Read Online Harlequin Intrigue, Box Set 2 of 2 by Julie Miller - Free Book Online Page B

His gaze darted over to Katie and back to him. “Seriously, what’s the problem? Is it you? Katie? Is the kid okay?”
    Trent swore under his breath. There was no subtlety to Max Krolikowski, no filter on his mouth. When he saw a problem, he fixed it. When he cared about something or someone, he went all in. Hell of a guy to have backing him up in a fight, but best friend or not, Trent wasn’t sure the man he’d been partnered with on the cold case squad was the guy he wanted to confide his frustration and concerns about Katie to. “She basically told me to mind my own business.”
    Max dropped his voice to a low-pitched grumble. “You think something’s up?”
    Even if Trent wanted to share his suspicions about blackouts and prowlers and threats in the snow, he wouldn’t get the chance to. All conversations around the table stopped as Lieutenant Ginny Rafferty-Taylor rushed into her office. “Are we all here?” The petite blonde officer set her laptop and a stack of papers at the head of the table before going back to shut the door. “Sorry I’m late.”
    Trent set down his coffee and turned everyone’s focus to the police work at hand. “Ma’am. Katie said you had an emergency meeting with Chief Taylor?”
    The older woman nodded. “Seth Cartwright from Vice and A.J. Rodriguez from the drug unit were there, too. I’ll get right to it since it affects investigations in each of our divisions.”
    â€œWhat affects us?” Jim asked.
    â€œLeland Asher.”
    Trent’s mouth took on a bitter tang at the mention of the alleged mob boss whose name kept popping up in several of their unsolved investigations.
    Olivia leaned forward at the familiar name. “What about him? Gabe’s first fiancée was writing a newspaper exposé about Asher when she was killed.” Olivia and Gabe had solved that murder, but they hadn’t been able to prove Asher had hired the man who’d shot the reporter.
    Even Katie, who had never dealt with Asher directly, knew who he was. “His name shows up as a person of interest in several investigations in the KCPD database. Has he been arrested for one of those cases?”
    â€œNot likely,” Max said. “He has a great alibi for any recent crimes. He’s currently serving a whopping two years for collusion and illegally influencing Adrian McCoy’s Senate campaign.”
    â€œNot even that, I’m afraid.” Lieutenant Rafferty-Taylor shrugged out of her navy blue jacket, hanging it over the back of her chair before sitting. Her back remained ramrod straight. “Asher’s case went to appellate court on a hardship appeal. The chief just got word that Asher is being released from prison early, on parole. That’s what good behavior and a pricey lawyer will do for you.”
    A collective groan and a few choice curses filled the room.
    â€œAny chance the judge made a mistake?” Trent asked.
    Their team leader shook her head. “It’s the holidays, Trent. I think Judge Livingston was feeling generous. Chief Taylor wanted to alert us that Mr. Asher will be back on the streets, albeit wearing an ankle bracelet and submitting to regular check-ins with his parole officer, sometime tomorrow or Thursday.”
    â€œWell, merry Christmas to us,” Max groused, folding his arms across his chest. “Just what we need, a mob boss heading home to KC for the holidays. I bet the crime rate doubles by New Year’s.”
    For a moment, the petite blonde lieutenant sympathized with her senior detective, but then she opened her laptop, signaling she was ready to begin their morning meeting. “I know we believe Leland Asher is the common link to several of the department’s unsolved or ongoing cases. The chief wanted us to be fully informed so we can keep an eye on him. Without our efforts turning into harassment, of course,” the lieutenant