Cold Truth by Stone Mary & Berdel Donna

Author:Stone, Mary & Berdel, Donna [Stone, Mary & Berdel, Donna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery, thriller, Crime, Suspense, Contemporary
Goodreads: 50513758
Published: 2020-01-17T08:00:00+00:00

17

Jillian looked up when Ellie walked into their shared basement office Wednesday morning, cutting her eyes toward Ellie’s desk. “Fortis left you a note. He’s been down here already this morning.”

Ellie handed Jillian a cup of coffee as she whizzed by without missing a beat. “It’s not even nine yet,” she grumbled. “Did he say what he wanted?”

“Nope. He just told me to let you know as soon as you walked in the door.”

Ellie snatched the sticky note off the monitor and turned it around so Jillian could read it, rolling her eyes and slumping like she could fall asleep standing on her feet. She pitched her voice low, in a horrible impersonation of Fortis. “‘As soon as you get here, come to my office.’”

Jillian giggled and covered her mouth, her eyes going to the door and widening.

“I don’t think I talk like that.” With the unmistakable voice of Fortis behind her, Ellie froze, her shoulders rising so they were almost even with her ears.

“I guess I should’ve looked behind me before I opened my mouth.” She treated Fortis to a dazzling, albeit apologetic smile when she turned to face him. “I just walked in the door.”

“I know. I’ve been waiting for you.”

“My shift starts at nine.”

He checked his watch. “It’s a quarter ‘til. Didn’t your parents teach you if you’re early you’re on time and if you’re on time, you’re late?”

“And if you’re late, you’re fired,” she finished. “Yes, they did. I’m…on time?”

“My office, now,” he ordered before turning and walking out of the room.

“That went well.” Jillian’s lips were pursed together, her brows in a worried line.

“You can laugh.” Ellie took a long swig of coffee. “I can’t believe I did that.”

Jillian shrugged, raising her coffee in a toast. “If that’s the worst thing that happens all day, it’s not that bad, right?”

“We’ll see if I still have a job when I’m done explaining myself.”

Jillian crossed her fingers on both hands, turned back to her computer, and went to work.

Filled with dread, Ellie dragged herself into the hallway, taking the back staircase instead of the elevator. Maybe if I give him a few minutes to cool off, he won’t still be mad, she thought, cringing. But if delaying by a few minutes backfired, and he was angrier when she got there, that would be bad too. Groaning, she took the last few stairs two at a time, hurried through the door, and rushed down the hallway.

She was out of breath by the time she burst through the door of the Violent Crimes Unit and caught sight of her reflection.

Five chairs swiveled in her direction, a few of the detectives stopping mid phone conversation, staring at her in surprise.

“Everything’s fine,” she said, smoothing her hair back from her face and willing her skin to return to a less mortifying shade of pink. “I’m just here to see Fortis.” Resisting the urge to clap her hand to her mouth, she instead pressed her lips tightly together. She was a detective with Violent Crimes, so of course, she was there to talk to Fortis.

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