Breaking News by Charlotte Morganti

Author:Charlotte Morganti [Morganti, Charlotte]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781998136025
Publisher: Halfdan Press

Chapter 43

This morning’s provocative text message said:

do u know real reason Cpt B is on marine unit. #thoseinblack.

My stomach felt like it held concrete. Two texts, one about hazing, and one inferring Dom’s transfer wasn’t for the reason he’d told me. Had he been harassing department staff or officers? It didn’t sound like the man I knew, but the man I knew wouldn’t have slept with Shauna, so maybe I didn’t know the man.

I shook my head. No. This was too ridiculous to even consider. I’d seen Dom at department functions and his behavior was always respectful and above reproach, never arrogant or intimidating. “Yeah,” my little anxiety-provoking voice said, “but that’s when you were with him. Maybe he’s different when you’re not around.”

I added a fifth item to my to-do list: check out harassment at PPD.

Then I tried to push the anxious doubts from my head by focusing on something else. Like retrieving my car.

Cassidy answered my call on the first ring with a “Hello Ms. Mercier, how are you?”

I ignored her attempt at niceties. “Dom mentioned I could collect my car from impound and told me to set it up with you.”

“Sure thing. How’s two o’clock. at the lot? Do you know where it is?” I didn’t say more than “uhh” before she went on. “6743 North Pass Road. Huge chain-link fence. You can’t miss it. Or would you prefer I pick you up?”

Oh sure. I really wanted to ride around in a cop car at the same time everyone in town was wondering whether I killed Shauna and holding their breath in anticipation of the perp walk. I said, “Thanks, but I’ll grab a cab. I think I can manage on my own. You don’t need to be there.”

“Yes, I do,” she said, and ended the call.

Around eleven o’clock, I packed up my laptop and drove to Sierra Bistro. I spotted Samantha McAdams in the open kitchen behind the bistro’s counter and espresso machine. I waved at her and placed my order for a summer berry salad before choosing a table under one of the crisp crimson umbrellas on the outdoor patio. While I waited for my salad, I opened my laptop and closed my eyes, enjoying the feeling of warm air on my skin and the sounds of birds fluttering in the dense hedge behind my table. I hoped there was a nest there, maybe full of hungry fledglings.

“Gorgeous day, isn’t it?” a woman said. I opened my eyes and smiled at Samantha McAdams as she placed my salad on the table.

“I could hang out here all day,” I said. “Thanks for the delicious scones this morning.”

Samantha placed a second salad on the table. “Can I join you for lunch? Duncan has encouraged me to talk to you. This is all off the record, correct?”

“Of course. How are you doing?”

“Okay.” Then she shook her head. “No. I’m scared.” She studied the only other two diners sitting on the patio, well away from us, then leaned forward and whispered.

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