Page 26 of Tides of Change (Seacliff Cove #2)
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Garrett
I barely had time to grab my morning coffee at the end of roll call before Sergeant Rodriguez called my name. His voice was clipped, sharp—dangerous.
“Whitlock, my office. Now.”
My stomach dropped. This wasn’t going to be good. Sarge wasn’t the kind of guy who yelled when he was mad—he got quiet, cold, and precise. That was worse. I caught Holt Larson’s glance from across the room. His brows lifted in silent question. I shook my head and headed for the office.
Sarge was standing when I stepped in, arms crossed over his broad chest. He nodded toward the chair across from his desk. “Sit,” he ordered.
I closed the door behind me, lowered myself into the chair, and forced myself to keep my posture relaxed—even though my gut was twisted into knots.
Sarge didn’t sit. He paced behind his desk like a caged animal before turning and leveling a hard look at me. “Tell me why I got an anonymous call this morning about you playing detective with a civilian.”
I fought the instinct to stiffen. Shoot. Was the caller Finch? Had he been watching us?
“Sir, if this is about canvassing the hotels?—”
“Of course it’s about canvassing the hotels!” he snapped. “What the hell were you thinking, Whitlock? You took a victim—a witness—and dragged him through the shitty motels in town? What part of that sounded like a good idea to you?”
I kept my voice steady as I took full responsibility. “I thought maybe he’d recognize someone, a name. And he did. We discovered the name of the suspect.”
“You don’t bring a civilian into an investigation like this.” Sarge’s tone was razor-sharp. “I don’t care what your reasons were. Your job is to investigate, not to play detective duo with him.”
“I understand, sir.”
“Do you?” He narrowed his eyes. “Because from where I’m standing, this investigation has become too personal for you. Maybe Cole has become too personal to you.”
A tense silence stretched between us. I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of a defensive reaction, but my pulse hammered.
Sarge exhaled sharply and sat down, leveling me with a look that felt like a verdict before he even spoke.
“I can’t trust you to be objective on this case. Effective immediately, you’re off it.”
The words hit me like a sucker punch to the ribs. “Sir?—”
He held up a hand. “Detective Ballard is taking over. You’ll hand over any reports, notes, or evidence you’ve collected. You’re done.”
I gripped the arms of the chair, anger flaring hot and fast. “Sir, with all due respect, Ballard is buried in other cases. You and I both know this investigation will get pushed to the back burner.”
Rodriguez’s jaw tightened. “That’s not your concern anymore.”
“The heck it isn’t!” I snapped, my control slipping. “The stalker has escalated. If we back off now, we’re giving him more time to plan his next move.”
Sarge’s face darkened. “And if you keep pushing, you’re going to find yourself with a suspension. Maybe worse. You’re too close to this, Whitlock.”
I sat there, jaw tight, hands clenched into fists. I couldn’t argue without proving his point.
“I know you want to protect him,” Sarge said, quieter now, but no less firm. “But your job is to protect this town—all of it. You can’t play bodyguard for one man.”
“I can’t just pretend this isn’t happening,” I said through gritted teeth.
“Then trust your team to do its job.”
I let out a sharp breath and looked away.
Sarge sighed and rubbed a hand over his face. “Look, Whitlock. You’re a damn good deputy. But if you don’t step back now, you’re going to step right over a line you can’t uncross. I don’t want to see you lose your badge over this.”
The words carried weight. It wasn’t just an order. It was a warning.
I nodded stiffly and stood. “Am I dismissed, sir?”
He exhaled heavily. “Yeah. But compose yourself before you walk out there. You look ready to punch something.”
He wasn’t wrong.
I left the office, shoulders tight, barely registering my coworkers’ glances as I stormed out of the station. Crisp air hit me like a slap.
I pulled out my phone and scrolled to Ethan’s number, hesitating only for a second before I hit Call .
He picked up on the first ring. “Hey,” he said, but I could hear the strain in his voice. “Do you have news for me?”
I blew out a breath. “Sarge found out about yesterday. About us canvassing the hotels together. He pulled me off the case. Detective Ballard’s taking over.”
Silence.
Then Ethan swore softly. “Garrett, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get you into trouble.”
“You didn’t.” I shook my head even though he couldn’t see me. “I knew better. I knew the risk. But I genuinely thought it might help to have you along.”
He sighed, and I could hear the frustration mixed with guilt. “But now what? If Ballard’s too busy?—”
“I’ll still protect you, Ethan,” I said firmly. “Badge or no badge. I’m not backing off.”
I ended the call and shoved my phone into my pocket, exhaling slowly. Sarge could take me off the case, but that didn’t change a damn thing. Ethan was still in danger, and I wasn’t about to let him face it alone.