Read Online Vicious by Debra Webb - Free Book Online Page B

some help. Did Detective Wells mention we have a vacancy on our team?”
    Hayes smiled, the kind of flirtatious expression that made the ladies sit up and pay attention. “Actually, I heard the rumor and thought I’d get the jump on any official posting.”
    Ambitious too, Jess admired that in a cop. “You’re acquainted with Detective Wells, do you also know Sergeant Harper?”
    Hayes dipped his head. “I’m familiar with his reputation. Wells and I have run into each other from time to time socially.”
    Do tell . Jess would be asking Lori about that one. She never mentioned having socialized with the man. Not that Jess could blame her. “You’ve been in Admin for years, Lieutenant. Moving directly to a major crimes team could be challenging.”
    “My marksmanship score is perfect, every time. I have buddies in SWAT and I routinely take part in their training drills. I enjoy a challenge, Chief.”
    Cook cleared his throat and then coughed. Hayes ignored him.
    “Physical prowess can bring down the bad guy,” Jess allowed, opting not to permit him to see just how impressed she was even if Cook wasn’t, “but it won’t provide you with the instincts to find a killer. Close attention to detail and understanding the motives that drive those who commit acts of violence are the skills you need to be a part of this team, Lieutenant.”
    “I’m a quick study,” he pressed. “We all have to begin somewhere.”
    Well, he had her there . “When can you start?”
    “Is now too soon for you?”
    His answer surprised her. “Your chief won’t have an issue with you leaving without sufficient notice?”
    “I cleared the move with him this morning.”
    Confidence was another admirable trait, but too much was not.
    “If you would have me,” he said as if reading her mind, or maybe her cocked eyebrow, “Chief McCord was agreeable to an immediate move. Admin is a bit overstaffed so a loss in manpower isn’t an issue.”
    Making the decision without having an in-depth look at his personnel file and a proper interview, including a discussion with her team, was not how she’d planned to do this. Lori seemed to think he was a good guy. Harper hadn’t mentioned any complaints or misgivings. SPU desperately needed another warm body. He was here and anxious to start.
    “Would you be open to a six-month trial period?” Jess offered. “This is a tight group, Lieutenant. The work we do requires a certain level of trust and cohesiveness.”
    “I have no objections to a probationary period,” he assured her.
    “Excellent.” She stood and reached across her desk. “Welcome to the team.”
    Hayes followed suit and gave her hand another hearty shake. “Thank you, Chief. You won’t regret the decision.”
    The obnoxious ringtone Jess despised called out from her bag. Most days she wanted desperately to change the damned thing but it made hers different from everyone else’s.
    “Officer Cook, show the lieutenant around,” Jess suggested. They were crammed into one reasonably good-sized room for now so there wasn’t much to see.
    While Cook grudgingly gave Hayes a tour, Jess fished around in her bag for her phone. It had stopped ringing by the time she dug past the M&Ms and the other stuff to find it.
    “Dammit.” The call was from Virginia but it wasn’t Gant. Patricia Lanier, her realtor. Anticipation had Jess’s nerves jumping as she returned the call. This could be the news on her house she’d been waiting for.
    Jess needed the sale on her house in Stafford closed and any equity after all was said and done in her bank account. The last she’d heard the only glitch was narrowing down a workable closing date for both parties. “Hey, Patricia, this is Jess Harris returning your call.”
    “Thank you for calling back so quickly, Jess. All is in order and I’m just trying to coordinate the buyer’s schedule with yours. Would Thursday, September thirtieth, or Friday, October first, work for you?”
    Jess checked