On The Run by Max Luther

Author:Max Luther
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Canelo Digital Publishing Limited
Published: 2024-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

21

Naomi pulled onto Lewis Ave and parked at the back of a long line of patrol cars. There must have been a dozen scattered around the street, some still with their light bars flashing blue and red, with most of the cops out on foot, just standing around, not doing a great deal. Naomi sighed, climbed out of her motor, and walked up to the uniforms who were crowding the Toyota. She scanned faces for someone she recognised.

A big recruitment drive over the past few years meant there were a lot of newbies in the department these days. To Naomi, they had the fresh young faces of kids who should still be in school. She was only thirty-five, but stood amongst these twenty-somethings, she’d never felt older.

‘Who’s in charge here?’ she called out to the sea of polished boots, pressed uniforms and shiny body armour, all of which presented as though it had come straight out the packaging that morning. They turned to face her with blank expressions, but she didn’t repeat herself. Instead, she simply pulled open her jacket, revealing the detective badge clipped to her belt, and the Colt holstered to her hip.

‘Sergeant Hamilton, ma’am,’ one of the officers said.

Great, Naomi thought. For the second time today, someone thinks I look old enough to be called ma’am.

The officer who’d spoken fumbled with a roll of scene tape, his head swivelling left to right as he tried to decide where the cordon should go. He had the soft complexion of a boy so young he hadn’t started shaving.

‘Fifty metres,’ Naomi said.

‘What’s that, m—’

‘Don’t you dare call me ma’am a second time.’ She pointed her finger at him. ‘I’ve got at least ten years before you have any right to use that word to refer to me. And I said fifty metres, everywhere the public have access, which means Lewis Ave in both directions, and includes this alleyway here.’ Her finger moved to where it began at a yellow fire hydrant. ‘Block the road with patrol cars, the pavements and alleyway with scene tape, and don’t let anyone through unless I say you can. Got it?’

The officer nodded and scurried off. The rest of the group stayed where they were, mesmerised by the angry detective.

‘Where’s Sergeant Hamilton?’ Naomi asked.

Her expression made it clear she didn’t want to ask again.

‘I’m right here,’ came a voice through the crowd of officers, who parted to allow the sergeant through.

Naomi knew Sergeant Joshua Hamilton well. He was a good man: hardworking and conscientious. An old sweat with eighteen years of service, he’d spent his entire career with a firm moral code. He might have been the only person at the scene she had respect for, but that didn’t mean this encounter would be friendly. They rarely were when Naomi was working a case.

As Hamilton cleared the crowd, his expression matched the scowl on Naomi’s face. He’d experienced her temper more than a few times.

‘I thought that was your voice, Naomi,’ Hamilton said. ‘Pikard called back to tell me you were coming, and I’ve had a smile on my face this big ever since.

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