Fugitive Filling Read Online Free Page A

lot of the time. I’m still working, and I don’t plan on shutting the place down anytime soon.”
    “Then I’ll be grateful for every second I get with you,” he said with a smile.
    “Thank you. That might just be the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
    “Oh, I can do better than that, but you’ll have to give me a little time to come up with something,” Jake said as he took my hand in his and we walked the rest of the way to the police station together. I knew that I’d miss Grace on this investigation, but I also realized with all of my heart that I couldn’t have a better partner working alongside me, as long as Jake and I worked out some ground rules first. My husband was used to being in charge, and I didn’t have a problem with that per se, but we were going to be equal partners in this investigation, or it wasn’t going to work at all. I deserved as much of a voice as he did, and I was going to make sure that he knew that right off the bat, or he and I were going to have a problem. I just had to be sure to do it delicately and bring it up with some subtlety.
    “We’re equal partners in this, right?” I asked him, instantly abandoning my former strategy and getting it all out on the spot at once. I never was all that good with nuance anyway.
    “Of course we are. Why wouldn’t we be?” He looked surprised that I’d even asked the question in the first place.
    “I just want to be sure we’re clear right up front. Jake, I know that you’re a great cop, but I bring certain skills to the table myself.”
    “That’s why we’re going to make such a good team,” my husband answered. “We have complementary skill sets.”
    “You do look really nice today,” I said with a grin.
    “Not that kind of compliment,” he said.
    “I know that, you big dummy,” I said as I playfully let go of his hand and smacked his arm. “I just wanted to be sure that you were okay with me contributing to this investigation, too.”
    “You’re kidding, right? Okay with it? Suzanne, I’m counting on it.”
    “Good. I’m glad that’s settled.”
    As we walked into the police station, Jake nodded to the desk clerk and began to walk past him after he greeted us both.
    The man coughed once, and then he said apologetically, “Sorry, Chief, but I need you to sign in on the visitors’ book. I hate to ask, but it’s policy, you know?”
    “Don’t worry about it, Darby. It was my policy in the first place, remember?” Jake asked him with a grin as he did as he was told.
    “I’m not about to forget it,” the cop said. “The chief called and told me that you both can wait in his office. He also said to tell you that he shouldn’t be long.”
    “That’s fine. We’ve got nothing but time at the moment,” Jake said as he led me to his former workspace.
    “I don’t want to be the one who brings this up,” I said once Jake and I were alone in his old digs, “but time really is kind of important in our investigation.”
    “Don’t you think I know that?” Jake asked calmly as he studied an old map on the wall that hadn’t been there when he’d been in charge. “I know we need to get busy with our own investigation, but we can’t let anyone here suspect that we’re going to try to solve this case ourselves. We need to keep a low profile as long as we can.”
    “Jake, you were the police chief not that long ago. How low do you think we can go?”
    “You’re probably right, but we at least have to try,” he said with a sigh. “To be honest with you, I’m not sure how I feel working a case from this side. I’m used to having a badge.”
    “Don’t worry. You’ll get used to it, and I’m here to help with the transition.”
    “That’s what I’m counting on.”

    Less than half an hour later, Stephen Grant came in and joined us. He looked older somehow, as though the weight of his job was pressing heavily upon him. I’d taken a seat, but Jake had been standing behind the desk. He made his