Bittersweet Darkness by Nina Croft Page A

least now, she had something proactive she could do. Consequently, she was feeling much more optimistic by the time she sat down at her desk, set her usual breakfast of coffee and a doughnut in front of her, and flicked on her computer.
    As she typed Christian Roth’s name into the search box with one hand while she ate the doughnut with her other, she sensed someone come up behind her. She peered over her shoulder.
    “Hey, boss, you want something?”
    “Yes, you in my office now.”
    He didn’t sound happy, but also didn’t give her a chance to ask what this was about as he whirled around and stalked away.
    Pete, her boss was pretty much her ideal man. Tall, elegant in a dark business suit and a navy-blue tie, he was the opposite of the stereotypical policeman. He never appeared less than immaculate, and he never ate doughnuts. One of the reasons he was so successful in his career was that he gave the department such a confident image for the public. He was a political animal, and it was generally believed he would go far.
    She’d always fancied him rotten, but now she recognized that was because he was safe. She was a normal woman, well vaguely normal, and her hormones needed some outlet. So she could fantasize about him and not worry that it would inconveniently disrupt the smooth running of her solitary life because he would never consider an affair with someone on his team. Even if she wanted to make her crush a reality, he’d probably run a mile if she came on to him.
    After a last longing glance at her half-eaten doughnut, she picked up her coffee and followed him back to his office.
    “Close the door would you?” Pete said.
    It must have been something serious. She hoped they weren’t going to take her off active duty. That would really piss her off. Though there was no reason for them to. They didn’t know about her little problem.
    He took off his jacket and hung it on the hanger beside his desk. Wouldn’t do to get it crumpled. But he didn’t sit down. Instead, he moved toward the window and stared out for a moment. Running his hand through his short dark hair, which—unlike Ryan’s—fell back perfectly into place.
    Shit, he was going to take her off active duty. The bastard.
    She clamped her lips together in case she said something she’d regret. Then plonked herself down on the wooden chair in front of his desk and waited for him to speak.
    He turned back to face her. “You’ve been reassigned.”
    About to take a sip of coffee, now she placed the cup carefully on the desk. “What? Where?” She didn’t want to be reassigned and she had a nasty feeling about this.
    “MI13. A group attached to military intelligence. Other than that, I can’t say. They’re based in offices in Westminster, and they want you over there now.”
    “And if I don’t want to go.”
    “I’m sorry, Faith. I tried to refuse. We don’t want to lose you right now. We’re already one detective down until we replace Ryan.”
    Aw, wasn’t that sweet. Not. She’d thought he was going to get personal and say he’d miss her or something. She should have known better. “So what did they say?”
    “Actually, nothing. They hung up on me. I thought that was the end of it, but five minutes later I got a call from the big boss. And I mean as high as you can go. As of immediately you are reassigned. So get your things packed up and head over there.”
    “For how long?”
    “Permanently.”
    “What?” She got up and paced a couple of times. “They can’t do this to me. I don’t want to be transferred. They’re total nutcases. I can’t work for them.”
    His eyes narrowed. “So you’ve met them before?”
    “Yeah, they approached me yesterday. I pretty much told them to piss off.”
    He sighed and shoved his hands in his pockets. “Diplomatic as ever,” he murmured. “They obviously tried you first and when that didn’t work they went over your head. They must want you badly. Have you any idea