Page 19 of Protected
“You’ll have to wait and see.” She grinned as she ended the call. In her hand, she held a tray with two coffee cups and a box of fresh Danishes.
She entered the station and got on the elevator to go up to his office. When she got there, she knocked on his door but didn’t wait for an answer.
“Morning, Michael.” A bright smile was plastered on her face and she kept her tone cheerful.
After she placed the coffee and pastry box on his desk, she walked around to his side and kissed his cheek. Choosing a sweet treat for herself, she settled into one of his chairs.
He picked up the coffee, looking grateful and drank. He paused, his cup halfway to his lips.
“Wait, a minute. What do you want, Darci? You wouldn’t be trying to bribe an officer of the law, would you?” He scowled at her but drank the coffee. He groaned in appreciation.
“I would never do that,” she said, feigning shock that he would even suggest such a thing. She could tell he wasn’t buying it.
“Oh, don’t give me that innocent look. We both know better. Spill it kid.”
“Come on, Michael, I’m not asking you to give away state secrets. I need something to go on. The ACSL needs to issue a statement, and we can’t do that without details.”
“What details do you need? Jesus, Darci. Marlie Dixon was killed with a knife in her own bed.”
“Do you have any suspects?”
“Not yet. We’re following all leads.” His voice was devoid of all emotion.
“And what leads would those be?” She wouldn’t let him off the hook that easily.
“Darci, you’re killing me. I can’t talk about this.”
She pouted, and he threw his hands up. “Fine, we don’t have any leads but damn it, Darci, you can’t print that.”
“Fine, fine, I won’t. I promise. Stop treating me like a reporter. You know I don’t do news on my blog. I just want to make sure you aren’t going to spin this as a negative on my community.”
“First, it’s my community too, since you fucking dragged me into it, and second, I’m a police officer, Darci, not a journalist. I don’t spin anything.”
Darci rolled her eyes. “No, but your boss, the chief of police does. We both know that job is pure politics.”
“I can’t control him. What am I supposed to do?”
“Promise you’ll warn me if you think something like that is coming.”
“I will, Darci. I promise. Can we just drink our coffee and be friends for a little while?”
She sighed, “Sure Michael. One more question, though.”
He groaned but agreed. “One and that’s it. I mean it, Darci.”
“Why was her involvement in S&M put on blast in the papers? Was there an S&M aspect to her death?”
He closed his eyes. “You don’t miss much do you? Darci, she was tied to her bed, but it wasn’t just a quick and dirty tie. He took his time, and it was someone who knows bondage the way the people in our world do. But also, she apparently went to the Midnight Diamond last night after her benefit. She was wearing the club’s wristband and somehow the press got a hold of that little detail.”
Darci’s face paled at his words. The last thing the community needed was an impostor killing women and calling it BDSM.
“This is why I want you to be careful, damn it,” he growled. “Now, can we please enjoy our coffee?”
They spent the next twenty minutes catching up and enjoying the gourmet coffee and Danishes. She kissed his cheek again when it was time to leave.
“I noticed you were alone again at the club this weekend. You should let me set you up with one of my girlfriends to play with.” When he rolled his eyes at her suggestion, she flashed him a broad grin.
“Go back to work kid. You’re bugging me. I play with plenty of the women at Exposure. Just because I don’t date doesn’t mean I’m not having fun.” She laughed as she walked out of his office, smiling.
