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The box nearly clubbed her in the head.

Autumn Evers jumped out of the way at the last minute.

It was official—the Finley Creek branch of the TSP was cursed. It had been bombed a few months ago. They were still clearing out the debris dust from that. And everything was just…stacked. Everywhere. And they kept moving when people weren’t looking.

Almost like someone was rifling through them at night.

Things were more unstable in there than her supervisor Haldyn believed. A. J. wasn’t doubting, not anymore.

She hadn’t been in there five minutes before she felt someone watching her.

And now this.

“Hello?” a warm voice yelled out. One she recognized. “Anyone in here?”

“I’m here!” A. J. juggled the box before it hit the ground. There was no telling what type of evidence was in it or what could happen to it if it hit the ground. “I could use a hand.”

A tall man with short-cropped dark hair and hazel eyes came around the corner. “Always needing help, aren’t you, Autumn Jane?”

Her brother’s partner—and best friend—had that typical smirk he always wore plastered on his too handsome face. So pretty to look at—so much a butt to her whenever he could be.

There was nothing the man liked more than pestering her every chance he got.

A. J. resisted the urge to roll her eyes. They were on the clock, and though the man got under her skin faster than any other male on the planet, A. J. wanted to give the impression that she was serious about her profession.

She was going to make it work.

Even though Sean Patrick Callum stood there smirking at her.

He’d known her since she was thirteen and he was twenty-two—he’d been smirking at her ever since.

“Everyone needs a hand now and then, Sean. Thank you. I would have waited for Detective Naylor, but he called a few moments ago. He’s gotten held up upstairs.”

His expression darkened. “What’s he doing coming around down here?”

“Ummm…his job? He’s a detective, remember? He’s detecting. I’m providing evidential reports.” She knew what he meant. Brett Naylor had a reputation for playing in the company pool—especially among the techs and support staff.

He’d made no secret of the fact that he had a thing for A. J. She thought the entire department was aware of it by now.

One A. J. did not reciprocate. She’d never much been into the playboy type. Arrogant, controlling, bossy—she had seven older brothers. She got enough of those traits at home.

One reason why she had her own apartment clear across the city.

She far preferred the quiet strength that Sean’s boss, Daniel McKellen, exuded. Tall, dark, handsome, kind—and quiet.

She wouldn’t have minded if Assistant Chief Daniel McKellen was the one standing there right now.

She had a real thing for that man. Most of the women in her department had a crush on McKellen.

But she wasn’t going to share that fact with Sean Callum, who was just as arrogant as Naylor—and had twice as much success with women as the younger detective.

“I’ll bet. So…where am I going with this?”

She could think of a place.

No one got under her skin as badly as Sean. But she was a professional. And that box contained all that was left of someone else’s hurt. She would never take the cold case lockup lightly. “Conference room B. I’ll get the smaller box.”

“Yes, ma’am.”