Page 12 of Wine and Research
“Of course, not,” Kroeger countered. “But not everything is life-threatening. What’s in the folders in your fist?”
Jeremy eased the grip he hadn’t realized he’d tightened on the files. “I was just digging through some old B & E’s. Two perps with a similar M.O. were released on good behavior last month. Thought I’d pay them a visit, as well as show their photos to the shop owners that were recently robbed, and a few other business owners in town.”
“Good.” Kroeger nodded. “Hold off on the perps. Visit them without her. The rest should satisfy Ms. Hudson’s criteria. Take her along. Let her observe your interviews.”
Jeremy blew out a breath. Most of the time routine stops like that were safe, but what if they were in the right place at the right time to unexpectedly flush out a perp?
“Look, Mercer. I’m not crazy about this ride-along stuff either,” Kroeger muttered. “But this comes all the way from the top. The mayor is a huge fan of this author and wants the department to assist Ms. Hudson in any way necessary. So, if you and I want to remain on the promotion list, we’ll suck it up and see this through.”
The mayor was involved?
Damn.
The lieutenant was well aware of Jeremy’s desire to make sergeant this year. He’d already taken the written exam, and the oral exam was scheduled for the beginning of next month.
Hell, Jeremy was doing most of the job, anyway. He supervised daily operations and was the liaison between officers and police leadership within the department. Kroeger had also tasked him with investigating any internal complaints, andbefore all of that, he had been an FTO—Field Training Officer—for years.
“I do, too, sir,” he agreed.
“Then whatever Ms. Hudson needs, you will see to it—without putting her in danger, of course.”
Jeremy straightened his spine and nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“Good.” Kroeger smiled. “Now, let’s get out there and claim our donuts before they all disappear.
He followed his supervisor out of his office and toward the coffee pot and the opened box of donuts. The other officers had been standing around, laughing with Elle, but quickly dispersed at the sight of the lieutenant.
Once there, Jeremy frowned at the meager choices left in the box. No bear claws. They usually were the first to disappear, and technically, he already had one a few hours ago.
“Here you go, gentlemen.” Elle smiled, handing Kroeger a napkin-wrapped éclair and Jeremy a napkin-wrapped bear claw. “I saved these for you before the others confiscated them.”
A fission of warmth spread across his chest. As annoying as the woman could be, and she could be damned annoying, she had also shown traces of thoughtfulness in the past.
“Thank you, Ms. Hudson,” the lieutenant said before disappearing back into his office with a coffee and his éclair.
Since he was about to be stuck with the woman all day, Jeremy remained silent but nodded his thanks. Showing any more warmth than that was not advisable.
He set the files and bear claw on a nearby vacant desk before pouring himself a black coffee. “If you need to use the restroom, I suggest you do it now. We’re leaving after I finish this.”
“Roger that,” she said, then spun around and walked across the office to the door that led to the hallway with the restrooms.
Biting into his bear claw, Jeremy watched her progression with more interest than he should.
He watched anyway. He couldn’t help himself.
Her form-fitting jeans showcased a world class ass, and he enjoyed the scenery until she walked out of sight.
Ordering heat to stop invading his body, he turned around to find one of the rookies grinning at him. Jeremy narrowed an unblinking gaze on the guy, and a second later, the grin disappeared, along with the rookie.
Poor kid.
Jeremy needed to get a damn grip.
What the hell was wrong with him?
He was supposed to set an example, not admire a woman’s curves…and in the office, of all places. If he kept this up, he could kiss that promotion to sergeant goodbye.
Swallowing an oath, he finished his pastry and coffee, crumpled the cup, then tossed it in the trashcan under the table.
