Brenda Joyce - [Francesca Cahil 03] Read Online Free Page A

suspect in his father’s murder, as he had grown up hating the man who had refused to ever acknowledge him or their relationship.
    Bragg sighed a little. “Why don’t you take a sabbatical from your new profession? That would be the best way to manage your parents, I think, should they learn of what happened in the Randall Murder, and it is also the best way to improve your grades.”
    “So there is no new case?” Francesca asked, somewhat glum.
    Bragg sighed. “Francesca, my immediate agenda is to appoint a chief of police, which I have yet to do after being in office for an entire month.”
    She sat up straighter, her interest piqued. “And have you found an honest man for the job?”
    His eyes twinkled. “There are a few honest men on the force, Francesca.”
    “Then I am glad,” she returned with a smile. The city’s police were notoriously corrupt. Bragg was a part of a reform administration, and police reform was on the top of the agenda. Graft and corruption ruled the day among the police, although last week Bragg had demoted 300 wardsmen while reassigning them to different wards, all in the hope of breaking the stranglehold of those officers in their precincts. “Do you have a genuine candidate in mind?”
    “I am thinking of promoting Captain Shea.”
    “Shea?” She was surprised. He was often at the front desk downstairs, and he seemed a mild fellow indeed. “Doesn’t an inspector usually get the job?”
    “Until now,” he said with a wink. “But Shea is honest, although not very forceful. I believe he might do well, with the right encouragement and incentive.”
    Her heart turned over with her admiration for Bragg and her smile failed and she looked at him and wished he were free.
    And he felt it, too, for he did not look away, and in the long moment that ensued, the space between them closed, becoming small and tense. How she wished that things might be different between them. If only he had not been so foolish and impulsive when he had been younger, when he had become infatuated with Leigh Anne. He had married her without knowing her, but that could not be changed.
    Bragg stood abruptly, as if to increase the distance between them. Francesca gripped her purse and did notmove. Suddenly it was so terribly obvious—she wanted more than friendship. Instantly, Francesca was aghast at herself. She must
never
think in such a way again.
    “Of course, you are right. Temporarily I should cease and desist with sleuthing.” She sounded a bit frantic to her own ears, and he turned to face her now, his glance calm but searching. Bragg would never miss a trick, especially from her.
    “I would be extremely pleased should you do that, Francesca,” he said softly.
    She knew he worried about her. She knew he did not like her putting herself in danger. She also stood up. His desk separated them. It was a huge, cluttered, and bulky obstacle between them. “But we do make a wonderful team,” she said.
    For one moment, he did not answer her. His hands were fisted on his hips. She now noticed his posture of tension. When had that happened? He had strong hands, powerful arms. She glanced from his whitened fists to his forearms. They were bare, dusted with dark hair, and all tendon and bone.
    “We make a good team,” he admitted, causing her to start, flush, and look up. “Francesca, may I advise you?”
    “You may always advise me, Bragg. You need not even ask.” She clutched her purse more tightly.
    “Concentrate on your education now. So few women attain a university degree. I know you haven’t had time to study with all the investigative work you have undertaken, and while justice has been served, perhaps, now, you might want to serve yourself
and
calm your parents down.” He smiled at her. “And then I should not have to race about the city, chasing after you.”
    “But it is so nice when we chase about the city together,” she said. And it was even nicer when he worried so, to chase about