Proven Guilty (The Dresden Files #8) - Jim Butcher Page 0,160

major assholes. Theyd be glad to make trouble for me.

Like Rudolph, I said.

Like Rudolph.

I put on my Bronx accent. You want I should whack em for ya?

She gave me a quick, ghostly smile. Better let me sleep on that one.

I nodded. But seriously. If theres anything I can dohellip;

Just keep your head down for a while. You arent exactly well loved all over the department. There are some people who resent that I keep hiring you, and that they cant tell me to stop because the cases youre on have about a ninety percent likelihood of resolution.

My effectiveness is irrelevant? I thought cops had to have a degree or something, these days.

She snorted. I love my job, she said. But sometimes it feels like it has an unnecessarily high moron factor.

I nodded agreement. What are they going to do?

This will be my first official fuckup, she said. If I handle it correctly, I dont think theyll fire me.

But? I asked.

She pushed some hair back from her eyes. Theyll shove lots of fan counseling and psychological evaluation down my throat.

I tried to imagine Murphy on a therapists couch.

My brain almost exploded out my ears.

Theyll try every trick they can to convince me to leave, she continued. And when I dont, theyll demote me. Ill lose SI.

A lead weight landed on the bottom of my stomach. Murph, I said.

She tried to smile but failed. She just looked sickly and strained. It isnt anyones fault, Harry. Just the nature of the beast. It had to be done, and Id do it again. I can live with that.

Her tone was calm, relaxed, but she was too tired to make it sound genuine. Murphys command might have been a tricky, frustrating, ugly one, but it was hers. Shed fought for her rank, worked her ass off to get it, and then she got shunted into SI. Only instead of accepting banishment to departmental Siberia, shed worked even harder to throw it back into the faces of the people who had sent her there.

It isnt fair, I growled.

What is? she asked.

Bah. One of these days Im going to go downtown and summon up a swarm of roaches or something. Just to watch the suits run out of the building, screaming.

This time, her smile was wired a little tight. That wont help me.

Are you kidding? We could sit outside and take pictures as they came running out and laugh ourselves sick.

And that helps how?

Laughter is good for you, I said. Nine out of ten stand-up comedians recommend laughter in the face of intense stupidity.

She let out a tired, quiet chuckle. Let me sleep on that one, too. She pushed away from the wall, drawing her keys from her pocket. Ive got an appointment with the spin doctor, she said. You want a ride home?

I shook my head. Few things I want to do first. Thanks, though.

She nodded and turned to go. Then she paused. Harry, she said quiedy.

Hmm?

What I said in the elevator.

I swallowed. Yeah?

I didnt mean it to come out so harsh. Youre a good man. Someone Im damned proud to call my friend. But I care too much about you to lie to you or lead you on.

Its no ones fault, I said quietly. You had to be honest with me. I can live with that.

One corner of her mouth quirked into a wry half grin. What are friends for?

I sensed a change in tone as she asked the question, a very faint interrogative.

I stood up and put my hand on her shoulder. Im your friend. That wont change, Karrin. Ever.

She nodded, blinking several times, and for a moment rested her hand on mine. Then she turned to leave. Just then, Thomas poked his head in from the hallway. Harry, Karrin. You leaving?

I am, she said.

Thomas glanced at me. Uh-huh. Think I can bum a ride?

Her car keys rattled. Sure, she said.

Thanks. He nodded to me. Thank you for another field trip, Harry. Kind of bland, though. Maybe next time we should bring some coffee or something, so we dont yawn ourselves to death.

Beat it before I kick your whining ass, I said.

Thomas sneered at me in reply, and he and Murphy left.

I ate the rest of my sandwich, idly noting that I had reached one of those odd little mental moments where I felt too tired to go to sleep. Across the room, Charity and her children had all fallen asleep where she sat on the floor, the children all leaning upon their mother