Page 3 of His Kidnapped Queen
When we arrive, Scott starts to haul Hampton out of the back of the car but our lieutenant, Francesca Sanchez, whistles at us.
“Leave him in the cruiser,” she barks. “Chief wants to see Bianchi in his office. Now.”
Shit shit shit.
I’m definitely in trouble. I’ve been a beat cop for eight months now, and I’ve never once gone after a perp without backup. Not until today.
But Hampton would have gotten away, and he was crucial to the district attorney’s case against one of the biggest mob organizations in the country.
The last of the Italian mob.
Scott makes a face at me, shrugging, and I sigh heavily, making my way to the chief’s office.
Chief Larry Johnston stands at six foot six, broad shouldered, silver-haired.
He looks intimidating even behind his desk. I don’t have the world’s closest relationship with the chief, but then again no one does.
He plays his cards close to the chest, and emotions? I don’t think he has any.
He’s cold, calculating.
As ruthless as the mobsters that we’re building a case about.
And he’s about to tear me a new asshole.
I try not to gulp as I stand in front of him.
“Sit.” It’s not a bark like I’d expected.
I slowly sit on the chair across from his desk, staying ready with my hands squeezing the arms. Ready for what? I don’t know.
“Look, sir, IknowI should have waited for backup. But Hampton is really important to this case and?—”
Chief Johnston raises a hand.
“Stop talking now before you get yourself in trouble,” he warns, his ice blue eyes piercing through me.
If I’m honest, I find him kind of attractive, but I like older guys. Too bad he’s married to our dispatcher, Sharon. She’s sweet as sugar and as expressive as he is contained.
I shut my mouth, my teeth coming together with a click.
“I called you in here to tell you that you passed the detective exam.” He throws down an opened envelope in front of me on his desk and I stare at it, my mouth open. “Results came in today, and they want you as a detective. I hate to lose you as a beat cop, Bianchi, but…”
He trails off and I’m still staring at the open envelope with the results of the detective’s exam.
I can’t believe it. I’d taken the exam on a whim, thinking I’d never pass it this early in my career. I’d never expected to actually get the promotion.
“You’re…you’re serious, sir?”
“Do I look like the type of man to play pranks?”
He raises a silver eyebrow and I nod.
“Thank you, sir.”
“You’ll report to Detective Gray Monday morning,” he finishes. “We’ll miss you around here, Bianchi.”
I blink at his words. He never does anything other than bark at us, usually, so him saying he’d miss me on the beat touches me deeply.
