Fallen Angels by Connie Dial Read Free Book Online Page A

would do all the dirty work, ask embarrassing questions and make accusations until the chief either gave in and returned the investigation to Hollywood, or got angry and went after the culprit who’d talked to Fletcher. It was a crap shoot, but Josie knew the chief of police was too smart to make Susan Fletcher an enemy.
    It didn’t take long to find out. Behan was driving them back to Hollywood station when Josie got a message on her Blackberry from Bright’s adjutant to go code-three, emergency speed, to West bureau. If she were in a more charitable mood, Josie might’ve had Behan drop her at the station, and she would’ve gone alone, but somehow it seemed appropriate that he face the firing squad with her.
    “Are you okay?” she asked after several minutes of watching Behan drive too slowly without a word of conversation.
    “I hate the bureau.”
    “You know what I mean. Something’s going on with you. Can I help?”
    “You can stop asking me if I’m okay.”
    “I’m not going to do that. What else?”
    “Pay my alimony and child support.”
    “Why do you keep marrying these women? Why don’t you just live with them like everybody else? That way when you break up you don’t have to support them and their kids for the rest of your life. She takes the wide-screen TV; you get the dog, and it’s over.”
    “I’m Irish Catholic. That’s what we do.”
    “You need money?”
    “Yeah, but not from you. Don’t worry about it. I got a plan.”
    Now Josie was worried. “Am I gonna start getting reports of some big, grumpy, red-headed bank robber?”
    “Better. I know this very rich, very old widow who’s about to become the next Mrs. Phillip Behan.”
    Josie slumped back in the passenger seat and stared out the window. The man was hopeless. She was grateful they’d reached the bureau before she got details about the bride or the pending marriage. Behan straightened his tie as he got out of the car and looked somewhat presentable. He always seemed to patch his life together when he was married or had decided to get married again.
    They walked past Sergeant Perry and the secretary and into Bright’s office. The chief was reading and didn’t bother to acknowledge them until he finished. When Bright saw them standing on either side of the only other chair in the room, he shouted for Perry to bring in another one. The adjutant responded immediately, arranged the furniture so everyone faced the chief and left. Josie pictured Perry kissing Bright’s ass and twirling out of the room. She smiled at the mental image.
    “Something funny, Captain?” Bright asked her. He wasn’t pleased.
    “No,” Josie said, trying not to look at Behan. “Guess I’m just in a good mood.”
    “Enjoy it. It won’t last,” Bright said.
    “Why’s that?” Josie asked as innocently as she could. “You’re getting the Dennis investigation back.”
    “I thought RHD had it,” she said, giving Behan a look that warned him not to say a word. This was her show.
    “The chief wants your people to handle it.”
    Josie turned toward Behan and asked, “How’s your workload?”
    Before Behan could respond, Bright said, “This isn’t negotiable. It’s yours.” He was visibly irritated.
    “We’ll pick up the homicide book and start today,” Josie said with a forced smile.
    Bright reached into the side desk drawer, handed a large binder to Behan and said, “Just remember, I’m really in charge of this investigation. I want to be informed on every move you make. I don’t want any blunders on this one.”
    Josie could feel herself blushing and knew it was frustration. She knew better than to let anything Bright said bother her, but this did. The man knew nothing about criminal investigations. He was a careerist who hadn’t worked at anything for years except his next promotion, and he certainly didn’t know how to manage a homicide case. She didn’t say anything but heard Behan, always the loyal soldier, respond.
    “Yes