“Nightingale –” George started.
“We got pictures, George,” Lee cut him off then continued speaking. “And that’s scratching the surface. It took me half an hour to find that on you. You want more, you keep this shit up.”
George’s mouth got tight. Then he looked to his shoes and he left too.
Preston Mason’s cool eyes swung through the room.
Everyone stared back. Shirleen even did it while filing her nails.
“Pleasure,” Preston murmured and he, too, left.
The minute the door closed, Lee’s eyes went immediately to Shirleen.
“You okay?” he asked.
“Wil be, once Georgie Porgie gets his ass back to his office and cal s the dogs off Jules, Roam and Sniff,” she answered.
Clearly, that was good enough for Lee and his eyes cut to Mace. “You?”
“Yeah,” Mace replied.
Lee’s eyes moved to me. “Stel a?”
“You guys know a lot of dicks,” I told him.
Lee’s eyes crinkled in a smile that didn’t quite make it to his mouth and he said softly. “That’s the sorry truth.”
“Am I done here?” Smithie asked impatiently.
Lee clapped him on the shoulder. “Thanks Smithie.” Smithie threw up one hand and then he was gone.
Shirleen hit a button on the phone and we heard the speaker click on and the phone ringing.
“Yeah?” Jack’s voice could be heard throughout the room.
“You get Stel a on tape doin’ her ‘You won’t have to wait for Lee to wipe the floor with you, I’l l do it’ speech?” Shirleen asked Jack.
My body went solid.
“Got it,” Jack replied then you could hear him chuckle.
“Get me a copy, I wanna transcribe that f**ker,” Shirleen demanded. “Luke, Eddie and Hank’ve gotta hear this shit.
Hel , I might get Tom or Malcolm to send out a network-wide email to al the po-lice. Give the boys in blue a good old f**kin’ giggle.”
I turned and looked up at Mace.
Apparently, he was none the worse for wear after our episode in Lee’s office and the showdown with his Dad. I knew this because when he looked down at me his gaze was warm and he was grinning. He took one arm away, pointed to the corner of the room and my eyes went in the direction he was indicating.
Then his arms went back around me, he leaned down and said one, scary word softly in my ear.
“Cameras.”
I stared at the camera.
Effing hel .
I looked back to Mace.