Read Online Perfection (JL Spelbring) by JL Spelbring - Free Book Online Page A

turned toward the trees, waiting for the last search team to report. Ever since she’d snapped at him, he’d kept his distance, only talking when circumstances demanded it. For efficacy reasons, she’d have to fix the problem. She depended on the additional man-hours, unable to do the initial tracking all by herself. The world outside of The Center required her to show a certain level of civility.
    Angela gathered up the items and stowed them away in her car. Maybe after dinner and a shower, she’d take another look at the map to make sure she hadn’t missed anything. Then again, maybe she’d just go to bed and give her eyes a break.
    “Captain Jones,” she called, while returning to the camp.
    At the mention of his name, Dyllon leaned back in the chair. His head turned in her general direction with robotic rigidity. He raised his eyes, but instead of meeting her gaze, she was fairly certain he was staring over her head. “Yes, Detective,” he replied coolly.
    “You and your unit have proven to be very useful. The Center… appreciates your help.”
    The corner of his mouth twitched as his brow arched. “And what about you?”
    Angela sighed. “I appreciate the help too, Captain.”
    A grin twitched Dyllon’s cheeks. “We are a little less formal in my district. But, as I am sure you know, our track record is infallible. We are efficient.”
    Angela thought less formal was an understatement; the lax attitude was unnerving. Their record was impressive, though; they’d delivered many members of the resistance to the camps. “I give credit where credit is due, Captain Jones,” she agreed.
    Dyllon’s lips pulled into a smile that spread across his face. “You can call me Dyllon.”
    First name? The thought made her uncomfortable. But, if such informality was the way they did things here, she’d play along… somewhat. “Dyllon,” she acknowledged, “you may call me Detective Petersen.”
    At first, Dyllon’s smile faltered, but then he started laughing. “Fair enough,” he said. “Nice to meet you, Detective Petersen.”
    The captain held out his hand in greeting, and Angela accepted. His palm was a little rough, and warm in a pleasant way. She shook once and let go.
    Standing there, feeling awkward, Angela stumbled around in her head trying to find the instructions she had for the team for tomorrow.
    “Follow me, Cap—I mean Dyllon,” she said, walking to her car. “I want everyone back here at five in the morning. We will pick up where we left off.”
    “Five o’clock, it is,” he replied, still smiling.
    She held his gaze for a moment before sliding into the car and slamming the door. As she turned the key in the ignition, the engine hummed to life. She turned to wave goodbye, but he was no longer paying attention to her, his body angled toward the tree line. The radio was in his hand, his thumb holding the side button as he spoke into the transmitter.
    The detective frowned. She hadn’t heard anything—not the crack of static or the squeal of feedback. Looking down, her hand fell to her waist where the radio sat in its holder. She turned the knob just in time to hear Dyllon say something about securing a perimeter.
    Had they found her?
    Excitement curling in the pit of her stomach, and the taste of revenge on her tongue, Angela turned with her hand on the door handle and silenced a scream before it erupted. Dyllon was peering at her through her window. His face twisted in amusement. While her heart found the beat it’d missed, she opened the door, pushing him back.
    “What the hell?”
    “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you,” the captain said but, judging by the slight lopsided grin he held, Angela doubted he meant it. “The search team found her scent. I told them to secure the area and issued instructions for two of the men to stay put. Their partners are on the way back with the dogs to retrieve sleeping bags. I hope that will suffice for the evening.”
    The detective’s heart