that child is born, they’re going to be divided when you’re out on the streets. I don’t want you struggling with that battle. And I don’t want Savoie on the other side of my desk going for my throat if something happens to you out there.
“Between now and the time you start thinking about childcare, I’ll propose your candidacy to the Promotions Committee for consideration. You’ll need to take the required tests. It’s not going to happen overnight. The transition to desk then to office will be the objective. It’s time to consider your options. And the future of your family.”
She slumped back in the chair, wrestling with the truth in everything he was saying. Finally, she blew out a big breath. “You’ll be a damned fine Deputy Chief, sir.”
“You’ll be a damned fine captain. But you’ll have to want it and work for it.”
She was beginning to think she did and would. Still . . . “Aren’t you forgetting the elephant in the room?”
“I’m thinking about your child.”
“I mean Savoie. How do you expect to shove Jimmy Legere’s alleged leg breaker down the throat of this city?”
His answer stunned her. “With a little grease from Norah Cummings and a lot of media spin. ‘Traumatized orphaned child exploited by Mobster rising above his circumstances to become a driving benevolent force in the community’ sounds pretty easy to swallow.” A calculating smile. “And an about-face from Karen Crawford, who owes me a favor, will work miracles. Let her slant her articles in our direction for a change.”
“You’ve thought this out.”
“I have.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Have you discussed this with Max behind my back?”
He put up his hands. “No. I don’t envy you that pleasure.”
Cee Cee mulled it over. Would Max object or view the change through the same protective eyes as her mentor? She’d no choice but to say, “I’ll talk to him, sir. Thank you for the opportunity.”
“You’ve never gotten anything you didn’t deserve, Detective. You’re a credit to our unit and will be one to our department, I’ve no doubt.”
But as she stood to shake his hand, Charlotte had plenty.
Kinetha Jones and Marissa were in the hospital. She had unresolved suspicions about her partner. And there was an entire shapeshifter community living beneath the city’s radar about to go to war, with her husband as their leader.
Helluva time to consider a career move in a very public fish bowl.
CHAPTER TWENTY
“Or maybe the perfect one,” Silas replied when she posed the question to him while he prepared lunch for them in the MacCreedy condo’s kitchen.
A man who enjoyed cooking and was good at it, throw in whip smart, wickedly funny and a fine cop who knew how to fold laundry. Nica MacCreedy was one lucky female.
Cee Cee melted back into the plush couch, mineral water chilling her hand. “How so?”
“You in the limelight puts any potential enemies at risk of exposure. You’ll have bureaucratic backing and can affect change that benefits our kind.”
“I’m not becoming another Brady.”
He blinked then smirked at her tone. “Naw. You’re better looking in heels.”
“Don’t be an ass, Mac. I’m serious. What would you do if Nica suddenly decided to open her own detective agency?”
“I’d enjoy the hell outta retirement.” He dropped a plate on the coffee table in front of her and went around to plop down and dig into his own freshly made po’boy.
Mouth full, Cee Cee, mumbled, “Open a restaurant. This is to die for.”
“It’s the fresh oysters and just the right kick of cayenne. When the wife comes home from her nine-to-five supporting my lazy ass and our fifteen children, I plan to have the kids fed and dinner-for-two on the table.”
“Good plan. Probably how you’ll get to fifteen children.”
Silas chuckled. Taking a big bite, he groaned, “Damn, I’m good.”
A good friend, a good man, and a good partner.
After a few minutes of purposeful munching, Silas leaned back and sighed. “Take it. If for no other reason than so Max can stop worrying. And since he runs his own business, he can take the long night shifts. I remember those from when Christina was a baby. I’d sit up and rock her for hours.”
Tina Babineau. Cee Cee sometimes forgot that he was her older half-brother.
His expression got serious. “Take it. You’ve earned it a hundred times over. And the city deserves and needs you if it’s gonna survive.” Before she could argue, he added, “But first, we bring down Brady.”
“Love to. I owe that to every good cop who looked up to him