Page 69 of Trigger

“I’mfine,” I said, tearing my gaze away from his bulging biceps. “You?”

Henodded. “I’m okay.”

“Okay?”An angry voice boomed behind us. “None of this is okay, you two imbeciles!”

“Chief,”Thorsen said, faking a smile when Chief Bibb threw a baseball cap at him.

“Thisis my lucky cap, Thorsen,” the chief growled. “My wife gave it to me.”

Iquickly picked up the cap and returned it to him. “Chief, it’s not what you—”

“Think?”he bellowed. “But then again, I’m the only one thinking here, aren’t I, Carter?Certainly not you or your blond shadow over here. Instead of looking for thekiller, you are… what? Facing a local thug on your own when you should havewaited for backup?”

“Toour defense, Chief,” Thorsen said, clearing his throat. “It happened soquickly—”

“You'rea charming bugger, aren’t you?” Chief Bibb cut in. “Always smiling… alwayshaving something to say. Well, save it for someone else! See this?” Chief Bibbraised his finger, which was shaking. “I bet it’s Parkinson’s. My father hadit. My grandpa had it. And now I have it because of you two.”

“Chief,”I protested when he interrupted me.

“Ifthis happens one more time, I will suspend you both, I swear to God. Is thatclear?”

“Yes,sir,” I murmured, lowering my eyes.

“Yes,sir,” Carter mumbled.

Justlike that, my day was ruined. Worst of all, we weren’t any closer to catchingSophie Malik’s killer than on day one, thanks to the asshole we had justarrested. And it was a bummer.

Chapter 14

Besties

Carter

“Isthis all you have?” I said, as Thorsen took the duffel bag out of the car trunk.

Hechuckled. “I pack light.”

“You’removing in, not going on a vacation. Where are the rest of your things?”

“Idon’t have any. I left it all in New Mesa.”

“Jesus.It’s worse than I thought.”

Theapartment he had rented was on the floor below mine. It had a functioningkitchen and a bathroom, but the furniture was scarce. The living room consistedof a pull-out sofa and a TV screen placed on the floor across from it. Thebedroom was empty apart from an armchair.

“Itcould use a few improvements,” I murmured, looking around.

He closedthe door behind us and dropped his bag on the floor. “Nah, it’s fine. Besides,it’s close to you, which is its main attraction.”

I made a face, wondering what possessed me to let him moveinto my building.

“I’mgoing to regret this,” I said with a sigh, walking up to the window. “I justknow it.”

“No,you won't,” he whispered in my ear, sneaking up to me a goddamn ghost.

“Asshole,”I muttered, rubbing my ear. “Don’t do that. I have a gun. I could have shotyou.”

Hegrinned. “I have a gun too, only bigger.”

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