The P.I. Contest

“Hey, Kate.” Max Beranger tapped her shoulder. “Can I borrow a pen?” He tossed his into the trash with disgust.

Max had been her patrol partner tonight. Now they were filling out their end-of-shift reports. Absentmindedly, she handed him one of the pens she normally hoarded, her mind still on the conversation she’d had with her neighbor earlier in the evening, on her way to work.

“Thanks,” Max said.

“Sure.” Janet Beaker lived in the apartment across the hall from her and Conner. Janet was single, well-educated and active—she had a life of her own and no need to live vicariously through other people’s dramas.

Which was one reason Kate was inclined to believe her.

The other reason was her own gut reaction to what Janet had to say. Yes, she’d thought. Damn it, yes. I knew something was wrong.

Because there had been signs…such as coming home dead tired after a long night shift to find freshly laundered sheets on the bed and fresh towels in the bathroom.

She’d thought, great, Conner was finally pulling his share in the housekeeping department.

After six months of living together, she should have known better.

“You’ve been quiet tonight,” Max said. “What’s up?”

“Nothing.” Officers had begun arriving for the 7:00 a.m. shift. Slowly men and women filtered into the room, and she dismissed each face until she saw the man she’d been waiting for—Conner Lowery. Just twelve hours ago she’d thought she was going to marry him, have babies with him, love him forever.

Now the sight of him brought a spasm of pain to her empty stomach. She hadn’t been able to eat or drink a thing all shift—not even a frigging cup of coffee. But then, tonight she hadn’t needed caffeine to keep her awake.

Conner caught her eye as he entered the room and gave her his usual grin—the same quirky yet charming grin that had won her heart, when he’d been transferred to the Twentieth Precinct a year ago.

They’d dated exclusively for six months before he’d suggested they move in together. Three months later, he’d proposed. She had been walking-on-air happy.

And so deluded.

Kate placed both hands over her stomach as it threatened to contract violently. This wasn’t the time to get sick. Not the place, either.

Max left his desk and went to talk to Conner. Dan Bogart also joined them. The three guys had been buddies since their police academy days. Of the three, Conner was the only one in a serious relationship and sometimes she’d sensed that he missed the good old days of going to bars with his friends and chatting up women. But she’d never thought he would actually—

Kate bent her head over paperwork that she’d already completed. From the corner of her eye she observed the three friends. She saw Conner wink. Max faked a punch to Conner’s shoulder and Dan laughed.

It hit her then.

They know.

The skin on her face tingled, the way it always did when her intuition kicked in. Pushing aside her reports and dropping her pen, she moved. The guys looked at her like nothing was wrong. Their innocent act didn’t fool her. They’d actually had the nerve to laugh right in front of her.

How long had they known? Right from the beginning?

Maybe it was worse than simply knowing. Maybe they had worked as Conner’s spies, letting him know when she was safely out of range so he could—

A wave of anger washed away her usual prudence. She’d planned to talk to Conner after his shift was over and they were at home.

But to hell with that. If everyone already knew, then privacy didn’t matter, did it?

“So, boys, what’s the big joke?”

“No joke, babe. We were just talking.” Conner leaned in for a kiss, but she took a step away from him.

“I had a chat with Janet Beaker on my way to work this evening.”

Right away Conner knew. She saw comprehension flash in his shifty eyes, then his expression grew guarded. “Let’s talk about Janet later, okay? Come on, babe. I’ll treat you to breakfast before you go home.”

He moved closer, blocking Max and Dan from the conversation. She stepped aside.

“Max? Dan? You’re part of this, right? I’m sure you want to be included now, as well.”

The guys looked terrified, shaking their heads with a vehemence that only proved her suspicions.

Kate was vaguely aware that the room had grown dead quiet. But she was on the attack now. She couldn’t stop.

“So who is she, Conner?” Kate tried to pin him with her gaze, but the coward would no longer look at her. “From Janet’s description, I’m guessing Emily White in Records.” She looked from Conner, to Max, then to Dan. She could tell by their sheepish expressions that she’d come up with the right woman.

“I saw the three of you, joking and congratulating yourselves. You seem to be pretty proud, but I’m not sure why anyone would think it’s so great to be a liar and a cheat.”

“Ouch,” Max said. “Come on, Kate, give the guy a chance.”

Kate’s hands were fists, and the anger inside her was hot, irrepressible. She had been so crazy about Conner. She’d really thought he cared as much about her as she did about him. Hell, they’d made love just before she went on duty. And only hours later, he’d invited someone else to their bed.

How could you? she wanted to cry. But years of police training and experience held her in good stead, allowing her to maintain a degree of emotional distance.

“Kate, you know I love you—”

She shook her head. “No. You don’t get to say that anymore. Not after what you did.”

“But—”

“I guess I’m just lucky I found out before the wedding.” And before she’d had kids. God, what a mess this situation would be if children were involved. Kate drew in a shaky breath, then held her hand over a trash can. Unclenching her fist, she watched as the ring that had been a symbol of her happiness was swallowed up by the remains of somebody’s midnight snack.

“KATE, STOP. I WANT TO TALK to you.”

At the sound of her commanding officer’s voice, Kate froze. Damn, she’d almost made it out of the building in one piece. Her legs were shaking. In fact, she thought every part of her body was about to give out on her. “Sir, this isn’t a good time.”

“No, I guess not. Still…get in here.” He opened the door to a small meeting room and after a brief hesitation, she preceded him inside.

Lieutenant Rock was very tall with rough features and a deep love of his job. Over the years, Kate had established a good rapport with the man, but right now she wasn’t up to talking to anyone.

She wrapped her arms around her body, refusing a chair when he suggested they sit.

Rock rested his hands behind his back and sighed. “I heard what happened and—”

“Already?”

“Kate, everyone on the floor heard. As soon as people clued in to what was going down, the whole department could figure out that the shit was about to hit the fan.”