Page 5 of H E R

I jogto the window and peer out. My lips dip at the corners, but I don’t understand my frown. Sure, the young cop is cute and all, but what was I going to do? Go out with my tec9 in hand and say hello? I almost scoff under my breath. What good will knowing a cop do, anyway?

They’re all the same, a bunch of corrupt law pushers that cower under their donut-filled desks instead of putting the bad guys behind bars where they belong. And although this guy seems different, like heneededto do good, I know better.

They’re all the same.

“Okay, Piper. I’ll leave. Just remember, the hell you’re going through is the same pit we’reallin. Vork owns you, he owns us all. And I, for one, am sick of it. You know where to find me if you change your mind. Or when he comes back, because he will.”

2

Redemption

“Ifucking told you it was nothing.”

I roll my eyes. My newtemporarypartner, Detective Peter Lloyd, is a lazy son of a bitch who looks closer to death than retirement. He heaves dramatically after slamming the door to my black 1975 Chevrolet Camaro.

“Watch it! She’s a fucking classic.”

He shrinks at my glare. “Just drive,” he mumbles.

The inside is sleek and modern, the dash glints, and I want to fucking launch his face into it, but he isn’t worth the damage to the console. It’s my first week on the job, and already I want to shoot my gun up someone’s ass, only it isn’t a deserving criminal butthisfucking idiot.

Lloyd is a sad excuse for law enforcement and definitely one of the many reasons this city has gone to shit. The entire fucking police force is a band of idiots. But I still don’t miss my home city. I needed more. Not sure what exactly, maybe somethingmeaningful? I’m still searching, but at least I feel useful now.

I was beginning to doubt my career choices until Mike found me and took me under his wing. Since then, I’ve endured one shithole to another, cleaning out the trash. I accepted this allocation, a metropolis with five counties and one ruler, because of its extremely corrupt status. New assignment: find the source of the chaos and retire it. More or less.

I grip the leather steering wheel, trying to gain a smidge of control. I’d rather work alone, but apparently, I’m forced totrainwith the asthmatic beer gut.

“I thought we were supposed to show up when someone rang.”

The asshole actually rolls his eyes and I want to fucking punch him. “Yeah, whatever. You’ll learn how we do it around here soon enough.”

Like hell I will. I know exactly how shit is done around here, which is precisely why I was sent down–to fix their fucking mess. I turn and almost smile at how his enormoustorso bobs sideways, like Humpty Dumpty about to tip over. The fifteen minute drive to the station is torture with him in my car and I almost shove his ass out.

“I have to make a call. I’ll be right in.”

Lloyd struggles and I grind my teeth as he throws the door behind him. I’ll make him pay for that soon enough. My phone is in my hands and I’m dialing up my boss like a petulant child, but I don’t give a fuck. I didn’t sign up to be babysat by a Ghostbuster looking fucker.

“Well, that was quick.” Mike holds back his laughter.

“You didn’t tell me I’d be paired up with Detective Dumpty.”

This time he laughs. “It’s just a formality. You’ll be working alone in a couple of days. I’ll talk to Ron.”

I nod, even though he can’t see me. “Fine, but if I have to give that fucker any more rides, I can’t promise I won’t uppercut him.”

Mike swears under his breath, and a muffled tapping tells me he’s texting someone.

“A girl with a gun–what the fuck is going on down there?”

I sigh and tap the steering wheel, the tight leather bumpy under my fingertips. “It’s a decoy. Whoever made the call was desperate for someone to show.”

“I’ll talk to Ron about your partnership and I want a report in a week.”

“A fucking week? Who do you think I am, Bruce Wayne?”

Mike ignores my witticism. “Focus it on any preliminary findings.”

I sigh again and push the phone deeper into my temple.Fuck.

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