Page 20 of White Raven
Athan’s brows lowered, and he narrowed his eyes, catching Rhaena’s stare. “What is it with uniforms and Seattle? Foster was from there too.”
“RachelFoster?” Sykes asked, smiling.
“You know her?” Rhaena’s temples started blooming with a headache at the thought of another Rachel Foster being around. That seemed to be exactly where this shit was heading.
“I knowofher. I can only hope to be on her level one day. That’s a ladder I’d climb, for sure. That whole team is talked about a lot at my station back home. They get some wild cases. It must be a blast.” That stupid giggle flittered through her nose again, and the beauty mark at the side of her mouth followed the curl of her lips as they dragged back from too-white teeth.
“She’s a bit too intrusive for my taste,” Rhaena bit, closing the lid on the filing box and stepping around Sykes to get back to her desk. Athan opened his desk drawer and startedpeeling out his personal belongings—one of them being a picture of Sarah he had taped inside. Sykes didn’t miss that detail.
“Ah…I see why you were so quick to solve that case,” she winked. Athan shot her a look that promised broken bones. “No judgment. She’s striking.” Her palms flew up in surrender.
“Yeah, I’m gonna go.” Athan stood, pushing his chair back with his legs, and picking up the stack of files. Foley returned with an empty box.
“Don’t forget to sign out the laptop, Kane.” Foley slid the box over and Athan dumped everything into it. Rhaena watched on, not bothering to hide her need to go hit something.
“I hope I didn’t make you uncomfortable, detective. That wasn’t my intention. I’m just trying to make friends.” Sykes poked a painted lip out, and that urge to bust it nearly made Rhaena’s knuckles crack. Foley looked curiously between them all, finally singling Rhaena out with a pointed stare of disappointment. Athan shoved his fingers in the open handles on each side of the cardboard box and lifted it to his middle.
“I’m sure you and Northwood will get along just fine. I don’t need any friends. No offense.”
That woman looked wholly unaffected by his dig. Must be nice to have that kind of confidence about yourself. Sykes shrugged and smiled it off. “Understood. Have a nice, relaxing vacation, Detective Kane. I’ll keep your space tidy.”
Kane’s eyes were a combination of apologetic and amused when he met Rhaena’s hard stare. “See you in the trenches, partner.” He slid past them and spun his keys as he made his way towards the elevator. Foley’s eyes followed him the entire way.
“Don’t take it personal, detective. He’s like that with everyone.” The captain shook his head. “Least you caught him on a good day.”
“Oh, it doesn’t bother me. I bet he’s lots of fun on the bad ones, yeah?” She grinned and stepped over to Athan’s desk, making herself right at home. It did something to Rhaena.
“Cap, could we talk in your office for a moment?” Rhaena asked, nodding towards his door. He glanced at Sykes, and then back at her before gesturing towards his office and following behind her as she entered and shut the door.
“Would it kill you to be nice to other females, Gloves?” he chuckled, taking a seat at his desk.
“I don’t wanna work with her, Malcolm.” Rhaena folded her arms over her chest and pursed her lips.
“Why? You don’t even know her. And before you try to use the senses we both know you have, just remember I have them too. She smells just fine to me.”
Rhaena peeked through the blinds at the tart sitting at Athan’s desk. “Yeah, I’m sure somebody that looks like that smells delicious to just about every man in this office.”
Foley scoffed, shaking his head and laughing under his breath. “That’s not why I gave her the job. I’m sure you never would have guessed you’d become so close to St. James and Vintorri, either. But one of them practically lived with you throughout that whole case. Can’t you just give her a fair shot?”
“Must we?” Rhaena tapped her foot on the floor. “I don’t want strangers all in our business.”
“She might be a stranger, but she’s got some pretty bright recommendations from her precinct. She’s smart, and apparently gets along great with others. She’s also not afraid to get her hands dirty according to her previous captain. Her transcripts are impressive, and she’s got a wall full of degrees back home. She’s well on her way to becoming a high-ranking agent. I thought for sure you’d be excited to work with a woman around your age that seems just as tough as you are.”
“I’m sure she does get along well with others,” Rhaena rolled her eyes. “And what the hell makes you think she’s tough?”
“Well, she handled you and Kane with enough grace to grow a pair of angel wings. That’s saying something, at least. So, she’s friendly.” He shrugged. “So what? Is that such a bad thing? I like the idea of at least one person walking around here with a good attitude towards things.”
Rhaena slowly shook her head, not balking from Foley’s stare. “You’re not gonna assign someone else, are you?” She knew the answer to that question before she asked.
“Afraid not, detective. Personal or not, this case you’re on is still your job. Let some more hands in the pot. She might surprise you.”
“And the othercase?”
The lines in his forehead smoothed out. He knew exactly what she meant. “That’s different.”
“Is it?” Rhaena asked, stepping closer to his desk and dropping a hand to her hip. “So ‘brown-noser’isn’t allowed to sniff around our side project, but Athan and Sarah’s case is fine?”
“Touche, Rhaena.” Any amusement he was getting out of this was long gone. Maybe she was getting a little too comfortable with her captain. He was still her boss. One would argue that knowing what she did was growing her a set of nuts. “She doesn’t need to know about us for obvious reasons. You and Kane kept that shit from me and everyone else for years. Hell, the public doesn’t even know that beings like me and you even exist. If the two of you were able to hide it for that long, then I’m sure you’ll have no problem doing it with her. My decision’s been made. Unless you give me a better reason than you ‘just don’t like her’, then she’s your partner for the next month. Are we clear?”
