Page 28 of Hold a Candle

“What can I do for ye, Chief Inspector?”

“Since Pauley is staying with ye, would ye mind having a security system installed at yer place? The lass seems to attract trouble, and I’m making her take a few days off until after Luca’s hearing.”

There was silence for a moment, then Jamie came back over the line. “I assume this is agreeable to Pauley? She is very welcome to stay with me as long as she needs to, but I want to make sure she’s on board with it.”

Pauley leaned forward with a smirk. “If ye are willing to have a trouble magnet, Jamie, I’ll supervise my house repairs from yer place. But there’s no need to go to the expense of a security system just for me.”

“Nonsense,” Jamie replied briskly. “It’s something I’ve been meaning to do anyway, and this is as good a time as any to put that into play. I’ll make some phone calls.”

“If ye are at home, Jamie, I’ll make the phone calls,” replied Quinn. “I have someone who will do it immediately.”

“I was going to head up to Neamh, but I’ll wait. Maybe Pauley and I can ride up together later. Lucerne is fixing American Lasagna tonight and she’s already invited us, if that’s alright with ye, lass?”

“Aye, I love Lasagna,” Pauley agreed, feeling once again like she was being organized. Somehow it didn’t seem too important to get peeley walley about it though. She kind of liked it when Jamie was doing it.

“I love Lucerne’s cooking,” Quinn remarked fervently. “Darro is damned lucky to have such a fine cook.”

“Do ye want to come too, Quinn?” Jamie responded dryly.

“Nay, but I’ll take a raincheck. Now, get off the phone, I’m a busy man.”

“Wheesht, ye bampot, ye called me.”

They heard the phone go silent and Pauley snickered behind her hand.

Quinn glared at the phone and then looked up. “Ye two still here? Find somewhere to be.”

“Aye, sir,” Pauley and Mica said together as they got up and left the office.

“So, are we going to the animal shelter first? Or to the Dunlaven market area?” Pauley asked Mica as they walked out of the station.

Mica held the door open for her. “We, aren’t going anywhere. Ye heard what the chief said. Go home, Pauley. I’ll go to the animal shelter,” he added with a snicker. “My dog needs his jabs.”

“Myhome isn’t livable,” she griped.

“Go to Jamie’s house then.”

“Maybe Jamie would feel like adopting a dog. I feel like I might need a dog or a cat,” she mused with a wicked grin.

“What ye need is to be turned over someone’s knee,” Mica groused as they walked up to her car. “But since that’s not likely to happen, I’ll let ye know what I find out after some discreet inquiries.”

“Okay,” Pauley agreed, feeling excited at the thought of going home to Jamie. That had a nice ring to it.

Mica’s eyes narrowed. “Are ye feeling alright? I’ve never known ye to give up without an argument.” He reached up and touched her forehead. “Could it be the love bug has bitten yer delectable butt cheek?” he teased.

Pauley knocked his hand away. “I’m going to keep that line to hold against ye with yer wife,” she declared. “Now, get to yer work before I change my mind about following Quinn’s orders.”

Mica backed up, both hands out front. “Forget I said that. Miley doesn’t need to know everything,” he protested, chuckling. Then he turned and hightailed it to his squad car.

Pauley watched him go, shaking her head. She and Mica had always gotten along, which was why Quinn didn’t usually pair them together. They were too much alike, each driven to discover the truth in their investigations. He wanted them to help the less driven constables to achieve their potential. She rolled her eyes as she got into her car.

As she started the vehicle, her thoughts turned to Brodie Macalister. The man was a real snake, but he had solved cases, she’d give him that. She still couldn’t believe he was with the Drug Task Force. They were under the Aberdeen Highland Council, which meant that must be where he’d been for the last year. And who was the CI he had under his control? She was definitely going to do some digging on that one.

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