Bring the Heat by Jo Davis

Author:Jo Davis
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2015-11-12T16:00:00+00:00

9

After Austin changed clothes and got his truck, he made a detour to see Taylor.

He was met by Cara and some welcome news.

“Austin! Taylor’s off the vent! He woke up last night!” Her eyes were shining, the shadows lifted for the first time in days.

“That’s great news! Can I see him?”

“Sure. They said if he keeps improving they might let him go to a regular room in the next couple of days.”

“That’s great. Once they move him, you can stay with him.”

“I know, and I can’t wait. I don’t like leaving him.”

“Soon enough you won’t have to.”

Giving her a hug, he walked to Taylor’s room and nodded to the officer stationed outside. He went in and found Taylor asleep, but now he was breathing on his own.

“Hey, Detective. Who said you could sleep on the job, huh?”

No flicker of an eyelid from the man on the bed. Breathing on his own was a good sign, though. He was bound to wake up anytime.

Not while Austin was there, though. He stayed a few more minutes, then unfortunately had to get to work.

• • •

Cracking jokes about someone else’s misfortune is always more fun when the object of everyone’s humor is around.

Austin crossed the room to his office and spotted a tight knot of officers talking in low tones. Their laughter was good-natured, but he wasn’t in the mood for their ribbing.

“Heard Rainey got tranked like an elephant on safari.”

“True that.”

Reaching his desk, Austin lowered himself into his chair, gut churning in humiliation. Sick to his stomach, he was wishing he hadn’t eaten breakfast. The cup of coffee he’d had that morning soured and roiled, threatening to rebel, but he willed it down with an effort.

Shaking with anger, Austin fished his keys from his pants pocket. The heavy ring contained the keys to his desk, which he always locked whenever he left. The key ring slipped from his grasp and landed on the tiled floor next to his chair with a tinny plink. Cursing, he tried to bend over and retrieve them. The awkward position caused his head to swim, and he straightened again without reaching them.

If the abrupt cessation of merriment from the jerks outside his office was any indication, they’d noticed that the object of their teasing was seriously not amused. Whatever. It didn’t matter.

“Jesus Christ,” one muttered, a man Austin recognized as Jenkins from Patrol.

Austin raised his head and forced himself to meet their stares, allowing every ounce of his irritation to slap them in their faces. The men shuffled in embarrassed silence for a few seconds.

“Rainey,” Jenk called, not quite meeting his gaze. “Glad to see you’re okay.”

A round of agreement from the man’s buddies ensued. Not trusting himself to speak, Austin merely nodded. Red faced, Jenk and the others began to drift off in different directions.

Not one of them had the balls to apologize.

Once they’d gone, Austin heaved a weary sigh and returned to the task of bending over to get his keys. A large tan hand appeared in front of him and deftly scooped them up, saving him the trouble.

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