrieving the file as Midnight stood watching.

  Randy smiled as she retrieved the lost document.

  “You found it!” Midnight exclaimed. She reached and hugged Randy. “I love you, love you, love you! Now just make sure it gets saved right this time, if I lose that, I’m in deep shit.”

  Randy was surprised by the hug, but she was glad that she’d helped Midnight out. The more time she spent with Midnight, the more she liked her. Midnight was very down to earth, even with all the education and with her rank in the department.

  It was five o’clock when Randy got a call from Darrell to tell her that he couldn’t pick her up, because he had gotten stuck on a job, and they needed the extra money. Darrell hated to leave her stranded, but the house payment was coming up and they really did need the money.

  “Maybe you could catch a cab or something,” Darrell suggested, even though he knew they couldn’t afford a cab really.

  “I’ll be okay,” Randy said, and then she hung up the phone.

  She had taken the call in Midnight’s office, and Joe was there talking to Midnight. They were both watching her when she hung up.

  “What’s up?” Midnight asked, seeing the worried look on Randy’s face.

  “Well, that was my brother, and he can’t come get me,” Randy told them.

  “Where do you live?” Joe asked.

  “Pacific Beach,” Randy answered, not looking directly at him.

  “I can take her home,” Midnight said, looking up at Joe.

  “That’s out of your way Night. I can take her,” he said, looking at Randy. “It’s on my way.”

  Randy was stunned. She didn’t know how to answer. Finally, she nodded. “Okay, thank you.”

  “Come to my office when you’re ready to go. Just give me a few minutes though, I need to make some calls.” He looked at Midnight then. “I got some leads on our friend Bondy.”

  Half an hour later, Randy was waiting in Joe’s office while he finished a phone call. He hung up and got up from his desk. He had his jacket off now and she saw the black leather shoulder holster he wore, and somehow she found that very attractive about him. It made him seem all the more powerful. Joe pulled his jacket off the back of his chair, looked at her, and nodded toward the door.

  “Let’s go, before someone else calls,” he said, humor in his voice.

  On the way out Joe stopped by Midnight’s office. “I’m waiting for a call. Just throw it to me on my cell phone.”

  Once outside, Joe led her to his across the street. She was surprised when he stopped beside a newer model black Porsche. Where does he get the money for this? she wondered. He opened the passenger door for her, and then walked around and got in on his side, tossing his FORS jacket in the back seat. He started the engine and drove out of the parking lot. He turned on the radio and after searching through a couple of stations, he finally pushed the button for the CD player. Def Leppard’s “Hysteria” flowed from the speakers and Joe sang along. Randy thought he had a nice singing voice.

  He became lost in the music, so much so he forgot about Randy for a short while. After a few minutes, however, he seemed to recall he wasn’t alone.

  “So, is Randy your given name?” he asked, glancing over at her.

  “No, it’s really Randissi, but everyone calls me Randy. Is Joe your given name?” she asked.

  Joe laughed at having his question turned around on him. “No,” he said, glancing at her again, “it’s really Joseph Michael Sinclair the Fourth.” Her eyes widened at the number following his name.

  “Wow,” she said simply.

  Joe chuckled but said nothing.

  They were silent for a few minutes. Then Randy got up the nerve to say, “You said that Pacific Beach is on your way home, where do you live?”

  Keeping his eyes on the road, Joe grinned and said, “La Jolla.”

  He looked over at her, seeing her eyes widen again.

  “That surprises you, doesn’t it?” he asked, having known it would.

  Anyone who knew anything about peace officers knew they didn’t make much money. La Jolla wasn’t exactly the cheapest area in San Diego to live in.

  “Well, yeah, because I thought that La Jolla was …” Randy’s voice trailed off, she didn’t want to be rude.

  “Expensive?” Joe asked finishing her sentence.

  “Well, yeah,” she said.

  “It is.” He smiled at her, then sighed. “I guess you’ll hear this eventually anyway, I’m what Midnight calls ‘independently wealthy.’ My parents left me a lot of money. So having a house in La Jolla is one of the benefits of that.”

  Randy nodded; that explained the car too. She wanted to ask what had happened to his parents. He didn’t seem old enough to have parents that had died of natural causes, but she didn’t want to be nosy.

  “And who was it that was supposed to pick you up?” Joe asked, his eyes still on the road.

  “My brother,” she answered, “Darrell.”

  “And he’s older?” Joe asked, glancing at her.

  “Yes, he’s twenty-four.”

  Joe nodded. “Any other siblings?”

  “A little brother, Donovan, he’s seventeen.”

  “I
see and your parents?”

  “My parents left when I was fourteen.” Randy looked out the car window again.

  “Left?” Joe queried in disbelief.

  Randy nodded, not looking at him again. Joe grimaced, knowing he’d just hit on something very sensitive. He watched her for a few moments as she looked out the window. Poor kid, he thought.

  His cell phone rang, and Joe reached into his pocket for it.

  “Sinclair,” he said, his eyes still looking over at Randy every so often. She was still looking out the window and he suspected that she was upset, and maybe even crying.

  “Joe, it’s me,” Midnight’s said.

  “And,” Joe said, smiling.

  “And you’re never going to believe who is in a bar in Mission Beach bragging about cutting you!” she said, laughing.

  Joe laughed, hitting the steering wheel with the heel of his hand.

  “What a dumb son of a bitch! Where?”

  “Moose McGillacuddy’s,” Midnight replied.

  “Yeah real private bar too!” Joe said, shaking his head. “Dumb shit!”

  Then he looked over at Randy. “Shit, Night, I got Randy here, what am I supposed to do?”

  Midnight was silent for a second. “There’s a Denny’s right across the way there, drop her off there. Tell her to stay there till you come get her or a black and white does.”

  Midnight’s voice was serious, the last thing she wanted was for Randy to get involved in a bust, or get hurt in the process of one.

  “Okay,” Joe said, nodding.

  A few minutes later, Joe pulled into the parking lot across the street from the bar where Robert Bondy was playing the big man. He parked the car, and they both got out. Randy stood watching him as he pulled his gun out of its holster, removed the ammunition magazine, checked it, replaced it, and then holstered it again. As he checked the other two spare magazines on the other side of the holster, he looked up at her.

  “You stay here, Randy no matter what you hear or see. Don’t come across the street unless you see a black and white or I come and get you, okay?”