“I believe you already know Detective Markland and Detective Slade?” Chief Bibb asked me before glancing at the men in question.
“Yes, sir.”
I met both men briefly during my involvement in the Butcher of Smitsville case. Adam “The Scarface” Markland was an asshole. It pretty much summed him up. He was a big, strong guy, built like a brick wall, with a scar on his face and a chip on his shoulder the size of a Cadillac. His nickname was self-explanatory. He disliked everyone, and people disliked him back, with one exception. Jordan “The Shadow” Slade was the aforementioned exception. He was a timid, confused-looking guy with a bland personality, but his head was screwed on right. He was a decent police officer before his career went down the drain, just like everyone else’s in the Loser’s Division. Why was he called The Shadow? Because where Adam went, Jordan followed, so masochism was clearly one of Jordan’s traits, too.
“As you can see, Bruce Dyer and Shelly Constanza are not here with us,” Chief Bibb continued. “Constanza is on maternity leave, while Dyer retired for health reasons. I believe he is now fishing somewhere… or giving singing lessons… or both. This leaves Markland partnerless. Any volunteers?”
A few chuckles could be heard before Jordan tentatively raised his hand.
Adam looked at him incredulously. “Are you fucking kidding me? Get that hand down, weirdo.”
Jordan made a show of snickering at him, but he did what Adam had said.
“I need you flying solo for now, Detective Slade,” Chief Bibb said, unperturbed by their exchange. “That means Markland and Bradley are now partners. The Ripper case is yours. Don’t screw it up.”
Adam Markland made a noncommittal shrug that told me he hated me a tad less than others. I wasn’t too happy to be partnered up with him either, but he was a better option than the other two sitting in the room. I guessed those two were newcomers, which turned out to be correct after Chief Bibb introduced us.
“Everyone else, meet Detective Bradley. He came here from New Mesa to help us with the Ripper case, which is our utmost priority. Detective Bradley, this is Detective Vile, who joined us last week. She was transferred here from the Domestic Violence Unit.”
“It’s a pleasure,” I said, shaking the hand of a cute, blonde woman who approached me with a wide smile.
“All mine,” she said, checking me out. “Welcome to the LD.”
Immediately, I knew two things about her. She was a former model because she had the looks, and a mom because she wore a bracelet only a child would make. Judging by her cheeky smile, she was a flirt, too, which was why I didn’t want her as a partner,so I dodged a bullet there. Another dodged bullet sat in the corner of the room, staring at his screen as if none of us were present. It was also the only head that didn’t raise when the chief and I entered the room.
“This is Detective Maddox,” Chief Bibb said, following my gaze. The black-haired, black-eyed man looked up from the screen, only to lower his eyes again. Without. A. Word.
“One of those silent types,” Chief Bibb murmured, looking uncomfortable. I couldn’t blame him either. The black-haired dude seemed intense.
“By the way,” the chief said, turning toward me. “I heard we have another Luz situation.”
I made a face, wondering how to explain that mess. “Yes, sir. He got attacked outside of Pete’s last night after defending one of his friends. I still don’t have his official statement, but he was severely beaten up.”
“Where is he now?”
“I had no choice but to take him to my place, sir. He refused to go to the hospital.”
“Good, good,” Chief Bibb mused. “We owe that boy, but trouble seems to find him wherever he goes. Either that or he has the worst luck in the world.”
“It’s a good thing you showed up, Bazooka,” Adam said, chuckling. “I’m sure Luz’s luck will change now.”
I would have flipped him off, but… wrong place, wrong time. Also, when did Luz’s obsession with me become public knowledge? Oh, right… When he almost set a woman on fire at Tye and Carter’s wedding, just because she was chatting with me.
“You’ll take over Luz’s case, Detective Bradley,” Chief Bibb said in a tone that left no room for negotiation. “Find the attackers. Deal with this shit. It’s already given me a headache, and that’s not a good sign.”
After Chief Bibb disappeared into his office, Detective Vile spoke to me in a low voice.
“Is the chief always this serious? He’s making me nervous.”
“I don’t know him that well, but I’d say he is,” I mused. “But he’s a good man, unlike my chief in New Mesa.”
Detective Vile wrinkled her nose in distaste. “Chief Stensland, right? I heard he’s bad news.”
“Yeah, the rumors are correct.”
“Dipped his fingers into a few forbidden jars, from what I’ve heard,” she said with a frown. “Sorry, I’m very blunt.”
“And very correct. No one can prove it, but it’s public knowledge. Honestly, it was a relief to come to the LD, even for a short while.”
