Up in Smoke (Crossing the Line, #2)(6)

Erin realized she was openly gawking at the girl, but didn’t care. Two years ago, she’d spent Christmas Eve locked up in Dade Correctional. Bored and restless, she’d found her way to a makeshift church service, an event she’d normally avoid like the plague, but they’d been giving out fruit punch. Sitting in the back row, she’d listened to the story of Mary and Joseph traveling toward Bethlehem, where Mary would eventually squeeze out Jesus. This girl standing in the doorway, casting an air of calm over the room, was how she’d pictured Mary. Still, serene…eyes brimming with warmth.

“Oh captain, my captain.” The fighter slapped a hand over his heart, punctuating the heavy Brooklyn accent he spoke with. “Try not to endear yourself to me too quickly. We just got here.”

Derek trained cool eyes on him. “You’re on my time, Driscol. Don’t make me regret it.”

Driscol kept his smile in place, but it had lost any trace of humor. The Virgin Mother holding his hand whispered something in his ear and after a second, he nodded. Giving them all a suspicious once-over, he led her to the remaining open seats. He guided his girlfriend into one of them gently and stood behind her with arms crossed over his chest. When he jerked his chin at Connor and received a grunt in return, Erin realized they knew each other. Two strong personalities like that didn’t form truces right off the bat. There might be an air of tension there, but there was also familiarity.

“You were all given a choice,” Derek boomed. “Prison time or my time. One or the other. If you thought I was the lesser of two evils, you were wrong. You each have a skill that landed you in this room and I intend to use those skills to make Chicago safer.” He twisted the gold wedding band on his finger. “There will be a high level of risk involved. If at any point prison sounds safer to you, I won’t stop you from leaving. But if you’re here, you show up on time and work hard. No f*cking around.”

Mean Daddy. Erin raised her hand, but didn’t wait to be called on. “When do we get our guns back? I feel naked.”

“No guns. No weapons, period, unless it’s cleared by me.” Derek waited for the protests to die down. “We meet every morning whether we’re actively working a case or not. If you fail to show, don’t bother coming back. I’ve made myself accountable for the six of you and I don’t take the responsibility lightly.” Each of them received a meaningful look. “I’m sure some of you share the opinion that police officers aren’t perfect.”

“Amen,” she muttered.

“Understatement,” Polly purred.

The captain paced in front of the table. “It might surprise you that I agree. I don’t think we catch every angle because we’re trained to think a certain way.” He rapped a knuckle on the table. “You were born to think another. I’m going to use that.”

Everyone remained silent a moment, absorbing that. Erin felt a reluctant twinkle of respect for the captain for admitting his department was flawed, but immediately squelched it, like two damp fingers subduing a candle flame. Dick.

“Let’s hear everyone’s skill,” Connor rumbled, sending goose bumps racing up her arms.

“Seconded.” Driscol rocked back on his heels. “Need to know who we’re working with.”

Alarm crackled in Erin’s veins. She should have anticipated this. Her particular skill set could potentially give away her weakness and she didn’t like that. Didn’t like anyone having a means with which to defeat her. Feeling Connor’s gaze on her, she turned away and focused on the window.

She heard Derek flip his folder back open. “I think it’s important, too. Knowing one another’s strengths will force you to utilize one another. In addition to being talented criminals, you each have a tendency to be a lone wolf. That ends now, or this will never work.”

Polly’s chair squeaked beside her. “Don’t keep us in suspense, Hitchcock.”

“Yes, it’s almost time for my heart medication,” Austin said, before dissolving into a coughing fit.

“Fair enough.” Derek sighed. “Even though each of you has signed a confidentiality statement, rest assured I’m only going to define your role, not enlighten the group as to how it earned you a ticket to prison.”

Erin relaxed enough to face the group again. Connor was still looking at her, so she sent him a tongue-lolling grin. He rolled his eyes.

“We’ll start with Polly,” Derek continued. “She’s a hacker, but we’ll be kind and refer to her as a tech specialist.”

Polly nodded briskly. “Hacker will do. No need to soften it.”

Derek gestured to the Virgin Mother. “I misspoke earlier when I said you were all given the choice between my time and prison time. Seraphina is a trained undercover officer. She’s the only one in this room with experience in the field, so you’d be wise to listen to her.”

Erin sagged with disappointment. Now she had to hate the Virgin Mary.

“Bowen Driscol—”

“I’m here for her,” Bowen broke in, cutting Derek off. He leaned over Seraphina and planted a fist on the table. “I protect her first. The cases come second. Take it or leave it.”

Derek and Bowen squared off across the table. Even Erin stayed completely still, intoxicated by all the testosterone floating in the air. Finally, Derek moved on, but Erin noted that he hadn’t given in. The captain liked to pick his battles. A lesson to remember.