Veiled Threat Read Online Free PDF Page A

chair away from his desk. “Coffee, Giulia?”
    “Thank you, no.” She sat. “I saw the latest accident on the news. At least this time no one was hurt.”
    “Frank, you want coffee?”
    “I’ll get it for myself. Behave.”
    Giulia smiled up at Jimmy. “This is where you tell me how much better I’ll have it if I come work for you.”
    “Well …”
    “And this is where I tell you, as politely as possible, that I’m happy where I am.”
    Frank’s wide shoulders filled the doorway. “And this is where I’m glad that I don’t mind black coffee when the need arises. Didn’t waste any time, did you?”
    Jimmy grinned. “Doggedness. It got me where I am today.”
    Giulia seized the opening. “I’m just as persistent. Thank you for letting us come talk to you this morning.”
    His grin flattened. “I’m not happy about this, but you both know that. Frank, close the door.”
    When the escalating chaos in the outer room dimmed, he sat at his desk. “I don’t have to tell you that in an ordinary situation I’d rip Frank a new one rather than let you in on a police case.” He cleared his throat. “My apologies. But you have to realize, Giulia, that this is our job. The police have a handle on this situation, especially since the parents refuse to contact the FBI.”
    Giulia sat as though she was interviewing for the job he was always after her to take. “With respect, Captain, I think there are important ancillary facts that require more emphasis placed on them. The other kidnappings, first of all.”
    “The other—wait a minute.” He clicked his mouse several times. “There’s a footnote in the report, but …” He picked up his phone and punched two numbers. “Poole, my office.”
    A beardless Abraham Lincoln entered a minute later.
    Jimmy looked up from his screen. “Poole, the Drury-Sandov kidnapping. What’s this about copycats?”
    Poole shrugged. “The women yammered about dead babies up in Ohio and Erie somewhere. Months ago. Didn’t mean a thing.” His deep voice sounded like a classic Lincoln portrayal, but its scorn belonged to a TV political talking head. “Davis and I are thorough. It’s in the report.”
    Giulia dug her fingernails into her palms. “Excuse me. This kidnapping isn’t a copycat. It’s the third in a series.”
    His expression dismissed her. “Anything else, Cap?”
    Jimmy’s gaze took in all three of them. “Yes. Unless you want six weeks of retraining, work on your definition of ‘thorough.’ I know Davis thinks you’re God’s gift to rookies, but if I catch him copying your attitude, I’ll reassign both of you.”
    Poole glared at Giulia and Frank. “You’re telling me that you think those—women know more about investigations than me?”
    Frank gave him a cold smile. “Nothing changes around here, does it?”
    Poole sneered. “That’s why you’re here, Driscoll? Cap still thinks you got some magic insight spell that’ll solve the case and get your picture in the paper?”
    “Enough.” Jimmy slammed his hand on a stack of manila folders. “Poole, I’ll talk to you and Davis later. Close the door behind you.”
    Jimmy dropped his head into his hands. “Asshole. So much for the speech I had all planned out for this meeting.” He sat up and turned his monitor toward the end of the desk. “I will now do something officially stupid but morally correct. Come around here, you two.”
    Giulia clamped down hard on her own speech. Unproductive. Katie’s important. Not that idiot. Take it out at the gym tonight.
    The small office appeared to shrink further as the three of them crowded into the corner. The monitor was not quite large enough to show two documents side-by-side at a legible size.
    “Frank, I was all set to tell you to quit straddling the fence. You’re not a cop anymore and all that. But I didn’t realize Poole was still butthurt over always being in your shadow.”
    “What about his partner?” Frank said.
    Jimmy shook his head.