Series: Little Cakes Series by Pepper North
Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45066 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45066 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
“I’m with you, partner.”
The light still illuminated the captain’s office when Avery and Wyatt reached their desks to fill out paperwork. At the sound of their voices in the squad room, Trace jogged into view. He stopped and stared at Avery, obviously searching for injuries, before looking at Wyatt.
“We’re fine, Captain,” Avery reassured him. “I may have to wash my hair four hundred times, but we’re in good shape, and Mr. Alliet has been moved to holding.”
“What happened?” Trace asked, rubbing his hand over the lower section of his face as he tried and failed to disguise his amusement.
“Alliet chose to make his escape through the sewer access but got stuck about fifty feet inside. We wouldn’t have found him if he hadn’t screamed for help at the top of his lungs. Avery got the short end of the stick and had to go in after him. She was the only one who fit. Don’t laugh or I’ll come over and give you a big hug and kiss,” Wyatt threated.
Waving his hands in front of his body to refuse that offer, Trace pinched his nose in sympathy. “You all smell awful. Did you leave your car to be detailed?”
“Much to their displeasure,” Avery confirmed. “When we left, they were threatening to run it through the carwash with the windows down.”
“Why didn’t you stop and shower?” Trace asked.
“We needed a code from you for the paperwork. Someone also thought you might be worried about us,” Avery shared with a nod at Wyatt. “Turns out he was right. You’re working late.”
“Lots for a new captain to catch up on,” Trace informed her without commenting on whether anything else had kept him at his desk.
Avery lifted a brow toward Trace in silent challenge.
“Let me get the code.” Trace walked back to his office, pausing in the door to look back at them, “The sewer, huh?”
Avery sniffed herself and winced. “I’m going to put on forty pounds so I don’t fit in them anymore,” she joked. “My too-burly partner couldn’t get his shoulders inside so I had to squeeze inside and pull Alliet out from where he’d gotten stuck.”
“So, how did you get so dirty?” he asked Wyatt.
“Ever seen mud wrestling?” Wyatt asked with a grimace.
“In the movies, sure,” Trace admitted.
“The takedown looked a lot like that once Avery extricated him. We even got applause from the neighbors who came out to watch. He was a slippery bastard,” Wyatt related.
“Am I going to see it on the evening news?” Trace asked with a grimace.
“Probably. There certainly was a lot of footage being recorded. But it turns out the neighbors don’t care for Oliver Alliet any more than we do,” Avery said.
“I’ll be prepared.” Trace paused as he turned back to his office, “Don’t sit in your chairs. Learn from my experience, that stink never comes out of upholstery.”
He returned with the code a minute later. “Need a ride home?” he asked Avery.
“I hoped someone would offer,” Avery joked, shooting a meaningful glance at her partner.
“I was waiting to see how clean you could get,” Wyatt said and headed to the showers alone.
“It’s going to be a while. Want me to call you when I’m close to wrapping up?” Avery asked Trace.
“Sure, call me. I’ll be here. There’s plenty to do. I’ll order a pizza for us to pick up on the way home when you’re almost done.”
“Can’t handle some more of my secret recipe mac and cheese?” she teased.
“Go get cleaned up.”
Chapter Fourteen
Trace ushered Avery inside when they reached her house. He dropped his duffel bag on the couch before setting the pizza on the kitchen island. “You have to be starving. What do you want to drink?”
“Diet soda from the fridge would be great. I can’t get rid of that taste in my mouth. I can get it. What would you like?” Avery asked, pausing to sniff appreciatively at the box.
“Sit. I’ll get drinks. I think I remember where the plates are,” he said, pulling a stool out for her.
“They’re next to the stove. Glasses are by the fridge,” Avery reminded him, relenting and letting him take care of her. She was so done. She loved her job, but some days were more challenging than others.
“So do we talk about the elephant in the room?” she asked, reaching into the pizza box for a piece to start munching as he worked efficiently around her kitchen. Neither one of them had brought up the briefing and the petition.
“I had exactly ten visitors today while you were out of the office. Eight were infuriated that allegations of special treatment had surfaced without supporting evidence. Those individuals expressed their surprise at seeing the petition but explained they’d signed it trusting that their fellow officers had concrete proof to spur this. One wanted to be supportive of the detective who circulated that paper. The tenth wanted to discuss the required beginning and post-week meetings.”