Edge of the Heat 2 (Westwood Harbor Corruption) by Lisa Ladew Read Free Book Online Page B

police work because of the power and authority it wielded. Cops who started out shrewd and conniving. Cops who knew very well where the line is between cop and criminal, but think that criminal-in-a-cop-suit is more fun.
    Norman ’s thoughts were cool and calm, like his demeanor. After his romp with Chloe and Lydia he had showered, shaved again, and put on freshly pressed slacks and a polo shirt. He spent little time on his dark hair, he didn’t need to; it tamed itself. He felt relaxed and ready to put on a show of shock at the news of a dead firefighter and an arrested ex-wife. Of course she wasn’t arrested for the big crime yet. He had only started to fuck with her. When he was done with her she’d be begging to take him back, because he could protect her. And he would protect her. He’d get her out of jail with a little help from more planted evidence and Senator Oberlin, but only after he’d completely broken her mentally.
    He practically rubbed his hands together at the thought, but stopped himself. He had a reputation to protect.
    On his desk was a note from Jeffries. I need to see you now! Find me. Norman frowned. That sounded like bad news. He went down to the Receiving Desk to look for Jeffries and nose around a little.
    Sergeant Daly was at the desk. “ Where’s Jeffries?” Norman growled.
    “ Doing paperwork somewhere. Check out back,” came the reply.
    “ Anything going on today?”
    “ Nah, nothing major.”
    Norman ’s eyebrows raised imperceptibly. Nothing major?
    “ What’s going on with the Crystal Creek fire?” he prodded.
    “ Nothing, I think it’s almost out.”
    Norman grunted. Nothing? This sergeant would know if any of his officers had been sent up for a missing person or a dead person. Where they still conducting the search on their own? Most of the day was gone.
    He left the room, looking for Jeffries. He found him in his car parked behind the station.
    Jeffries saw him coming and shook his head. Norman’s pace quickened. Just what in the fuck did that mean?
    “ I managed to fingerprint her but then I sent Cassandra in to fuck with her and she got sliced up on her arm. The Sergeant made me release her to the medics.”
    “ Who the fuck told you to sic Cassandra on her?” Norman’s face was red. He felt like the top of his head was going to pop right off.
    “ I just thought it would be good for her. Scare her a little more,” Jeffries practically whined.
    “ Did you happen to tell Cassandra not to slice her up?” Norman demanded.
    Jeffries looked down. Norman knew he had his answer. Jeffries was a fucking idiot who couldn ’t be trusted not to fuck shit up. “Fuck you dumbass. Now I gotta fix it!”
    Norman stomped back into the station. H e thought about it. True, she wasn’t here anymore, but she had been processed and she had been terrorized. This really wasn’t too big of a deal, he could work with it. Now to figure out what was going on with the missing firefighter. He walked back to the receiving desk to talk to Sergeant Daly.
    “ Hey this morning I heard the firefighters calling up a helicopter to search for a missing fireman. Did they find him?”
    “ Oh yeah, they found him, but he must have been hurt. He was flown to the hospital.”
    Norman ’s jaw twitched. The hospital? “Is there an investigation?”
    “ Nah, they never called us.”
    Norman grunted again and turned on his heel, heading to his office. Masterson was flown to the hospital, but no one called the cops for an investigation? Was he alive? An d if he was alive had no one figured out he was shot yet? Was he alive but so burnt no one could see the bullet wounds?
    Norman ’s hand shook as he pressed the elevator button. Luckily he was alone. He stared at his hand, willing it to steady. Panic and fear were not emotions Norman allowed himself to feel. He had learned to slam a lid on any feeling that betrayed his sense of control a long time ago.
    He learned that at the hand of his mother. Norman