Shot of Silence (Justice Again Book 3) by M Comley (the unexpected everything .txt) 📕

you. You go about things differently to the way I did back in the day. You have nothing to fear. You’re intelligent, confident, astute and methodical in your thinking. All the key attributes they’re looking for, plus…”

Charlie held up her hand and finished the sentence off for her boss, “And I have good genes.”

Katy covered her mouth and laughed. “That, too. I bet Lorne’s excited, isn’t she? I keep meaning to bloody ring her. You know how it is, once you get home from work all you want to do is chill out with your man.”

“Lucky you.”

“What’s up? Don’t tell me things are bad between you and Brandon right now?”

“All right then, I won’t. Let’s just say they could be better.”

“What’s the problem?” Katy set her roll down and pushed it aside.

“It’s just that on the last case, we worked a lot of overtime, and he sulked because I was never around.”

“Tell him to grow up. No, sorry, you don’t need me slagging him off, stoking the fires.”

“You didn’t. I told him the same, that’s when the problems started. I don’t think he’s cut out to be a copper’s husband.”

“Nonsense, of course he is. All you have to do is point out the pros and cons to this job.” She could tell Charlie was trying to suppress a snigger. “Something I said?”

“Pros and cons to being a copper. Where the hell do you begin to keep things balanced? From where I’m sitting, the cons far outweigh the pros, more’s the pity. Extremely hard getting the positives across to a partner, and before you say that, AJ understands only because he’s a former copper…”

“All right, I won’t say that then. I know it must be hard for you both. Get the sergeant’s exam out of the way, and he’ll be chuffed to bits about your promotion.”

“You think? I’m unconvinced about that. We’ll see how things go for a few weeks, and then…”

“Then what? You’re engaged to him, Charlie. My advice would be to have a serious chat, work out in which direction your lives are going. To me, you seem reluctant to continue, am I right?”

“I suppose I’d call myself confused at present. Anyway, enough about me, how’s AJ’s new business doing?”

“I’ll tell you tomorrow, his first paid job is today.”

“Oh wow! How exciting. What is it?”

“A kids’ party for a twelve-year-old.”

“I’ll keep everything crossed for all of it to be a huge success. I’m sure it will be. So glad his parents decided to invest in the business.”

“We’re classing it as a setting-up loan. As soon as AJ has enough funds in the bank, he’s going to repay them. They’re really not the type to sit back and not interfere, so we have that to look forward to, until we can pay them off.”

“Good idea. I think I’d do the same if Mum ever got involved in a business I wanted to set up.”

“Really? I couldn’t imagine Lorne interfering.”

“No, I don’t think she would. My pride would want the business to be all about me and not who was backing me. Does that sound bad?”

“Not at all. It makes a lot of sense. In our case, we know that AJ’s parents will hinder us and try and have their say on how things should be run. The last thing we want is the business, or the funding, should I say, to cause friction between us. I can’t say it’s been an easy ride up over the years, up until now.”

“Tell me to keep my nose out, but can I ask why?”

Katy sighed and swivelled her cup on the desk. “It boils down to them never wanting him to join the Met. He rebelled against their decision, and they punished him for it. Joining the police was beneath them socially. Basically, they’re snobs, and that’s not me speaking out of turn, it’s fact, they’d be the first to admit it.”

“I get that. I don’t approve of them thinking that way but I get it. All right, if they felt like that about his decision to join the force, how the hell do they feel about him being a stay-at-home dad?”

Katy chuckled. “I think that was their thought process behind giving us the loan. To help AJ succeed in obtaining a better life for him and his family.”

“It’s a tough one to call, isn’t it? Are they in the right or wrong here?”

“I can see it from both sides; however, it’s always better to let adults make their own mistakes or screw-ups in this life. It’s how we learn and grow as human beings, isn’t it?”

The conversation was interrupted by the phone ringing. Katy wiped her mouth on the napkin and answered it. “DI Katy Foster, how can I help?”

“It’s Mick on the front desk, ma’am. I’ve just heard of a shooting in the centre of London. Are you up for this one?”

“Charlie and I are on our way, have the details ready for us.” She ended the call and tucked her half-eaten roll back in the bag and shoved it in the top drawer of her desk as she stood. “Are you ready? There’s been a shooting.”

Charlie downed the remains of her coffee and followed her out of the office.

“Heads-up, guys. We’re going out to attend a shooting. No other details as yet. We’ll be back soon. In the meantime, finish up the paperwork from the last case and keep your eyes and ears open for any chatter about this one on the lines.”

The team acknowledged the request. Katy and Charlie raced down the stairs and paused at the desk sergeant’s counter to obtain the information and to sign out a Taser as their trip could be a potentially volatile situation. “My guys are at the scene, doing their best to cordon off the area—not easy, given the location, ma’am.”

Katy glanced down at the paper. “Damn, when you said the heart of the city, I didn’t think you meant it.”

“I’m not one for exaggerating, you should know that by now.”

“I do,