Page 39 of Axel (Reed Hawthorne Security #6)

Thank you for reading Axel.

Detective Nick Moore

Nick sat across from Captain Sanders in the King County Sheriff’s Office. He didn’t know what was coming, but based on the older man’s scowl, he knew it wasn’t good.

“You accused the victim of blowing up his own house!” Sanders yelled.

“The evidence?—”

“Don’t give me that ‘the evidence showed’ bullshit. You jumped the gun. Why didn’t you wait for the courthouse camera footage?”

Nick shifted uncomfortably. “I know Morgan is the guy for this.”

Sanders leaned back in his chair. “Moore, I like you. You’re a good detective… usually. But how you’ve handled yourself on this case is shit. What do you have to support that Morgan is guilty?”

“I pulled his credit report—he’s in default on a large loan. Plus, the property has a lot of deferred maintenance. He needed money. Maybe he was trying to collect the insurance money.”

“Dammit, Moore! You just assumed because he had debt, he’d blow up the house? The house that, as far as he knew, he didn’t even own?” His boss ran his hand over his face. “What’s really going on, Moore? Why are you so stuck on Morgan for this? Is it because he’s from out of town?”

“No, of course not.”

Sanders sighed. “Morgan and his attorney are demanding I fire you.”

Nick sat up. Fire me? Shit! “His attorney? Ms. Seymour is the estate attorney not a criminal one.”

“It seems one of the partners in her firm has stepped in to represent Mr. Morgan. Don Freeman. Heard of him?”

Double shit.

Don Freeman was well-known as an attorney that never lost.

“Freeman gave us notice of his representation before your confrontation with Morgan.”

“I didn’t know.”

“You didn’t? Because Mr. Morgan said that he told you he had an attorney if you had any more questions and you just kept going.”

Nick leaned back. He thought Morgan was referring to Shaw. Fuck. He questioned a suspect after he said he had an attorney. Even rookies didn’t make that mistake.

“And if you had done your research, you would have discovered Morgan is part owner in Morgan Thompson Security. He’s a well-respected, decorated former Navy SEAL. And his company is doing very well. The man does not need money.”

Nick gripped the arm rests of the chair and took a deep breath. “Are you going to fire me?”

His boss stared at him. “I have a better idea.”

Nick let out the breath he was holding.

“Ever heard of Fisher Springs?”

That’s not what he was expecting.

“That small town out near the mountains?”

“Yep, that’s the one.”

Nick frowned. “I’ve heard of it, but I can’t say I’ve ever been there.”

Sander’s lips curled up. “Well, lucky for you, they need a new detective.”

Fuck. “No, you can’t be serious.”

He knew he was. The man never joked about anything.

“You want me to transfer to Fisher Springs? But this is my hometown, I know everyone here.”

“I understand, but this is the best I can offer right now. With Freeman breathing down my neck, be grateful I can even offer you this.”

Nick leaned back and closed his eyes. “Can I transfer back?”

The man nodded. “Eventually.”

“ Eventually? ”

“Give it six months for everything to blow over, and then we can talk.”

Nick ran his hand over his scruff. Six months in the middle of nowhere? There goes my social life.

“Thanks for not firing me.”

The man nodded. “You’re a good detective. I don’t know what’s going on with you lately, but I should warn you. Fisher Springs is a small-knit town, and you’re an outsider… it might take some time for the townsfolk to warm up to you.”

Nick chuckled. “No worries about that. I’m a likable guy.”

Chase Harvey, Officer, Fisher Springs Police Department

Chase entered the diner and took a seat at the counter. His best friend Harmony poured him a cup of coffee.

“What’s wrong with you? You look like you sucked on a lemon.”

Chase poured a sugar packet into the coffee and stirred. “Just found out Joey’s taking a medical leave of absence.”

Harmony put the coffee pot back on the warmer. “Hmm. Does this mean we have no detective? Or are you stepping up?”

Chase shook his head. “Chief said some guy named Nick Moore is taking the position. But what gets me is Joey doesn’t seem sick.”

“You know, it might be his mental health. He’s had trouble since his mom died.”

“I know.”

“Many around town think the chief should have forced him to get help sooner but gave him the benefit of the doubt because he’s his son.”

Chase scoffed. “Dunin doesn’t play favorites.”

“I know. I’m just telling you what I’ve heard.”

Her position at Lucky’s Diner let Harmony hear it all, and she kept Chase well-informed. It was the center of town gossip.

“Well, you should let the chief know you can step up if this other guy doesn’t work out.”

Chase nodded. He could do that for Joey… keep things running smoothly until he returned. He would make sure this Nick guy knew Joey was coming back. “Thanks for listening to me.”

Harmony gave his hand a squeeze. “Always. Are you getting anything else?”

“No, thanks.”

He finished his coffee, then walked four blocks to the grocery store.

“Good evening, Ms. Finkle,” he said, seeing the older woman exiting with her groceries as he entered. “Need any help?”

She waved him off. “No, I’m fine. Thank you for asking.”

With a nod, Chase made his way toward the bakery, but stopped in his tracks when he saw Lauren in an aisle, hands on her hips, glaring at a man he didn’t recognize.

“Something funny?” she demanded of the stranger.

The man was grinning as he grabbed a grocery basket off the floor. “Not at all.”

Lauren yanked the basket from the man’s hands.

Chase was about to step in and see if she needed help when the man held out his hand to Lauren.

“Nick Moore.”

Chase stilled. First, this guy takes over Joey’s job, and now he’s harassing Lauren? Not on my watch.

Before he could say a word, Lauren sidestepped the guy and said, “No, thank you.”

Chase backed behind the end cap to stay a bit out of view while also trying not to laugh aloud. Lauren had just shut the dude down hard.

“I was just introducing myself,” Nick said defensively.

She spun around. “Your eyes were doing more than that.” Then she turned and walked toward the end of the aisle where Chase was hiding.

“You’re welcome!” the guy shouted after her.

Without missing a beat or turning around, Lauren held her hand up and slowly extended her middle finger.

She arched a brow at Chase as she left the aisle. Chase stepped in. The man had already turned and was staring at jars of peanut butter.

“Did you say your name is Nick Moore?” Chase asked.

The newcomer turned toward him. “Yes.”

He swallowed, trying to sound calm. “You’re the detective taking over for Joey.”

The man stepped forward. “Who’s Joey?”

Chase quirked a brow. This guy doesn’t know? Surely Dunin had explained the situation. “Chief’s son. He’s on a medical leave of absence, but it’s temporary, so don’t get too comfortable here.”

Nick smirked. “Thanks for the welcome.” His eyes went to his badge. “Officer Harvey.”

This guy was an arrogant asshole; that much he could tell between the way he spoke to Lauren and now him.

“Didn’t say you were welcome.” Chase scowled, crossing his arms.

Nick nodded. “Good to know. When’s Joey coming back?”

“Not sure.”

The man stared at him for a moment. “Looks like we’ll be working together, Harvey.” He held out his hand.

Chase ignored it. “We’ll be coworkers, but I doubt we’ll work together.” He pushed past the other man and made his way to the bakery with a muttered, “Asshole”.

“Hey, Harvey,” Mr. Peterson said from behind the counter. “How are you doing?”

“Good. What do you recommend today?”

“An apple fritter. It’s still warm.”

“Sounds good.”

“Hey, my brother had an apartment open up in his building, if you know of anyone looking.”

“Oh, yeah?” There were only two apartment buildings in town, and both were usually full.

Chase turned and watched as Nick carried peanut butter, bread, and something else to the checkout. He wondered if their new detective had found an apartment yet.

If not, he isn’t going to.

“No, I don’t know of anyone. But I need a favor.”

“Uh oh,” Mr. Peterson said. “Sounds serious.”

“It is. Did you hear Joey had to take a leave of absence?”

Mr. Peterson frowned. “No, I hadn’t. Is he all right?”

“I believe so. Anyway, the chief hired this other guy to fill in as detective until Joey gets back, but I don’t know if the guy intends to treat this as a temporary job.”

“What do you mean? He wants to take it from Joey?”

“I think so.”

“Damn out-of-towners. They come here and think they can do whatever the hell they want.”

“Exactly,” Chase smiled. “Any chance you could ask your brother not to rent to a Nick Moore?”

“Nick Moore? No problem. I’ll call Darlene too. She owns the other building.”

“Thank you. That would be great.”

Two birds, one stone.

Not only would that ensure Nick wouldn’t be getting an apartment in Fisher Springs, but everyone knew Mr. Peterson loved the gossip—well, more like he loved knowing something others didn’t. Soon, it would be all over town that Nick was trying to come in and take over Joey’s job.

“Welcome to Fisher Springs, Nick Moore,” Chase murmured as he watched the man exit the store.