Page 34 of Detective for the Debutante (SAFE Haven Security #3)

MURPHY

“ O ’Connell! My office.”

Fuck.

I’m really beginning to hate starting work like this. But the captain sounds like she’s ready to go on a rampage, so I drop my bag before heading for her office, passing Aldridge with a giant smirk on his face.

“You must not have much ass left the way Cap is chewing on it, O’Connell,” the asshole dares to say, and several intakes of breath follow it.

Good, I’m not the only one who thinks he shouldn’t have said it.

I stop, turning to freeze him with a glare.

“At least she bothers to speak to me, Aldridge. You’re not even worth her time.”

The smirk dies on his face, hatred replacing it.

“You’re lucky you’re on your way out, O’Connell.”

“Why? You think you can do the job better? The only way you’ll be better than me is once I’m gone.”

He stands, his chair clanging backward against a file cabinet.

I have to fight a smile. Cowards always rise to a challenge and Aldridge is no different.

“You want to make something of it?” he snarls, puffing out his chest.

Fucking peacock.

“You’re not worth my time.”

“The two of you quit it. If I wanted a pissing contest I would have asked for one. O’Connell, my office. Now. Aldridge, don’t you have a court date to get to?” Captain Overton steps out of her office, arms crossed as she levels both of us with a look that screams to fuck around and find out.

No, thanks.

I move more quickly than before, ignoring the heat of everyone’s attention where it burns a hole between my shoulder blades.

It takes the captain a few minutes to join me, and something tells me Aldridge and I weren’t the only two to get the look.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” she asks, stepping into her office and slamming the door.

“Me? You didn’t hear what he said. He?—”

“He’s a half-assed detective who couldn’t find his ass from his elbow. He’s never bothered you before. Why now?”

Because I’ve never been this torn before.

I want the job in DC, but for every hour I spend with Leigh, I want it less and less. And it is fucking confusing.

I’ve been with other women before for a few weeks or even a few months. But none made me want to fall for them the way I am with her.

I doubt Captain Overton wants to hear any of that.

“He just gets under my skin,” I say and drop into the chair in front of her desk.

“Well, quit letting him. He loves your reaction. But he’ll leave you alone if you quit reacting.”

She’s right and we both know it, so I change the subject from Aldridge since he really isn’t worth any more of my time or effort.

“I’m sure you didn’t ask me to come in here because of Aldridge,” I say.

Maybe she’s heard something from IA.

“I have two things I want to talk to you about.” She takes a seat at her desk, pulling an envelope from her drawer.

An envelope.

Not a file.

I’m not sure whether that’s a good sign.

“About my cases?” I ask.

She takes a breath, releasing it before she answers.

“IA has found something. They’re being pretty tight-lipped, and I can’t share anything more than they may have found something that clears you of any wrongdoing.”

Halle-fucking-lujah.

Even if it does irritate the shit out of me that she can’t share any more, I have to be thankful for this small lead.

“What can I do to help?”

I need to do something with this surge of energy.

“Nothing.”

Record scratch.

What?

“Nothing?” I repeat.

She nods and my entire body deflates.

Fuck.

“IA is in charge of the investigation. If you come in, anything they’re doing could be tainted. You need to stay well clear of what they’re doing. I mean it,” she says when I open my mouth to argue.

Dammit.

I hate this helpless feeling locking my limbs and mind when I know I can help.

“I’m a good detective,” I tell her.

“The best I have,” she agrees.

She and I had been peers at one point in time, partnered together occasionally, but her words still come as a surprise.

“Which is why I have a favor to ask,” she says, lifting the envelope.

I should have known there was an ulterior motive to her words.

“What kind of favor?” I ask. The envelope could hold anything knowing Captain Overton. It could even be empty and she’s using it as a prop.

“I was notified this morning of a charity event brass wants all captains to be present at. And one I can’t attend.”

This is probably one of the reasons I never would have made captain. I hate the politics I’ve witnessed from my vantage point. And charity events are a big part of their life.

“What kind of charity event?” I ask, wanting to groan while at the same time wondering if I can take Leigh as my date.

“It’s Saturday.”

“Saturday? As in tomorrow?”

Fuck. Not only does that stop me from inviting Leigh, but I won’t be able to keep my eye on her like I was planning to. I might have said I was okay with her going with Charlie Vanderweel, but it didn’t mean I wasn’t going to be close by.

Or that was my plan before now.

“You have to love the speed of communication from our public affairs group.” She rolls her eyes.

“You can’t find anyone else?” I ask.

“Would you rather I send Aldridge?” She arches an eyebrow to make her point.

Fuck.

With a sigh, I reach for the envelope she hands me where a ticket is nested inside.

“What’s this event for anyway?” I ask.

“It’s an announcement of a charity called”—she looks at a Post-it note on her desk—“Shield 615. It’s aimed at providing protective equipment to police officers.”

At least it’s a cause I can get behind. I glance down at the ticket, the calligraphed name jumping off the cream card stock.

“Vanderweel?” Isn’t this weekend when they are announcing the Wrongful Conviction fund?

“Charles Vanderweel. It’s apparently one of two new charities he’s announcing tomorrow night. The other is, I’m sorry to say, a fund for individuals to fight their convictions.”

“Some people who are convicted are innocent.” The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them, so much a reflection of Leigh I’m surprised to hear them in my voice.

But she’s not wrong.

And maybe that was the connection I needed all along.

Captain Overton’s eyebrows lift, equally surprised.

“I never thought I’d hear those words come from you,” she says.

I shrug.

“I’m not saying every person convicted is innocent. But some.” I had told Leigh in the courthouse that I could agree with her. The legal system makes mistakes.

I still believe some people are wrongfully convicted.

I’m not so sure some people include Charlie Vanderweel.

Besides, I’m not going to focus on that. Or even the protective equipment for police officers like I should.

Instead, I’ll get to keep a much closer eye on Leigh. And Charlie Vanderweel.

Fuck, yes! The relief cooling my body is like the first cool fall breeze after a blistering summer. Nothing can happen to Leigh if I’m there.

A grin twitches my lips and I suck them in, trying to keep my elation from the captain who eyes me curiously.

“You going to be alright, O’Connell?”

“Of course. How come you’re not able to attend?” And will she tell me at the last minute that she can?

“I’m heading out of town tonight for my already delayed anniversary trip. If I try to reschedule these plane tickets, I’ll lose money and more than likely no longer need to celebrate anything since I’m sure Jack will try to file for divorce if I ask him to postpone one more time.”

“I’ve got you, Cap. You and Jack go enjoy your trip. Don’t worry about a thing here.”

“I fully intend to be on a beach by tomorrow morning with a mai tai in hand.”

And I intend to keep an eye on my girl. With the captain gone, there won’t be any last-minute change of plans.

“Have one for me while you’re at it,” I tell her.

“You seem significantly happier about this event than I thought you would be. I know you’ve done them once or twice before. But usually it takes a lot more persuasion to get you to go.”

I have all the persuasion I need with Leigh there. Not something I am going to share with the captain though.

Keeping a lot of things from the captain lately .

I attempt to ignore the barb from my conscience and shrug one shoulder.

“These things normally have decent food. Open bar. I can get behind both of those things…” I can also get behind being in the same place as Leigh. “I’m not going to lie though. I’m not excited about breaking out my tux.”

Fucking black tie.

I hate wearing it, but after the last few years of events and weddings, I had gotten tired of renting and spent the money on a custom-tailored suit. It’s probably some sort of sign I haven’t packed it away yet.

I haven’t packed much of anything.

And my lease is going to be up in just a few weeks.

I’ve been busy.

Busy? Or busy?

Jesus Christ. I’ve been trying to figure out who the hell is trying to sabotage me and keeping an eye on Leigh.

And other body parts .

“Any questions?” Captain Overton asks, interrupting my internal debate.

“No, no questions.”

At least not for her.

I have plenty of them for myself.

But one thing I’m not questioning is my luck. Not with this news.

The saying is don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.

Well, this is my horse and I’m not looking anywhere.

I leave the captain’s office, waiting until I’m at my desk to send a text to Leigh.

Looks like you’re going to have company tomorrow night.