Page 41 of Devoted

"No, I'm done talking about Junior. Besides, he deserved it. And it's been a week so maybe his dad has decided to let it go. Just don't expect any tips from X-crew anytimesoon."

"I've got plenty of connections on the street. Don't need them. Why did you call me in here? You have that serious expression on your face that usually means a shit storm is about tofollow."

Clark sits down behind his desk. "Not a shit storm. Just some news I thought I'd share withyou."

I sit back. "News?"

He looks across the desk at me. "Tennyson is coming back in aweek."

My body tenses but I work hard not to show any reaction. "Yeah? That's good. Means she's doingbetter."

"It seems so. I'm relieved too. There was a time when I worried that we'd lost her for good. Just wish we could have had Freestone behind bars before she came back onduty."

"What difference would that make?" I keep the edge out of mytone.

"Just think it would help with closure on that chapter of her life. Which brings me to another troublesome chapter." Clark's aged a few years in the past months, the time since the Lace Underground episode began. The wrinkles on his forehead are deeper as he gives me his concerned dadexpression.

"There's nothing troublesome about it," I say, knowing full well that I haven't dealt with the idea of Ten coming back to work. I pushed it out of my head to keep mysanity.

"Are you sure? Obviously, she'll need a new partner. I was thinking about pairing her up withYates."

I sit forward. "Hell no, he's a recklesstwit."

Clark's graying brow does a little dance. "Nothing troublesome, eh? Glad I told you today. It'll give you a week to see just how the hell you're going to handle herreturn."

"Yeah, fine. Can I go? It's Friday night and somewhere out there is a beer with my name onit."

He waves meout.

I grab my helmet from the locker room and head out to my bike. My phone rings on the way out. It's a private number. I let it go to voicemail and stick the phone in my pocket. I fire up my motorcycle and pull on my helmet. A few days away from this place will do megood.

I take the long way to the bar. My bike is running great and a good fast ride is always the perfect way to clear my head. The bar parking lot is just starting to fill up for a long Fridaynight.

My phone vibrates in my pocket as I climb off the motorcycle. It's another private number but it's a text. "You should really listen to yourvoicemail."

I stare at the odd text for a second, then click over to voicemail as I head to the bar. "Detective Maddox," the voice is hoarse and low and unfamiliar. I stop to listen to the message. "Hey, no hard feelings about Junior's arm." A creepy laugh. "Just kidding. How's that cute ginger partner of yours doing these days?" The caller hangsup.

Adrenaline sends my heart rate into overdrive. I'm a good half hour from Ten's apartment. I dial her as I race back to the bike. "Come on, Ten, answer." It goes to voicemail. "Hey, it's me. X-crew is looking for revenge and they might be heading your way. Call me as soon as you get this message." I call 911. "Yes, this is Detective Maddox of the Mountain View Division. Get the nearest black and white to 865 North St. Apartment 12. Occupant could be in danger. Proceed withcaution."

I pull out onto the road, lean down over the handlebars and twist the throttle. I race through the streets certain I'm going to catch the attention of a patrol car. I manage to reach the stretch of road that leads from the city to the unincorporated area where Ten lives. My pulse is thrumming through me as I race toward her apartment. The pounding in my ears drowns out the sound of the car pulling up next to me. It's a two lane highway. I'm speeding but the car is trying topass.

I glance back as the headlights move closer. I speed up. The car does the same. I can't see the driver's face in my side view mirror but I don't have to. I know who it is. I let off the throttle just as he cuts over into my lane. I swerve and lose control. I release the handlebars and bail out. I somersault through the air. The last thing I feel is my body slamming theground.

24

Angie

It takesme a second to recognize the sound of the doorbell through the roar of the shower. It rings again and again. I turn off the water and half dry myself before pulling on my sweats and a t-shirt. It rings again on my way to the frontroom.

"I'm coming. Hold your horses." I peek thought the peep hole. Two anxious looking uniformed officers are standing outside the apartment with their gunsdrawn.

"Police, openup."

I swing open the door and put my hands on my head to show them I'm unarmed . . . and still dripping from the shower. "I'm Detective Angie Tennyson of the Mountain View Division. Can I helpyou?"

The officer with a bushy moustache and confused look pokes his head into my apartment to glance around. "We got a call that the occupant of the apartment was introuble."

"I had a little trouble getting the shampoo bottle open in the shower but I didn't make the call. Maybe it's the wrong apartment or address," Isuggest.

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