Page 1 of Trigger

Chapter 1

The Bad News

Carter

“You’regetting a partner.”

Ireluctantly shifted my gaze from the pigeon with a wounded wing traipsing onthe windowsill to the man sitting across from me.

“Comeagain?” I said, hoping that I heard him wrong.

ChiefBibb raised his eyes from the rap sheet in his hand and gave me a blank look.

“Isthere something wrong with your ears, Detective Carter?”

Oh,he’s for real?

Istood up so abruptly that I knocked the chair over.

“Thehell I am!”

He letout a frustrated sigh, looking every bit like the fifty-year-old, burned-out,underpaid cop he was.

“Sitdown, Carter.”

“No.”

“Sit.Down.”

Judgingby his tone, he was dead serious. And like that pigeon outside, I suddenly feltoff balance.

“Youcan’t go any lower than this, Carter. You know that, right?”

“Whatthe hell is that supposed to mean?” I said, not bothering to hide myanger.

“Itmeans you have reached the end of the tunnel, but you keep staring at the wallinstead of looking for a way out. You’re in the LD. There’s no worse place thanthis.”

Ishook my head in annoyance, reluctant to discuss it with him. Again.

TheLD, otherwise known as the Loser’s Division. For us cops, it was the laststation—the division with the worst cops in the force, in the town with thehighest crime rate. No decent, half-capable police officer should find himselfin the LD, but here I was with the rest of my ilk. Bad cops, incompetent cops,recovering addicts, politically incorrect and corrupt... the LD had it all.This fine selection also included the misguided loose cannons without a futureor prospects, like yours truly.

“I amwhere I deserve to be,” I said, staring at the clouds gathering outside so Iwouldn’t have to see the disappointment in his eyes. I didn’t need him to tellme what a fuckup I was, not when I reminded myself of it every single day. Theonly thing bigger than my self-pity was probably the corruption rate, and itsaid a lot. Why did everything have to be so damn bleak all the time?

“Look,son,” Chief Bibb said, using the endearment I hated because it always precededsomething I didn’t want to hear. “You know that your father and I go way back.He was the best police officer I ever worked with, and I worked with many. IfGod hadn’t taken him away from us, he would have become the chief of police,just like your grandfather before him. And you are destined to follow in theirfootsteps.”

Ismiled bitterly. If I had a penny for every time someone said that I would be arich man.

“Youdon’t belong here,” Chief Bibb said, sipping some green liquid that looked bothhealthy and disgusting. “You already have more awards and medals than yourfather had at your age. Your work ethic is exceptional, and your commitment tothe job is legendary at this point. Your reputation is impeccable apart fromthe… well, the incident that made you end up here. And I’m offering you a wayout. This is your chance, Carter. This is your golden ticket, and I won’t letyou squander it because you think you’re not good enough.”

“That’snot why I—”

“Doyou want to leave the LD or not?” he snapped, his eyes flashing with anger.“This is the last time I’m asking you, Carter. After that, I’m done helpingyou, because it’s clear you want to remain in this shithole for the rest ofyour life. And while I have all kinds of losers here, guilt-trippers are notwelcome, not on my watch. Now give me your answer, and for the love of God,think twice before you say it.”

Ilooked down at my bouncing leg, willing it to stop. It was the one nervous ticthat I couldn’t get rid of no matter how hard I tried. My one and only tell.

“Idon’t know what I want,” I said finally, but I knew it was only half of theanswer.I don’t deserve any better.My gaze drifted to the pigeon, buthe was gone. He either found strength to fly away, or he fell six stories downinto the dumpster below the window.

“Listento me, son,” Chief Bibb said, pressing his finger to his wrist to check hisheart rate. “For once, be smart and get serious. Play by the rules, and you’llleave this place in no time. Partner up and crack a case that needs cracking.That’s all.”

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