Stokes snorted. “To hell with that nonsense. I told my old lady to keep her mouth shut or I’d shut it for her.”
“I can’t get by with that,” Wells said, down-in-the-mouth.
“Sure you could. You just don’t have the balls. If you’d backhand her a time or two, she’d straighten up. With a busted lip, she’d find it damn hard to nag.”
Wells cut him a look. “You’re a real bastard, Stokes. Did anyone ever tell you that?”
“Most likely, though I didn’t pay ’em no mind. I do what I have to to keep the peace in the family. When you got four kids making demands all the time, you run a tight ship.”
“I’ve got two kids myself, but I’d never hit my wife.”
“You might before we get out of this jam,” Stokes pointed out bluntly. “So don’t be taking that holier-than-thou attitude with me.”
Wells frowned. “Don’t you think the mayor will be forced to back down?”
Stokes snorted again, this time louder. “So far, Gaston Forrester hasn’t been able to budge her.”
Forrester was the interim chief, who had sworn he was on their side and who had promised to speak a good word on their behalf.
“That’s what worries me,” Wells said, following a deep sigh. “Absolutely nothing seems to be shaping up in our favor.”
“Which is why we have to take matters in our own hands and try and talk some sense into the hardheaded bitch.”
Wells shook his head, his frown darkening his features. “What if that tactic backfires?”
“Then we’ll move to plan B.”
“And what is plan B?”
Stokes grunted. “Dunno. At least not yet.”
Wells rolled his eyes. “Great.”
Stokes’ beefy hand tightened around the steering wheel. “You know, your attitude’s really pissing me off.”
“Sorry,” Wells retorted. “It’s just that I’m scared shitless that we may lose our jobs permanently.”
“Not if I have my way, we won’t,” Stokes declared. “Trust me, I’m not going to take her poking her nose in where it doesn’t belong. It’s high-time someone convinced her she doesn’t have balls and can’t hold her own with those of us who do.”
“I hope you’re right, because my family is running out of money fast.”
Stokes laughed bitterly. “Lucky you. We’ve been out. We were broke before I got suspended.”
“If only you hadn’t smacked the guy that one last time, we—”
“Cut that crap,” Stokes interrupted, his voice shaking with anger. “You were right there with me, so you don’t have the right to start squealing like a stuck pig.”
“Still, I wouldn’t have beat him half to death.”
“Well, you ain’t me, and as senior partner, that was my call. Besides, with a do-good mayor running the department, thugs are going to take over the city. That’s why those of us working the streets have to take charge.”
When Wells would have responded, Stokes sat up straighter in the seat. “Dammit, man, she’s almost to her car and here we sit.” He slapped Wells on the arm. “Come on, let’s haul ass before she does.”
Seven
“I want you to ride with me.”
Jessica paused midway to her vehicle and peered up at Brant, but not before slipping on her sunglasses, hiding her amazement. “Whatever for?”
A muscle worked in Brant’s jaw, indicating he was not pleased at being questioned. He had a lot to learn about her. Ride home with him? Why, that was crazy. So was his overbearing manner, a flaw she refused to overlook.
She knew he was used to people asking how high when he said jump, especially since he’d worked for the White House. However, her situation was a far cry from Pennsylvania Avenue, and she didn’t intend to be told what to do at every turn.
“For safety reasons,” Brant said into the tense silence. “But then, you ought to know that.”
She ignored those pointed words. “What about my car?”
“I’ll see to that later.”
“I’ll pass, thank you.”
His jaw worked harder, which told her he was furious. Seconds passed while they stared at each other, as though waiting to see who backed down first.
“I’ll follow you,” Brant said through tight lips. “But I insist you take me to my vehicle, since it’s parked across the lot.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, surely that’s not necessary?”
“Do you intend to take issue with everything I suggest?”
Though his harsh bluntness took her slightly aback, she held her ground. “Look, there’s no one around. I’ll be okay.”
“Fine, I’ll get my car. It’s just over there. Meanwhile, don’t move. Stay where I can see you.”
Fuming inwardly at his high-handed treatment of her, Jessica had her hand on the door handle when she heard her name.
“Mayor, wait up.”
Jessica whirled around and stiffened. Wesley Stokes and Dick Wells seemed to have come out of nowhere and were making their way at a rapid clip toward her. Had they seen Brant? More to the point, had Brant seen them?
Of course he had, which undoubtedly had sent his fury up another notch.
Although she was not afraid of the two suspended cops, she felt her own fury mount. It took a lot of nerve on their part to approach her in the parking lot. But then, she wasn’t surprised. It was poor judgment calls like this that had landed them in trouble in the first place. This latest move certainly wouldn’t help matters.
“Sorry to approach you like this,” Dick Wells said without hesitation, though the rest of his entire manner was indeed hesitant. For an instant she almost felt sorry for him. But only for an instant. Of the two men, Wells had a possibility of holding on to his job, but only if she could get him out from under Stokes’ influence. Stokes was one tough renegade cop, who required close scrutiny.
“What do you want?” Jessica demanded before either of them could come any closer.
“We’d like our jobs back, ma’am,” Wells continued in a humble tone, his eyes veering off in another direction.
Stokes didn’t have that problem, Jessica noticed. His eyes pinned her as if she was a worm under a knife. If she weren’t mistaken, he’d been drinking. What a disgusting man.
“This is not the time or place for such a discussion.”
“Well, just when is a good time?” Stokes said in a demanding tone.
“With your attitude, never, Mr. Stokes.”
His face flushed and his eyes flared. “You think you’re—”
Jessica backed up, only to hit the side of her car.
“Take a hike, both of you,” Brant ordered in a cold, steely voice. “Now!”
Both men stared at Brant as if trying to decide if he was someone to be reckoned with. Apparently they thought so, for they turned without another word and strode off.
Jessica