Open Wounds Read Online Free Page B

several notches and he could feel the temperature plummeting. He rubbed a hand over his face.
    Kellie’s blue eyes turned frosty and her jaw clenched at Donovan’s words. She stepped inside his office, her hips swaying enticingly, and Alec wasn’t the only one who noticed. Darryl’s body had tensed and his hungry gaze swept over her womanly figure as if she was a banquet he planned to dine on.
    Had his desire for Cait been so obvious all those years ago? God only knew, he’d tried to hide it, even ignore it. But some things were meant to be.
    “I think you know the answer to that, Mia,” Kellie told her. “Michael Lambert filed a grievance against you for excessive force and bodily harm and from what I hear, he has the bruises to back it up. I’ve been assigned to watch you , every move you make.”
    Donovan’s face turned red and her hands clenched into fists. He quickly moved between the two women before blood could be spilled and gave Darryl a steely warning that told the younger man his thoughts had not gone unnoticed. Darryl blushed and looked away.
    “Like hell you are,” Donovan spat.
    Kellie stepped closer to Donovan, seeming oblivious to the waves of pure fury emanating from her. “You have two options, Mia. Deal with me or you’re suspended without pay until my investigation is complete.”
    Donovan stepped threateningly towards Kellie, who stood her ground. Alec’s respect for her went up a notch. Darryl started to move forward to intercede but he placed a quelling hand on the man’s arm. Darryl shot him a questioning look but he ignored it and focused on the women.
    “You’re playing a dangerous game, Kellie. I don’t take threats lightly.”
    Kellie laughed humourlessly. “It’s not a threat, Mia, it’s a promise. One I will make good on if you fail to include me in every facet of this case. That pain in your arse that you’re feeling right now — that’s me, and it isn’t going away until I do.”
    Alec’s mouth twitched up at her choice of words. Hadn’t he just been referring to Donovan as his pain in the arse? It was a nice change of pace.
    “Now that you ladies are reacquainted,” Alec said in a voice that told them he’d had enough, “let’s work together amicably for a positive resolution.”
    He saw his tone register in the bodies of the two women and their backs both straightened at the reprimand and turned to him. Both were composed but the emotion swirling in their eyes told him this was far from over.
    Kellie stepped away from Donovan and bumped into Darryl’s chest. She spun around sharply as if burned from the contact. “Sorry,” she mumbled.
    Darryl grinned. “No worries.”
    Alec let out a resigned sigh. “Darryl Hill, Kellie Munroe. If you haven’t already figured it out, she’s IA.”
    Kellie obediently raised her hand for the perfunctory shake. Darryl wrapped his much larger hand around her and gently shook it.
    “Detective,” Kellie acknowledged before turning back to Alec.
    “Now,” he said, weariness creeping into his bones. “Are you going to be able to play nice together, or do I have to separate you?”
    Kellie raised a blonde eyebrow at Donovan as if daring her to admit she had a problem with her. Donovan moved past Kellie, her shoulder grazing the other woman’s before taking a seat in one of the chairs by his desk designated for visitors.
    “I don’t have a problem. One IA rat is the same as another in my book,” Donovan replied.
    He growled. Alec swore he spent more time acting like a kindergarten teacher than a superintendent. He supposed that was the best response he would get from his insubordinate detective and turned back to Kellie. She reminded him a lot of his wife, but where Cait was soft, Kellie had a hardness about her. He wasn’t used to seeing that look on someone so young.
    Kellie kept her gaze on his, not bothering to respond to Donovan’s barb.
    “I expect Detective Donovan,” she began formally, “to make an effort