Read Online When Love Intrudes (When the Mission Ends) by Christi Snow - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Christi Snow
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Number.”
“Detective Barnes,” he answered.
Silence came across the line, but he could hear someone breathing heavily.
“You either need to speak up now or I’m hanging up the phone. If you have an emergency, you need to call 911.”
“Detective?”
“Yes, who am I speaking to?”
“This…this is Mark Hunter. I need to talk to you.”
Yes. Maybe this day hadn’t been a total waste. “Okay, well I’m actually still at work. Can you come down to the police station?”
“No, no, I can’t come into the police station until I talk to Matt. I need to find Matt.” The guy sounded confused and freaked out and that concerned Brian.
“O…kay. Do you want to tell me what this is about? Are you hurt? Are you in danger?”
“No, I just need to talk to you, in person, but not at the police station.” His panic was obvious even over the phone lines. “Can we meet at The Mocha Mermaid?”
The Mermaid was a local coffee shop over by the campus. The public location would work for a meeting. “Do you mind if I bring my partner, Eddie?”
“No, your partner would be fine. I’ll meet you there in thirty minutes.” The connection went dead as Mark hung up.
As Brian glanced down at his watch, he grimaced. 10:30. Eddie had a family life that he tried to keep somewhat steady in defiance of his job. This type of interference was entirely too common and the main cause of divorce for detectives in their department. They all worked way too many hours and if they had the manpower, would work even more because there was always more that could and should be done.
Deciding the risk with the public meeting place was virtually non-existent, Brian called Eddie so he knew what was going on in case something did go wrong, but told him not to worry about coming. Brian could handle the meeting by himself.
An hour and a half later, Brian still waited for the missing Mark. He never showed and now Brian had drunk enough coffee to ensure that he’d have another restless night imagining Toni in the next room. Damn, he really should have gone decaf.
Knowing that Eddie would already be asleep for the night, he sent him a quick text to let him know that Mark never showed and that he would be late the next morning since he planned to go by his house to check on things.
* * *
As expected, Brian slept like crap for the second night in a row. When he’d gotten home there hadn’t been a single sign of his new roommates, as they were all sound asleep, even the dog, but that didn’t stop his obsession with Toni in a bed in his house.
Coming down the stairs, he knotted his tie and glanced out the front window. Toni’s car was already gone. Nathan’s door was pulled mostly closed, but he peeked in to make sure the kid was okay. Like any normal teen, he was dead to the world at this hour of the morning, which was good. He needed the extra rest. His bruises were beginning to fade, but the kid still looked rough.
Sam was the only one to greet him and he did so with a wagging tail and a push of his snout at Brian’s hand. He capitulated and scratched the dog behind his ears before heading into the kitchen. On the breakfast bar, there were two notes: one labeled for him and one for Nathan. His was edged under a doughnut box and an empty coffee cup. He slid it out to read it.
Detective,
Since I don’t want to poison you so early in our relationship, I bought you some doughnuts for breakfast. Cops like those, right? Although, from the glimpse I saw of you yesterday, I’m guessing you don’t indulge all that often. I’ll figure out something healthier for tomorrow. You can thank me by showing up for a meal sans shirt again. Nathan and I promise to only drool in an appropriate manner, so you feel appreciated, but not objectified.
And we do appreciate you. Your house is wonderful and we love it. It’s just too bad that you never seem to be home to enjoy it. Call me if you’ll make it home for dinner tonight…and again,
“Detective Barnes,” he answered.
Silence came across the line, but he could hear someone breathing heavily.
“You either need to speak up now or I’m hanging up the phone. If you have an emergency, you need to call 911.”
“Detective?”
“Yes, who am I speaking to?”
“This…this is Mark Hunter. I need to talk to you.”
Yes. Maybe this day hadn’t been a total waste. “Okay, well I’m actually still at work. Can you come down to the police station?”
“No, no, I can’t come into the police station until I talk to Matt. I need to find Matt.” The guy sounded confused and freaked out and that concerned Brian.
“O…kay. Do you want to tell me what this is about? Are you hurt? Are you in danger?”
“No, I just need to talk to you, in person, but not at the police station.” His panic was obvious even over the phone lines. “Can we meet at The Mocha Mermaid?”
The Mermaid was a local coffee shop over by the campus. The public location would work for a meeting. “Do you mind if I bring my partner, Eddie?”
“No, your partner would be fine. I’ll meet you there in thirty minutes.” The connection went dead as Mark hung up.
As Brian glanced down at his watch, he grimaced. 10:30. Eddie had a family life that he tried to keep somewhat steady in defiance of his job. This type of interference was entirely too common and the main cause of divorce for detectives in their department. They all worked way too many hours and if they had the manpower, would work even more because there was always more that could and should be done.
Deciding the risk with the public meeting place was virtually non-existent, Brian called Eddie so he knew what was going on in case something did go wrong, but told him not to worry about coming. Brian could handle the meeting by himself.
An hour and a half later, Brian still waited for the missing Mark. He never showed and now Brian had drunk enough coffee to ensure that he’d have another restless night imagining Toni in the next room. Damn, he really should have gone decaf.
Knowing that Eddie would already be asleep for the night, he sent him a quick text to let him know that Mark never showed and that he would be late the next morning since he planned to go by his house to check on things.
* * *
As expected, Brian slept like crap for the second night in a row. When he’d gotten home there hadn’t been a single sign of his new roommates, as they were all sound asleep, even the dog, but that didn’t stop his obsession with Toni in a bed in his house.
Coming down the stairs, he knotted his tie and glanced out the front window. Toni’s car was already gone. Nathan’s door was pulled mostly closed, but he peeked in to make sure the kid was okay. Like any normal teen, he was dead to the world at this hour of the morning, which was good. He needed the extra rest. His bruises were beginning to fade, but the kid still looked rough.
Sam was the only one to greet him and he did so with a wagging tail and a push of his snout at Brian’s hand. He capitulated and scratched the dog behind his ears before heading into the kitchen. On the breakfast bar, there were two notes: one labeled for him and one for Nathan. His was edged under a doughnut box and an empty coffee cup. He slid it out to read it.
Detective,
Since I don’t want to poison you so early in our relationship, I bought you some doughnuts for breakfast. Cops like those, right? Although, from the glimpse I saw of you yesterday, I’m guessing you don’t indulge all that often. I’ll figure out something healthier for tomorrow. You can thank me by showing up for a meal sans shirt again. Nathan and I promise to only drool in an appropriate manner, so you feel appreciated, but not objectified.
And we do appreciate you. Your house is wonderful and we love it. It’s just too bad that you never seem to be home to enjoy it. Call me if you’ll make it home for dinner tonight…and again,
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