you. If she’s not there, speak to her friends, boyfriend–”
“She doesn’t have a boyfriend,” I snapped.
Even as I said it, I thought about Sam, the man Juliette had been with last night. Was it possible that Juliette had gone back to the apartment to change her clothes before she and Sam went out together? Maybe to breakfast? I shook my head even as the thought was crossing my mind. She would’ve called to make sure I was okay once she’d seen I wasn’t in the apartment like I should have been.
“I’m new to the city,” I said suddenly, interrupting whatever the officer had been saying. “She wouldn’t have just left without telling me.”
“Maybe she would’ve if she thought you were...occupied where you were.”
The insinuation made me bristle. “Excuse me?”
“No need to get riled up, miss.”
I wasn’t sure if the slight slip into a Southern accent was mocking my own, or if the woman was actually from the south. I didn’t care either way. I was focused more on the fact that she wasn’t helping me.
“I want to come in and file an official missing person’s report,” I said.
Another sigh. “That’s your prerogative, but chances are, your sister will show up before you’re done with the paperwork.”
My temper was starting to rise, and I was tired and worried enough that I couldn’t completely keep it down. “Isn’t your job supposed to be helping people, not turning them away?”
“I think you need to calm down, miss.”
I felt my jaw drop. Had she seriously just told me to calm down?
“I’d like to speak with your supervisor,” I said through clenched teeth.
“I don’t think that will be necessary,” Officer Carter replied evenly.
“Hanna.”
A quiet voice said my name before I could respond. I looked up to see Cross standing over me, his face blank. His eyes, however, were a storm of emotion. He was holding out his hand and, after a moment, I realized that he wanted my phone.
I handed it over without a word. While I’d always tried to be smart about things, I’d also learned the value of listening to my gut. And, right now, instinct was telling me to trust Cross to get things done.
“This is Cross Phillips.” He spoke into the phone without looking away from me. “With whom am I speaking?” He paused a moment, getting his answer, I supposed. “Officer Carter, I’m going to ask this only once, and I want you to understand that it’s not actually a request.”
Well, damn.
“I would like to speak with your supervisor.”
He took a step back so that he wasn’t in my personal space, and then finally broke his gaze. I half-expected Officer Carter to give him the same shit lines she’d given me, but most of me doubted it. When he spoke again, he confirmed what I was thinking.
“Lieutenant, as I’m sure your Desk Sergeant informed you, we have a bit of a problem going on here, and Officer Carter hasn’t been exactly helpful.” He turned away so that I couldn’t see his face. “Now, I don’t want to see her get in any trouble. I don’t want to see anyone get in any trouble, but I do expect that these concerns be taken seriously.”
There was a hard tone in his voice that I’d never heard before. The sort of tone that suggested whoever he spoke to would find it best just to do as he or she was told. I thought about being on the receiving end of that voice and a not-so unpleasant thrill went through me.
“I understand you have your procedures,” he continued. “But I also know that the police department I support would never suggest that a woman’s request for help was unimportant. In fact, Chief Spinner has repeatedly told me what an excellent job his people do. I’d hate to think that I’ll need to call him and tell him otherwise.”
He was silent for a few moments and then nodded in a way that made the tension in me relax ever so slightly. He’d gotten results.
“No, I don’t think she needs to come to the station. I’d prefer she
“She doesn’t have a boyfriend,” I snapped.
Even as I said it, I thought about Sam, the man Juliette had been with last night. Was it possible that Juliette had gone back to the apartment to change her clothes before she and Sam went out together? Maybe to breakfast? I shook my head even as the thought was crossing my mind. She would’ve called to make sure I was okay once she’d seen I wasn’t in the apartment like I should have been.
“I’m new to the city,” I said suddenly, interrupting whatever the officer had been saying. “She wouldn’t have just left without telling me.”
“Maybe she would’ve if she thought you were...occupied where you were.”
The insinuation made me bristle. “Excuse me?”
“No need to get riled up, miss.”
I wasn’t sure if the slight slip into a Southern accent was mocking my own, or if the woman was actually from the south. I didn’t care either way. I was focused more on the fact that she wasn’t helping me.
“I want to come in and file an official missing person’s report,” I said.
Another sigh. “That’s your prerogative, but chances are, your sister will show up before you’re done with the paperwork.”
My temper was starting to rise, and I was tired and worried enough that I couldn’t completely keep it down. “Isn’t your job supposed to be helping people, not turning them away?”
“I think you need to calm down, miss.”
I felt my jaw drop. Had she seriously just told me to calm down?
“I’d like to speak with your supervisor,” I said through clenched teeth.
“I don’t think that will be necessary,” Officer Carter replied evenly.
“Hanna.”
A quiet voice said my name before I could respond. I looked up to see Cross standing over me, his face blank. His eyes, however, were a storm of emotion. He was holding out his hand and, after a moment, I realized that he wanted my phone.
I handed it over without a word. While I’d always tried to be smart about things, I’d also learned the value of listening to my gut. And, right now, instinct was telling me to trust Cross to get things done.
“This is Cross Phillips.” He spoke into the phone without looking away from me. “With whom am I speaking?” He paused a moment, getting his answer, I supposed. “Officer Carter, I’m going to ask this only once, and I want you to understand that it’s not actually a request.”
Well, damn.
“I would like to speak with your supervisor.”
He took a step back so that he wasn’t in my personal space, and then finally broke his gaze. I half-expected Officer Carter to give him the same shit lines she’d given me, but most of me doubted it. When he spoke again, he confirmed what I was thinking.
“Lieutenant, as I’m sure your Desk Sergeant informed you, we have a bit of a problem going on here, and Officer Carter hasn’t been exactly helpful.” He turned away so that I couldn’t see his face. “Now, I don’t want to see her get in any trouble. I don’t want to see anyone get in any trouble, but I do expect that these concerns be taken seriously.”
There was a hard tone in his voice that I’d never heard before. The sort of tone that suggested whoever he spoke to would find it best just to do as he or she was told. I thought about being on the receiving end of that voice and a not-so unpleasant thrill went through me.
“I understand you have your procedures,” he continued. “But I also know that the police department I support would never suggest that a woman’s request for help was unimportant. In fact, Chief Spinner has repeatedly told me what an excellent job his people do. I’d hate to think that I’ll need to call him and tell him otherwise.”
He was silent for a few moments and then nodded in a way that made the tension in me relax ever so slightly. He’d gotten results.
“No, I don’t think she needs to come to the station. I’d prefer she
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