Black Heart (Cursed Hearts #1)(21)

Hank pinched the bridge of his nose as he gestured towards the small sitting area. “Sit, both of you,” he said in a tone that left no room for argument.

With one last glare at each other, they put down their loads and sat down in opposite chairs with Hank sitting in the middle. The older man sat back, regarding them both for a long moment. Tristan and Marty glared at each other over the small coffee table, neither one backing down.

Finally Hank cut through the thick silence. “Here’s the scoop for both of you.” They stopped glaring at each other to glare at Hank.

He looked at Tristan. “Marty has applied for and been hired as the Criminal Forensic Specialist for our region. She will not be acting in her position until after she finishes her thesis and receives her diploma.” When Tristan opened his mouth to argue, Hank held up a hand to stop him. “Which will be very soon. Until then she will be acting as your assistant.”

“I don’t need or want an assistant,” he said through clenched teeth.

Hank shrugged. “Too bad. You’ve got one. She’s also going to be helping with other functions and she will be observing you when you conduct interviews. Also, you’ll let her shadow you on cases. She has experience from an internship that she did with the FBI last year, but she needs to learn how we do things around here. Since you’re my lead detective, you’re going to take her under your wing.”

“No.”

“This isn’t up for discussion, Tristan. With your education and abilities you are the most qualified person in this department to show her the ropes.”

Tristan laughed without humor. “No offense, Hank, but I’m not much of a babysitter and I don’t want the job.”

“Then get the hell out of here. You’ll go back on full medical.” He gestured to Marty. “She’s the only reason that I’ve decided to bring you back before you passed medical.”

He left Tristan to think it over, turning his attention to Marty. “You will work Tristan’s shifts. His doctors and physical therapist tell me that his arm and shoulder are not at full use yet. I need you to take over his typing, help him with any of his office needs, drive him to appointments and anywhere else he needs to go.”

“I can drive, Hank,” Tristan cut in.

Hank merely shook his head, “You’re not currently covered to come back. Right now you’re not allowed to drive. So, Marty will do that for you until the doctors say otherwise, which means that you are not going to be responding to any calls since she is not an officer.”

Tristan cursed inventively at that piece of news as Marty cleared her throat. “So, basically I’m his chauffer and assistant?”

Hank nodded. “Among other things. We can’t afford to be down by one detective and his injury isn’t so extensive that I would request another detective to come here only to ask him to leave in a matter of weeks. So, since I have other things that I need you to do and I need him back, I’m going to combine your workloads so that I have my lead detective back full time, you get your training, and I get some help.”

Marty looked thoughtful as she took it all in. Hank turned his attention back to Tristan, who looked ready to kill someone. “You’re to go to all of your appointments. If I find out that you missed one single physical therapy, doctor’s, or therapist session, then you will be back on full medical,” Hank promised.

Tristan ground his jaw, but nodded. He didn’t like this one bit, but he would suck it up if it meant that he was working again.

“Good. Now, I expect you both back here bright and early tomorrow morning ready to work,” Hank said, sounding completely pleased with himself as he stood up and left the room.

Marty looked up to find Tristan glaring at her. “Well, it’s good to know that you’ll never have to lift a finger as long as nepotism is still alive and thriving,” Tristan bit out coldly as he stood to leave.

She scoffed. “Yeah, you would know.”

Tristan paused by the door. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Marty turned in her chair to face him. “Like you don’t know.”

He closed the door behind him and folded his arms across his chest. “Why don’t you enlighten me since you seem to know it all.”

“Fine,” she said, pushing to her feet. She walked over to the desk and leaned back against it, never taking her eyes away from him. “How do you think you got this job?”

“Because I’ve earned it.”

She chuckled with forced humor. “Puhlease.”

He took a menacing step towards her. “Listen, sweetheart, I’ve been busting my ass since I was fourteen taking summer and evening courses. I had my first bachelors degree by eighteen and my masters by twenty-one. I graduated in the top position at the academy and had the highest scores. I’ve earned my place on the SWAT team and I’ve earned this, baby, so don’t try insinuating anything else.”

She hadn't known all that, but that wasn’t going to slow her down. She knew that she was given this part of her job and first dibs at her new position because of her father, but having it thrown in her face by him was not happening. So of course, she had to keep pushing him.

“You don’t find it odd that you’re only twenty-nine, but you’re in charge of two detectives? One of them is fifteen years older than you and has been on the job longer? And you have your own office?”