Page 57 of First Blood

She paused and nodded towards the door.

‘That will remain open at all times. No one is holding you hostage and if you miss your last team so badly, go back or request a transfer elsewhere. Your choice. But if you stay, put your back into it and do your job. End of chat. If you’re here tomorrow I’ll assume you’ve listened, if not good luck in your next job.’

Kim retrieved her belongings from the bowl and left without another word.

Good chat, she decided as she headed down the stairs.

Chapter Forty-Nine

Dawson stared hard at the computer for just a minute trying to work out how he felt.

Well, at least he’d learned how a chat worked with the boss.

He was honest enough to accept that she was right about his levels of enthusiasm and that he wasn’t feeling this team dynamic.

What she didn’t know was that the option of returning to his previous team was no longer on the table.

The events from earlier had played over in his mind a few times and as far as he could see there was only one logical explanation. They were jealous. They knew he was a gifted detective and that he was going places. They wanted him out of the way so they could shine more brightly in his absence. Well, let them have their moment in the sunshine. Karma would be a bitch once he was their boss.

Now, he felt better.

So, for now, he was stuck here, literally. He had no bed for the night and asking to transfer to another team after just a couple of days was not going to do his long-term career plans any good.

The boss had made it clear that she expected something from him on the nail front and he could kind of understand why. It was a job he’d gone looking for to prove a point and now he had to prove another one. That he could use the information once he got it.

He turned to the computer and began to search for nail manufacturers. With no database to hand he was going to have to do this the long way.

He began copying and pasting email addresses into his address bar and formulated a standard email including the composition.

An hour later he found himself feeling strangely pleased with himself. He sat back in his chair as though he’d just finished a hearty meal.

In the silence, some of the things the boss had said started to come back to him.

Be creative. Show initiative.

He had an idea how he could manage to do both.

Chapter Fifty

‘So, how was day two?’ Jenny asked him as he speared a piece of chicken.

‘Much like day one,’ Bryant answered.

‘And you didn’t say a lot about that either,’ she noted, raising an eyebrow.

He shrugged.

‘Do you even like her?’

‘She’s not the easiest person to like.’

‘Bloody hell, husband, speak to me.’

‘Yeah, I like her,’ he answered, sensing his wife’s impatience. ‘She’s driven, passionate, intelligent…’

‘So, just the kind of person you like to work with?’

‘I suppose so. It’s just…’