Page 9 of Summer Heatwave
Next to her was Emilee Zarate, still in her navy blue San Diego Police uniform, the shiny new sergeant’s bars reflecting the low light in the bar.Her jet-black hair pulled into a bun at the base of her neck made her angular face look even fiercer than usual.The tall thin woman was able to kick ass and take names, then comfort even the most distraught woman, a skill Kam had never mastered.
Before the door was completely closed behind them, Kam’s newest friend slid in.Her dark business suit with a light blue blouse, pencil skirt, and low-heeled shoes stuck out like a character in an IQ test picture ofwhich of these does not belong?Noellyn Chapman looked like the analyst she was for Homeland Security.She was shrouded in an air of youthful innocence, especially compared to all the testosterone in the room.But Kam knew better.The woman had an eidetic memory, reflexes faster than her own, and was one of the best shots she’d ever seen.
As the women wove their way through the high-top tables, Kam was thankful she and Jeremy had reviewed the highlights of the interrogations that day.It might take them weeks to sort through everything.
Her partner stood up as the women approached.“Ladies, enjoy your evening.I’m going home to wrestle with my seven-year-old son, be ignored by my thirteen-year-old daughter, and enjoy whatever my wife has cooked for supper.”He turned his attention to Kam.“Keep icing that cheek.I guarantee you the public affairs officer will be waiting for you when you arrive in the morning.”
“Fuck,” Kam said on a long sigh.She knew he was right.She was also aware of the grief she’d have to take from the men on her team once she was put in front of the cameras.
Horror struck her.Was this story big enough to make national news?Would it make it all the way back to Miami?Smugly, she wondered if her parents would hear about it…and her ex.
Before Kam could wander down that rabbit hole, Emilee plopped down in the chair right beside her.“I’m starved.I had a runner today and chased that bastard six blocks, then he had the audacity to take a swing at me.When I took him down, he started yelling police brutality, and sure as shit, phone cameras came out from everywhere.By the time I got him booked, I’d missed lunch and already had two conversations with my lieutenant about posted videos.”
“Noellyn, have a seat.”Kam gestured to the chair on the other side of her.“Emilee, Audra, this is Noellyn Chapman.She works in the head shed at Homeland.”Focusing on the newest arrival, she asked, “Why the fuck are you dressed like an uptight virgin?”
“You.”Noellyn twisted to hang her purse over the back of the chair.“Since you were unavailable all day, and of course last night, I was the one stuck presenting every tiny detail to the big shots upstairs who thought they needed to hear about your bust.”
“If they’re anything like my bosses, they were trying to figure out a way they could insinuate themselves into the reports to make themselves look better.”Audra scanned the bar looking for a waitress and finally flagged down Sally.
“Do we all work for the same assholes?”Emilee asked with a smile.She then glared at Kam.“I’m still a little pissed you couldn’t figure out a way I could be on duty last night and join in the fun.By the way, nice shiner.Please tell me you were in a fight and all of your men saw it.”
“I was in a fight, and all my men saw it.”She managed a half-smile on the good side without too much pain.“So did your SWAT team and several uniforms.The fight didn’t last long, though.I had him in cuffs and handed off to your men within just a few minutes.”She gently rubbed her ribs.“But not before he got in a few good pokes.”
“Well, ladies, I see you ran Jeremy off.”Sally cocked a hip.“Who’s hungry?”
Food order taken, Kam ordered a round of beer for the table.It was only her second and she deserved it.
“So, tell us.And leave out no details,” Audra insisted.
By the time Kam finished recounting the multi-prong takedown of one of the biggest human trafficking rings on the West Coast, the women were finished with their meal and working on their next beer.
“Holy shit,” Noellyn said under her breath.“I had no idea that much was involved.”
“Oh, my naive little friend, we just chopped off the top of the iceberg.”She looked each of her friends in the eye before she continued.“The last interview of the day revealed there are more in a high-end sex club.”
“No.”“Fuck.”“Shit.”The other three swore as they leaned back in their chairs and crossed their arms.
Noellyn popped forward and slammed her fist on the table making the beer mugs jump.“You’re going after those motherfuckers, aren’t you?”
Several men in the vicinity slid a glance their way.
Part of Kam wondered how loose another beer, or two, would shake her new friend, Noellyn.She swept her gaze across the other two women.She liked the little group they were forming.She’d missed girl time when she left the police force to join Homeland Security.
Refocusing on Noel’s question, Kam shrugged.“We don’t really have much to go on, especially since the madam of the whorehouse was murdered.”Holding Emilee’s gaze, she hesitated before she asked, “Any chance you can find out if the bodyguards are talking?”
Kam hated that part of their deal with SDPD was that the locals got first chance to interrogate the men guarding the house.The Navy had insisted on handling their own arrests and questioning, which she understood since they were enforcing different laws.
Emilee slowly shook her head.“Since I wasn’t involved in the takedown, and I was promoted above several of the officers involved last night, no one is going to tell me shit.”
“Well, we’re proud of you and your promotion.”Audra leaned over and gave Emilee a one-armed hug.“And you finished your bachelor’s degree at the same time.Now you need to?—”
“I told you, Audra, I’m taking a break before I start my masters.”Emilee gave her the perp look that screameddon’t fuck with me.
Audra shifted her gaze to Kam.“Did you go straight through until you finished your masters?”
“No.I actually started and stopped college a dozen times.”She hesitated before she continued.These women were becoming important to her so perhaps she could open up to them.“I went into the police academy right after high school.The blue line is long in my family.My dad’s a cop and so is my brother.Grandpa was the sheriff.One of my uncles is a homicide detective and the other is a crime scene tech.I was destined to be a cop.”How much did she really want to tell them?She drew in a long breath and let it out slowly.“My ex-husband is a cop, too.”
All three women sat up straight and leaned their elbows on the table.
