Page 24 of Beyond the Badge: Crew

“You named your dog Murphy?”

“He came with the name since I got him from a rescue. His former owners didn’t research the breed well enough and didn’t realize how big he’d get. I benefitted from their mistake. He’s the perfect companion.” Unlike some men.

“All right. I’ll get you a key tomorrow and I’ll talk to the guys to see if anyone’s willing to let you borrow their truck or SUV.”

“You don’t have one?”

“If no one volunteers, I’ll ask Fletch if you can borrow his.”

Nice deflection.“I appreciate it. Then I guess I’ll see you tomorrow at the plant.”

As she began to round his bike, he said, “Just so you know, we call the whole building The Plant, not just the third floor. So, if you meet any of the BAMC members not on the task force, I don’t want you getting confused if you hear them calling our clubhouse that.”

“That’s not very original.”

He shrugged on his black leather jacket that somehow made him look even hotter.Damn it.Nobody had the right to look that good. Especially a man who had worked with her dad.

“Yeah, well… I guess we’re not very creative.”

“Just the facts, ma’am,” she quoted. She paused after opening her driver’s door and stared at the interior for a second, debating whether she should address the elephant in the room.

Fuck it.She didn’t want him to continue to spread rumors or make wrong assumptions. She might as well nip that shit in the bud.

She turned and called out, “Hey,” causing him to stop securing the strap on his helmet and glance her way. “I heard you talking to Torres. If you aren’t aware, your voice carries even when you’re whispering. Despite what you think, I didn’t get my job because of my father.”

“You didn’t, huh?” His disbelief was clear both on his face and in his tone.

“No. I earned my spot. I didn’t squeak by in the academy, I was at the top of my class.”

“I never said you weren’t capable. But how did you snag that spot in the academy?”

“It could have had something to do with my 4.0 GPA from Northeastern University, my B.S. in criminal justice, being bilingual and my time in the Navy.”

He stared at her with his lips slightly parted.

Had she rendered him speechless? Good.

“So yeah, my father didn’t have to pull any strings. Not even a tiny one. I pulled those fuckers all on my own.” She climbed into her car and slammed the door shut.

Before her satisfied smile grew too big, she started her car and backed out of the driveway, leaving him still standing next to his bike with his hands on his hips and watching her drive away.

ChapterFive

Crew’s eyesscanned the third floor as he stepped through the door. Cabrera was sitting in her spot reading through the endless daily reports. Her eyelids drooped heavily and her head was beginning to nod while a forgotten mug of coffee sat next to the computer.

She sat up straighter as soon as she saw him and quickly clicked on the mouse to look busy.

He shouldn’t torture her by making her read through them all. But until he found her something to do, he’d let it continue and not feel bad about it.

Finn sat watching some of the live camera feeds on one monitor, as well as keeping an eye on recorded footage on another.

Torres, Proctor and Kruger, as well as Mullins, sat at computers working on either transcribing wiretaps, writing up reports or doing research.

Crew called out, “Finn, head downstairs.”

Finn’s eyes locked with his as he stood, giving him a chin lift.

“Where’s Nox?” he asked his BAMC brother next.

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