The Cuckoo (Rufus Stone Detective Stories Book 1) by K. J. Frost

Author:K. J. Frost [Frost, K. J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: GWL Publishing
Published: 2019-02-14T22:00:00+00:00

The main office is almost empty, other than a couple of men I’ve seen working with Styles on his case. I don’t know their names and I don’t need to.

“Where’s Inspector Styles?” I ask them.

“In his office, sir,” one of them replies.

“Thank you.”

I go over to Styles’ office and knock once, waiting for him to call out, “Enter”, before pushing the door open.

“Ahh, Stone,” he says. “How’s it going?”

“As well as can be expected,” I reply evasively, closing the door behind me. “Can I speak to you?”

“Certainly.” He puts down his pen and sits back, staring up at me. “Take a seat,” he offers and I do so, just as he asks, “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t need Harry Thompson working on this case.” I can’t see the point in beating about the bush. “I explained already that I was happy with Ellis. That stands.”

He leans forward, his elbows resting on the edge of his desk. “I’m not taking Ellis away,” he says, “but your case just got a lot bigger… and my arson matter is almost concluded, so I don’t need Thompson anymore. I thought he’d explained this to you?”

“He did.”

Styles looks puzzled. “Then, I don’t understand.”

“I can mange perfectly well without him,” I say, a little desperately.

“I disagree. I realise you’re from Scotland Yard and you think that makes you better than the rest of us—”

“It’s nothing to do with that,” I interrupt. “I’ll take help. I just won’t take it from Harry Thompson.”

Styles sits back again. “Care to explain why?”

“No. It’s personal.”

He nods. “Sorry, but that won’t do. Either give me a bloody good reason why he can’t be on your team, or he stays.”

I huff out a sigh and stand up. “Fine. He can stay. But don’t expect me to be pleased about it.”

I turn to leave. “I don’t know what your problem is, Stone,” Styles says, stopping me in my tracks, “but you should be aware of the fact that Thompson is the best sergeant we’ve had in CID here since… well, since you left, actually. So, I strongly suggest you try and get on with him.”

I stare at him, my hand on the door knob. “I’m perfectly well aware of how good he is at his job… I suppose I’ll just have to remember not to introduce him to my girlfriend this time, won’t I?” I’ve let my guard drop and I regret it almost immediately, wishing I could take back the sarcastic comment.

Styles looks at me for a moment, and then laughs. “I should have known there’d be a woman behind this,” he says. “Sit down.”

I want to remind him that we’re the same rank and I don’t have to take orders from him, but I’m too tired to be petty. I sit down again and face him. After a minute or so of silence, he says, “Going to tell me, or do I have to beat it out of you?”

I smile at him. “You could try.”

He grins then opens the bottom drawer of his desk, pulling out a bottle of whisky and two glasses.

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