Page 4 of The Perfect Betrayal

She was headed home on what was supposed to be her day off when she saw Captain Gaylene Parker’s number on her caller ID. That didn’t bode well.

"Hi, Captain," she said reluctantly.

“I can hear the enthusiasm in your voice, Hunt,” Parker replied, exhibiting a hint of something she rarely displayed: a sense of humor.

“Sorry,” Jessie said, “but I assume that when you call me on my day off, it’s not to see if I’m watching a rom-com double feature.”

“Afraid not,” Parker confirmed. “I’ve got a case I need your help with.”

“Captain, I’m literally the only member of the team not on duty today,” Jessie said. “Can’t someone else go?”

"The rest of the team is occupied, and your husband is still on desk duty," Parker told her. "Besides, I'd be asking for you even if they weren't all busy."

“Why?”

“Because Chief Decker asked me directly.”

Roy Decker, the chief of the LAPD, used to have Parker's old position as captain of downtown's Central Station, where Jessie and the rest of HSS worked. He was a huge advocate for Jessie, having seen her work up close. But that also meant that when a high-profile case was giving him trouble, he was quick to turn to her. There was no point in arguing if he'd put in the order.

“If everyone else is busy, how am I going to do this?” Jessie asked. “I’m not technically a cop. Any investigation requires a real-life detective.”

“And you’ll have one,” Parker told her. “This is going to be a joint operation between the Los Angeles Police Department and the jurisdictional agency.”

“Who is that?” Jessie asked.

“The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau.”

“Why do they have jurisdiction?”

"Because of where the crime took place—just off King Harbor in Redondo Beach. Apparently some rich guy named Daran Peterson was murdered there, on his sailboat from what I'm hearing. The body was brought to shore after it was found floating at sea. But the sheriff wants a top profiler on this, and your name came up. It seemed like a perfect opportunity to get some law enforcement synergy going. Your partner will be Sheriff's Department detective Aaron Riddell. He's meeting you at the South Bay Yacht Club. That's where the boat left from last night. Do you need directions?"

“No,” Jessie said, “I’ve been down in that area on cases before.”

"Alright," Parker replied. "Please keep me updated on developments. You know Decker's going to be wanting them, and he's going to come to me."

"Yes, Captain," Jessie said. "Can you please transfer me to Ryan?"

“Yes, and feel free to use him if you need help,” she said. “Your husband is driving everyone crazy by trying to get up in their business.”

“That’s just so you’ll put him in the field early,” Jessie confided.

“I know, but it’s not going to work. Hold on.”

A moment later, she heard the police station’s hold music. A few seconds after that, Ryan’s familiar voice came on the line.

Jessie wished she wasn’t driving so that she could have a FaceTime call and look at him. Even though things had beenbumpy for them lately, the sight of his dark hair, warm brown eyes, and sweet smile, highlighted by impressive dimples, always made her feel a little better.

“What’s up, wife?” he asked, sounding more playful than in recent days. She decided to embrace it.

“Just got assigned a case, husband,” she answered. “How are you?”

“Still as stir crazy as yesterday,” he said. “Parker won’t let me do anything outside the office. She’s even insisting that I order my lunch here. She said she doesn’t want to risk me going to a restaurant, seeing some shoplifter, and trying to chase him down.”

“I’ve got to say that it’s a legitimate concern.”

“Et tu, Brute?” he chided, before asking, “How’s Janice?”

“Dr. Lemmon is doing fine,” she said, keeping it vague to avoid any conversation about potential parenting. “Maybe you should set up an appointment to discuss that ‘craziness’ you mentioned.”

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