Read Online BAD Beginnings by Shelley Wall - Free Book Online Page B

imagined that was a hit with the girls. He dropped the pack back on the shelf and grabbed one of the scented ones, then shrugged. “Nothing wrong with smelling good, I guess.”
    Baden grabbed the same pack. “No shit. Guess I’d better get some too. My girl out there’s been dogging me for a week to be prepared.” Had he really said such a stupid thing just to make the guy think he actually knew what he’d spoke of?
    “Lucky you. Mine will probably sit in the glove compartment for weeks. Still, my mother seems to think I need to be ready. Just in case, you know.”
    Baden screwed up his face. “Your mother?
    “Yeah, can you believe that shit?” The guy tossed his hair back and headed to pay. At the counter, he grabbed a ball cap from the rack and tossed it down too. Baden figured he was a bit uncomfortable making only a condom purchase. No surprise. Baden also grabbed several other items, all as cheap as possible, because he only had forty bucks and he needed some of it to pay for gas.
    Baden started for the counter to pay. He sucked in a breath at ten feet from the register and whirled around another isle. Shit. Was that Mister D? Just his damn luck. No way in hell was he buying condoms in full view of his teacher! Baden hid out for a few more minutes. Long enough for Mr. D to pay and leave, then rushed to pay for his items before anyone else delayed. Natalie was probably wondering what happened to him. Outside and back at the Sonic, he searched his truck and all the others vehicles.
    Nope. She had just up and fucking left without a word.

C hapter Nine
    G emma cringed and the walls shook when Logan’s office door slammed shut. Hmmm. The vacation was over. For both of them, Gemma thought. The lab had spent the rest of the weekend scouring the car for evidence or DNA. There was plenty of DNA but none of it matched to anything in the cases. Additionally the old pre-sun and fun man had returned. Her case was dead.
    Her boss called as she drove that morning and set up a meeting for 6 p.m. “We need to get a status on your case load.” She sighed. Case Load. That was code for you’re about to be fired…or transferred from said case. Or demoted.
    She frowned at the file she’d opened on her desk, her cryptic list of discoveries. Which had zero connections that would help her case.
    “Gemma, do you have a minute?” Logan’s gravely voice jolted her awake and she clicked the close button before he reached her desk. “I need your help.”
    She smiled, thankful he couldn’t see her computer screen. “Sure, what can I do?”
    Well, at least his voice hadn’t gone back to the old stiff mode. He frowned. “Do you have access to check the accounting system for me?”
    “No. You’ve never authorized it. I had hoped to view your reports and help you with some of the bills but you never turned in the forms.”
    “It looks like I was in such a hurry to leave, I think I may have approved a check twice. Tell me who to talk to in accounting and I’ll get you set up. Can you run a report on all the payments over five thousand that I’ve done in the past month? Also, I’ve totally forgotten my password and need to access the computer. I changed it before I left and then spaced it out. Who do I need to see or call about getting it reset?”
    He had obviously forgotten a lot more than just his password. Maybe he’d overdosed while away? It was odd how he seemed to grow a five-o’clock shadow so early. Had he always done that and she never noticed? She cleared her throat. “Once you authorize, I’ll take care of it. You’ll have the report in about fifteen minutes and I’ll call technology about the password. They’ll get you in.”
    He hesitated at her door as if to say more, then turned. “Logan.” He whirled back and she tossed the keys his way. “Thanks.”
    “Sure, no problem. How are you getting home today? Want me to drop you off?”
    She shrugged. Yeah, drop me off at the precinct. Sure. “No, I have