Maniacal: A Detective Jade Monroe Crime Thriller Book 1 Read Online Free

as Jack drove back toward town. Around us were neat, clean houses sprinkled a half mile apart with a lot of farm fields in between. Parents raised their kids there. School buses picked up those same youngsters at the end of the driveway. Violent crime was uncommon in Washburn County. North Bend, the largest city in the immediate area—and the county seat—was still considered primarily a rural, folksy town. Maybe that was what the killer was counting on.
    We drove in silence for a few minutes. Different scenarios popped in and out of my mind, and I felt a headache coming on. My temples began to pound.
    “Are there any aspirin in the car?” I opened the glove box and began a fruitless search.
    “Doubt it.”
    I groaned and rubbed my damp head. “Does Doug seem off to you lately?”
    “You mean more than usual? Like how exactly?” Jack glanced in my direction, his right eyebrow raised.
    “I can’t put my finger on it, just more matter-of-fact, I guess, and since when does he call me Sergeant instead of Jade?”
    “Yeah, that’s a recent change, but you were just promoted.”
    “I think he’s still humiliated that I turned down his dinner invitation. I mean, for God’s sake, two days after Lance moved out, he asked me on a date. I’m so over men… nothing personal.”
    Jack laughed. “I’m not taking it personally, but now that you mention it, you could be right. Don’t forget, it was his wife who climbed the corporate ladder and divorced him. Doug makes good money, but Linda’s income dwarfed his. I think he was actually envious of her, then she moved on without him. I bet he thought he’d have a shot with you.”
    I laughed. “Yeah, I don’t think so. According to what everyone said, Doug and Linda weren’t the best match anyway.”
    “Right, but maybe he feels you knocked him down a few pegs by dismissing his dinner invite.”
    I gave Jack a stare. “Coworkers shouldn’t fraternize anyway. I just wish he’d go back to calling me Jade like he used to.”
    “You might be overthinking this, partner. Doug’s an all-right guy. He’s probably getting tired of the daily grind.”
    “But he’s been the ME forever.”
    “Exactly. Speaking of Lance, how’s it going with him anyway?”
    I smirked. “Were we?”
    “His name came up ten minutes ago. Anyway, what’s going on with him?”
    “He drives me nuts. He calls or texts almost daily to see if I’ve set up an appointment with a Realtor yet. He can’t wait to get the house sold so he has his half of the money. I’m sure his little girlfriend is anxious for him to propose so they can start a family. He’s a pain in my butt.”
    “You still sound bitter.”
    I jerked my head to the left and stared at Jack again. “Seriously? Our divorce was just finalized two months ago. I actually thought I was going to be married to that man for life. I think I’m allowed to be bitter, at least for a few more months. There isn’t a handbook for the way to feel after a betrayal, you know.”
    “Sorry. I didn’t mean to be insensitive.”
    “I’m sorry too. I didn’t mean to bite your head off. How’s the Internet dating going? Find any hot babes yet?” I laughed when I noticed Jack blush.
    “It’s going…very slowly.” He shrugged. “I never knew how much people exaggerate until after I met a few gals. They say they’re single yet somehow forget to mention they have four kids under the age of ten.” He shook his head and smirked. “So far, I’ve struck out in the romance department. For now, the online dating is getting shelved. It looks like we might be busy with this case anyway.”
    “You’ll find the right girl when you least expect it. So the saying goes.”
    I gave Jack a thoughtful gaze. At thirty-five, he was a handsome man and a really good friend. Short, nicely styled black hair and dark eyes mixed with that dimpled grin made him more than appealing. His muscular body and six-foot frame always made me feel safe in his presence.