Читать книгу Dead Wrong - Noelle Holten - Страница 10

Speak of the devil and he shall appear. Maggie laughed to herself as Nathan Wright tried to sneak past DI Rutherford unsuccessfully.

‘I’ll see you all in fifteen minutes for today’s briefing,’ DI Rutherford commented before returning to her office.

Maggie couldn’t be one hundred per cent sure, but a strange look seemed to pass between them.

‘What was that about?’ Maggie poked him on the arm. Nathan seemed unable to make eye contact with her. He wasn’t the best at hiding his feelings and usually Maggie could read him like a book. She watched as he shifted nervously from foot to foot.

‘What are you talking about?’ He walked towards his office.

‘Stop-right-there. Look at me. Can you please tell me what the hell is going on?’ Maggie didn’t like to be caught off-guard and paranoia coursed through her veins.

Nathan fumbled his words and started pulling at his right index finger. ‘Uh. I don’t think I’m allowed to say anything just yet, but the guv will tell you … I mean all of us, in the briefing.’

Her eyes squinted, and she stared at him. ‘You’d better tell me now. I don’t need any more surprises today … have they got a new DS? Is that it? Shit – not Cooper? I hate that misogynistic bastard—’

‘OK. OK. Stop stressing. I’ll tell you on the condition that you act surprised, and maybe a little bit pleased, when the announcement is made. We are getting an Acting DS but it’s not Cooper … it’s … me.’ He looked down at the floor, and guilt flooded over her.

‘Oh my god, Nathan, great news! Why didn’t you say? I thought we were closer than that. Thank God, it’s not Cooper!’ Maggie felt a rush of relief, tinged with shock.

‘So, you’re not pissed off?’ He studied her face, as if he was trying to find a smidge of anger.

‘Why the hell would I be pissed off?’

‘Well, even though we both took the sergeant’s exam, we sort of had this unspoken pact that neither of us would go for it.’

‘I was a little taken aback, but it’ll be a great experience for you and I couldn’t wish for a better boss – I mean, who else will let me get away with slightly longer lunch hours?’ She grinned and waited for Nathan to catch on to the joke.

‘Don’t say that! I’ll be taking this very seriously and can’t afford to give people any special favours.’

She burst out laughing. ‘I’d never do that; I think you’ll make a great DS – but I’m curious, what made you change your mind?’

Nathan explained to Maggie about how his wife wanted to start a family. He believed that not only would the DS opportunity afford him a more comfortable lifestyle, he would also be in a more stable position that would put his wife’s mind at rest. Although Maggie wasn’t wholly convinced, his mouth said one thing but his eyes another, she would support his decision because that’s what friends did.

‘Well let me be the first to … secretly … congratulate you. I’m dead chuffed and will do whatever I can to back you up, OK?’

‘Thanks. That means a lot. You know how much I look up to you.’

‘That’s only because you’re a foot shorter than me …’ And with that, any tension between the pair had been broken. Maggie knew she might struggle a bit to think of Nathan, one of the few people who really understood her, as her superior.

‘So, am I calling you boss now? Or would you prefer guv? Or how about your excellence?’ Maggie exaggerated a curtsey before him.

‘Let’s just leave things as they were. Nathan is fine, you cheeky cow.’

‘Oi, sir! You can get yourself in trouble for saying things like that.’ She laughed as she watched her partner squirm. Nathan looked around the room to make sure no one had overheard their conversation.

‘Be careful, or I’ll make sure your next duty is one that will wipe that smile clean off your face …’

‘Now THAT is better. Spoken like a true DS. Right then, are you ready to head to this briefing?’

He took a deep breath. ‘Ready as I’ll ever be …’

Maggie walked down the corridor to the incident room and found a seat at the back. She was curious as to how the rest of her colleagues would react to the news, but she also wanted to sit far enough away from DI Rutherford to avoid giving the game away. This was Nathan’s moment and she didn’t want anything to spoil it.