Catching the Bad Guy (Book Two) (Janet Maple Series) Read Online Free Page A

her notepad. “Now, can we please go?”
    Dennis held the door open. “After you,
my lady.”
    Staff meetings always took place in the
main conference room, and, at least in this regard, Alex’s regime was no
different. When Janet entered the conference room she saw that most of her
colleagues were already there. The conference room had one long, rectangular
table in the middle with about fifteen chairs around it. These seats always
became the spoils of those who arrived early and were, at the moment, all occupied.
Normally, there were additional folding chairs placed against the wall but now
they were nowhere in sight, leaving those who had not been sufficiently speedy
in their arrival standing on their feet. “Great,” Janet grumbled, leaning
against the wall.
    “Hey there, Janet.” Peter Laskin nodded
at her. “How is it going?”
    Peter Laskin was the department’s top
analyst. Unlike Dennis, Peter rarely worked the field, but he was a whiz at
analyzing data.
    “Is that a new shampoo you’re using,
Peter?” Dennis cut in. “Your hair looks really bouncy today.”
    When Janet first met Laskin he had been
bald and wore glasses. Then, after an extended leave of absence, Laskin
returned with a full head of hair and glasses-free. This transformation became
an endless source of jabs, which Dennis unleashed on Laskin daily. “Why thank
you, Dennis. Yes, as a matter of fact it is,” Laskin replied. “I think that
people should never stop improving themselves, wouldn’t you agree?”
    “I agree completely.” Janet could not
help having a soft spot for Laskin: all those hair plugs must have hurt a great
deal.
    Their conversation was cut short by Alex
entering the room. He was accompanied by a statuesque blonde with long legs and
very large breasts who looked to be about twenty-five years old. She was
dressed in a low-cut blouse and a black miniskirt.
    Alex stood at the head of the table. As
much as the sight turned Janet’s stomach, she had to admit that Alex projected
dominance. Instantly, voices quieted and complete silence filled the room.
“Thank you all for meeting with me on such short notice,” Alex began.
    As if anyone here had a choice, Janet
snorted inwardly.
    “I would like to begin by introducing
myself. As most of you already know, my name is Alex Kingsley. I am the new
head of the Investigations department.” Alex paused. “I know that Hamilton
Kirk, the former head of this department, was greatly respected and loved by
all of you.”
    There were several nods and excited
yeses, which quickly faded under Alex’s glare. “I have been asked to assume this
post for several reasons: my experience at the DA’s office and my management
style. We’ve got a great deal of work to do, and it will require everyone’s
unwavering dedication.” Alex paused, surveying the room. “I will be frank with
you: there have been reports of questionable techniques being used during
investigations. And I will tell you right now that I will not stand for rule
infractions of any kind.”
    Alex’s glance fell on Dennis and Janet,
making Janet wish she could fall through the floor right then and there. “Now,
I do not know how true these allegations are,” Alex continued, “but I am
determined to find out. I will be meeting with each and every one of you to
review the cases that you have worked on in the past year. I expect your full
cooperation in this process. My assistant”—Alex motioned toward the
blonde—“Georgiana Russell manages my schedule and will be scheduling the
meetings shortly.”
    I wonder what else she manages, Janet
wondered, remembering how unceremoniously Alex had discharged Ham’s former
assistant, Ann. But then Ann was neither tall nor blond nor young, which were
skills that Alex obviously considered to be vital in an assistant.
    “That’s all for today,” Alex concluded.
“Thank you all for coming.”
    As they filed out of the conference
room, Janet caught Alex’s sideways