The Collector by Cameron

Author:Cameron
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Harlequin Enterprises
Published: 2012-09-17T07:00:00+00:00

26

Chief Flagler sat behind his desk with a frozen expression on his face. No, Seven thought, frowning. Frozen was the wrong word. Wooden, now that would be more accurate.

Mayor Condum-Cox, aka Dr. Ruth, stood directly behind the chief and slightly to his left. Her position and the chief’s stiff posture made Condum-Cox look like a ventriloquist. The chief was the dummy, letting Condum-Cox do the talking.

Her message came in loud and clear: back off David Gospel.

The whole day felt a little like one of those amusement park rides right after some acne-challenged kid straps you in and the car bucks forward. You look at the torture you just committed yourself to undergoing for the next three minutes and think, Oh, shit.…

Seven was already feeling itchy about the case, sensing a growing divide between himself and Erika. Now the mayor was waking them up to other considerations, like her sorry hide and how she didn’t like hanging it out there as a target for Gospel.

“The last time this office took on Gospel,” the mayor said, sounding spitting mad, “he sued the snot out of the city. You remember McGinnis, don’t you, Roy? Your predecessor? Exactly. Nobody remembers McGinnis!”

Seven assumed the liberal use of the chief’s first name was tactical. Dr. Ruth was hoping to remind Roy of their relationship both in and out of the office. You’re going to help me here—Roy—aren’t you?

“Gospel made sure his career was wiped off the face of the earth,” Condum-Cox continued. “He buried the man. Now, McGinnis owns one of those mow-and-blow gardening services. Runs it with his cousin in Stanton. Let me tell you something, Roy, after twelve years of public service, I am not ending up the proud owner of a gardening service.”

“Hold up, Chief. Why was McGinnis investigating Gospel?”

This from Erika, who seemed to have given up on the Little Bo Peep act she had going back at Gospel’s. His partner was all business again, addressing her question to the chief as if the mayor wasn’t pulling the strings right there in front of them.

Condum-Cox, of course, was having none of it. She came around the desk to direct a blistering glare at Erika…who just loaded one of her patented smiles, aimed and fired.

“Roy,” the mayor said, addressing the chief but staring right at Erika as she spoke. “I didn’t call this meeting to open that can of worms. David Gospel is a pillar of this community. And let’s not forget those unlimited resources. I consider him a personal friend and I will not have his family suffer any further harassment from this office.”

Condum-Cox stood with one boney hip jutting out, her arms crossed. In her cherry-red suit and matching lipstick, she was the urban warrior. She didn’t even blink as she stared at Erika.

“Get your investigation under control, Roy,” she said.

As she walked out of the room, everyone left behind knew what she’d meant.

Get your people under control, Roy.

The door didn’t even click shut before Erika asked, “What can of worms?”

The

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.