Internal Affair Read Online Free PDF Page B

the dry cleaners.”
    Separating herself from the others, she took out her cell phone and put in a call for a squad car. The second she closed the phone, the bank manager was on her, telling her how grateful he was to her and her partner and asking if there was anything he could do to show his deep appreciation.
    “Other than giving away a five-pound box of tens to charity, I’d say hire a security guard. The next time you might not be so lucky.”
    The man was still thanking her profusely as she crossed back to Patrick and the prisoner. It was hard to say which of the two men glared at her harder.
    She didn’t do recrimination well. “What’s your problem?”
    Patrick made the prisoner face the wall as they waited for the squad car to arrive. His voice was cold. “I don’t like showboating.”
    “So I won’t invite you to a boat show the next time there’s one at the marina. Anything else?”
    “Yes, did it ever occur to you that you could have gotten your head blown off?”
    “Frankly, I didn’t have time to think things through to their grisly end.” Maggi moved her head from side to side. “See? It’s still attached and in good working order.”
    “Just barely.” The last thing he wanted was to lose another partner in the line of duty. He’d had enough department funerals to last a lifetime.
    “That’s all that counts.” She kept her voice cheerful as approaching sirens grew louder. The cavalry had arrived. “Ah, that’s always such a comforting sound.” She looked at the prisoner. “Bet you don’t think so, do you?”
    “Bitch,” the bank robber spit out. The next moment, he found himself spun around and held up an inch off the ground. The man’s feet came in contact with air as Patrick yanked him up.
    “What’s your name?” Patrick growled at the man.
    The bank robber fought for oxygen and against numbing panic. “Joe. Joe Wellington.”
    “Well, Joe, Joe Wellington, talk nice to the lady or the next time it won’t be soap you’ll be tasting in your mouth.” Patrick’s look was dark, malevolent. “Do I make myself clear?”
    “Clear,” the bank robber gasped out. His eyes were glassy as they regarded Patrick.
    Filled with disgust, Patrick all but threw him down. He then became aware that Maggi was grinning at him like some damn Cheshire cat.
    “And just when I thought you didn’t like me,” she said.
    “I don’t like you,” he replied tersely. She didn’t stop grinning. To say it got on his nerves gave new meaning to the word understatement. “What the hell are you talking about?”
    “You defended my honor. I’m flattered.”
    He didn’t want her making anything out of it. It had been purely reflexive reaction. “I did it to defend the honor of the badge. It wasn’t done to flatter you.”
    “Call it a side effect.”
    He had no time to retort. The backup she’d summoned arrived that moment.
    It was just as well, he decided. The sooner they got back to the precinct, the sooner things would get back to normal. Whatever that was.

    “Buy you lunch?”
    It was a little more than an hour later and the would-be bank robber had been sent to be processed through the system. Cavanaugh was writing up the report, annoyed at the time this took away from the homicide they were supposed to investigate.
    He waved his hand at Maggi as if she were an annoying fruit fly buzzing around his head.
    Maggi held up a twenty almost in front of his nose. “Now that I’ve had a chance to cash my check, I can afford to splurge a little. I feel like celebrating. Join me,” she coaxed. She knew how dangerous the situation could have gotten, despite her earlier disclaimer to him. The fact that it hadn’t gone badly, that she and everyone else were able to walk away, was a fantastic high she wasn’t close to coming down from.
    He ignored her and the bill she held up. “Not interested.”
    “Don’t you eat?” She bent down until her face was level with his. The ends of her hair brushed