Anarchy Read Online Free Page A

didn’t leave cells unlocked.”
    â€œSir—”
    â€œI don’t want to hear it.”
    There was a long silence. She contemplated the shiny purple hideousness of the prime minister’s tie.
    â€œAm I dismissed, sir?”
    The desk squealed again as Staff Sergeant Cope levered himself off it. “Here’s what you’re going to do.” He tried to stare authoritatively, but the effect was weakened by the obvious fact that he was minding his next words. His unspoken, forbidden thought was as plain as his uniform: Damn female officers. Why’d they have to send me a damn female. If she could get him to say that aloud it would be him who got demoted, not her, but she knew he wouldn’t, and she hated all that minority crap anyway. “You get the kid. I mean you.” He stabbed a finger at her, stopping just short of touching. “You’ve got”—he looked at his watch to make the point, though there was a big clock on the wall right behind her—“twenty-nine hours till the ferry goes. And Jonas doesn’t do any extra time today. I’ll go tell him that myself, right now.”
    She stayed at attention, waiting for the rest.
    Cope squinted at her. “Something not clear?”
    She was careful to repress a dubious frown. “Just me, sir?”
    â€œJust you. You screwed up, you fix it. And don’t go shouting about what you’re doing either, you understand me? Last thing I want is the Jennifer Knox circus coming back to town. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that’s my number one priority.”
    She had to look at him now, to be certain she was understanding him correctly. “You don’t want me to submit a report?”
    â€œNo, Maculloch, I don’t want you to submit a damn report. I’m not reopening this case, and neither are you. You’re just going to . . .” He tried to do an authoritative version of a vague gesture; the overall effect wasn’t impressive. “Tidy it up.”
    â€œWhat if we . . . What if I don’t?”
    â€œDon’t what?”
    â€œWhat if I don’t find her, sir?”
    â€œWouldn’t that be great?” She thought it best not to say anything. She could see him gathering a head of steam again. He hooked his thumbs in his belt. “You know what this is? It’s what they call a win-win situation. If you find her you find her, if you don’t then we all pray she’s gone for good, and if someone asks what happened there’s only one person whose fault it is.” The redness reached his cheeks. “That’s you, Maculloch. In case you’re wondering.” His radio gargled again. “What is it?”
    A voice Goose recognized as belonging to one of the Hardy station support staff began something about a tree down on the road. He cut it off. “Give me a minute. I’m almost done here.” She met his eye, imagining the tackle: low and hard, the air oofing out of the bag. Perhaps he saw something of it; he took a step back and fiddled with his collar.
    â€œOkay. Dismissed. You can start hunting around. Quietly, you understand? Think of it as a favor. No one else has to know what you did.”
    She shifted on her feet. “They’ll be expecting her up in George.”
    He glared. “Then maybe you’d better track her down. ’Cause I’m damn well not going to, nor are any of my other officers. We’ve got better things to do than cover your ass.” He opened the door again. Pute, a crow snapped from the roof. “Nothing personal.” He paused in the doorway. “You got anything else you want to say?”
    â€œI didn’t leave the cell open, sir.”
    His shoulders sagged. “You know what? I don’t care.” He lowered his voice. “One way or another, she’s not going to be my problem.”
    â€œSir.”
    He raised sausagey fingers and ticked