Page 27 of Chasing Forever

“I swear, you two bicker worse than an old married couple.”

I lifted my head from my computer and grinned. “Mornin’ Captain,” I greeted.

“Stop being so chipper,” Harrison groused. “It’s not natural, damn it.”

Hayes rolled his eyes at my partner’s surliness. “No coffee yet?” he asked me.

“He’s just started his first cup. Give him a few more minutes.”

“Have I ever told you how much I love it when you guys talk about me like I’m not here?” Harrison clipped sarcastically. “Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.”

Our boss cut his eyes my partner’s way and pointed at the paper cup. “Finish that before you say somethin’ that pisses me off.”

Harrison’s face pulled into a pout, but he did as ordered and took several gulps as Hayes turned back to me. “Got some news that should make your mood even better.”

“Oh?” I asked when he didn’t continue.

“Judge just signed off on that TRO for your girl this mornin’. How you want to handle this?”

I didn’t bother holding back my smile. “I think I’ll serve this one myself.”

“Thought you might say that,” Hayes grunted. “Just... make sure you don’t do anything that’ll get your ass suspended, would you? I can’t afford to be down a detective.”

“Don’t worry, boss. I’ve got it under control.”

And there was no way in hell I was going to miss the look on that asshole’s face when I informed him he wasn’t allowed anywhere within a hundred yards of Merritt.

Harrison studiedme from the passenger seat as we pulled up to the building where Warren Bell worked. I looked at the clock and saw it was just before 9:00. I’d timed it perfectly so we’d be serving him in front of an audience. I wanted to make the situation as humiliating for him as possible.

“You sure you got this locked down?” Harrison asked, pulling my focus from the front of the building where a steady stream of people trickled in. “Guys like him are good at getting under a person’s skin. You can’t react to anything he might say.”

“Don’t worry, man. I’m good. Promise.”

We got out of the car and walked toward the building. The receptionist looked up, the instant smile she probably greeted everyone with slowly slipping as she caught sight of our expressions and badges. “Uh, good morning. H-how can I help you?”

I grinned, hoping to put her at ease. After all, it wasn’t like we were here for her. “Good morning. Detectives Fanning and O’Neil here to see Warren Bell. Could you please call him out here?”

“Sure this,” she chirped nervously.

I moved back to Harrison, who was scanning the lobby. He let out a low whistle when I reached his side. “Swanky digs he’s got here.” He kept his voice low so no one else could hear. “What’d you say this asshole does again?”

“Something in consulting,” I answered. “So you know what that means.”

“Bullshitter,” we both said at the same time. Most of the time, when someone said they were in “consulting” it was because they couldn’t give a definitive answer for what they did. I’d done some digging into Warren, but I hadn’t been able to find out exactly what he “consulted” on, but he brought home a pretty nice paycheck doing it.

A few minutes later, the interior office door opened and the man in question stepped through. He gave the receptionist a smile that rivaled those of most car salesmen. “Thanks so much, Stephanie.” Then he turned to us. “Good morning, officers. How can I help you?”

“Detective,” I said in response, a grin that matched his own tilting my lips. He meant it as a slight, using the wrong title, and he most likely didn’t think we were smart enough to catch it. That was how dickheads like him operated. But my expression told him I knew what he’d done. “But we wouldn’t expect you to understand the difference.”

I got an immense sense of satisfaction at the way his jaw ticked.That’s right, you shithead, I can dish it out just as well as you can.

“And we’re here for this.” I extended the letter-sized manilla envelope his way. As soon as his fingers closed around it, I added, “Warren Bell, you’ve been served.”

His head jerked up. “Excuse me?”

“This is a restraining order stating you’re not to come within one hundred yards of your estranged wife, Merritt Bell.”

The receptionist let out a squeak, and from the way she ducked her head and snatched her phone up, I was sure the office grapevine had officially gone into effect. No doubt news of this would be all over the building by lunch.

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