The One That Got Away by Nicky James

Author:Nicky James [James, Nicky]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-03-21T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Takoda

“I don’t think you understand the severity of this situation.” The vein on Sergeant Nikola’s temple pulsed, a sure sign he was pissed off. Again.

“No, sir, you don’t understand the—”

“You will speak when I tell you to speak, Dyani.” He slapped a hand on the desk then wagged his finger. “I’ve had enough of your goddamn attitude. Not only are you disregarding a direct order, but you’re aggravating a situation and making it worse.”

The minute someone had caught wind that I was pulling photos for Charlie to view later, I’d been called into Nikola’s office.

“You assigned Charlie to me. I’m telling you there is—”

“No. Stop. I explained how this works with him. I told you this was nothing more than paranoia, which is a common behavior with Charlie. A diagnosed condition. Are you a doctor?” Nikola didn’t expect an answer, so I clamped my mouth shut. “We’ve been fielding his complaints for over a decade. I spoke with Stanley on the phone this morning, and I’m not pleased you went over my head. What part of ‘let this go’ did you not understand?”

I ground my molars, nostrils flaring.

“You’re getting Charlie worked up, and the last goddamn thing I need is the crown attorney on my ass. Your job is to placate him, not stir this shit up and make it worse. Do you hear me?”

“Loud and clear.”

“Is that attitude?”

“No, sir.”

“Good. Now, you drop this nonsense today. I don’t want to hear another word about it. Not one.”

“You’re making a mistake. Charlie is in potential danger.”

If smoke could have come out Nikola’s ears, I’d have been choking on it. “Do you want to rephrase that? Because it sounded an awful lot like another word.”

I had a whole lot of other words to say, but I didn’t trust myself at the moment, and my boss looked ready to strangle me.

Sergeant Nikola held my gaze for a long beat, waiting for my mouth to flap so he could put the final nail in my coffin. He injected as much authority into that venomous stare as he could.

Message received.

“You will return that file to the basement, and god help you if it is missing a single photograph or form. I forbid you to access it again. Then you will return to that desk and your assigned work. I don’t want to hear another goddamn word about this. Understand?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Get out of my face.”

As I made my way to the door, my phone buzzed in my pocket. Uncaring that Nikola had eyes on the back of my head, I tugged it out, checked the message, and froze.

Help me. He’s in my house.

The air caught in my lungs as I read it twice, absorbing what it meant, certain I was misunderstanding. Torn between racing out of the precinct and confronting Nikola, I pivoted in place, my boots squeaking on the linoleum flooring.

“Dyani, what the hell are you doing?”

My skin was alive with static. I thrust my phone at my sergeant, showing him the text.

“Care to tell me it’s nothing again?” I snapped.

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