Murder Mountain by Stacy Dittrich Page A

was earlier than usual, Kincaid and Coop were already there. Coop grabbed me in the hallway.
    “Brace yourself and don’t flip out,” he started out. “I told Kincaid what you told me yesterday. I had to, and I know you understand why.This is about Boz. So just go in there and listen to her, and then get on with your case. She’s hugely pissed off, and she’s in her office waiting for you.” He gave me a weak smile. “I hope you’re not angry at me, but you know there is a lot of relevant information in your case that might help us catch Boz’s killer.”
    I knew this day was going to be one of my worst, and that I should’ve called in sick. Coop was right, though. The captain needed to know.
    “I’m not angry, Coop,” I sighed. “You’re right. Let me go and get this over with.” I slouched off toward Kincaid’s office.
    I was barely though her door when she let me have it with both barrels. She was sitting behind her desk, but immediately stood up and grabbed its sides. I sat down in a chair in front of her and held my breath.
    “Are there some things you
failed
to tell me about your case when you briefed me on it? You didn’t feel that the possibility of other missing girls, probably
dead
girls, a major drug operation, and the fact that Bobby Delphy is involved in this? Hey, this was something I needed to know! Who do you think you are? You think you can just come and go as you please, do what you want, when you want? You made your case sound like nothing but a girl who got involved with a shit-bag and drugs, and decided to take off! I am your immediate supervisor and you lied to me. I could have your badge for this! Maybe your lack of details wouldn’t have bothered me as much two days ago, but it sure as fuck bothers me today! I guarantee, had I known all this, you wouldn’t have
forgotten
to interview Andrea Dean, you
would
have interviewed Bobby Delphy by now, and,” she screamed, “Boz
would not
be dead!”
    She had just crossed the line with her last sentence, basically blaming me for Boz’s death. I’d had more than enough and stood up.
    “Sit down!”
she shouted, “I’m not done!”
    “I will not!” I shot back. “Just
who
do you think
you’re
talking to? Let me tell you something,
Captain!
I was investigating cases while you were still in the administrative bureau giving blowjobs! Don’t
you
tell me how to do anything! You couldn’t find your way out of a paper bag! And as for your insinuation that I am responsible for Boz’s death, I am offended! If I would’ve told you the details, you surely would’ve ruined this case up beyond belief! Why? Because you’re an incompetent Captain, that’s why! You shouldn’t even have this job; God knows you’re not qualified! On your knees, maybe, but you’re not even qualified to be a God damn jailer!”
    “How dare you!” she cut in.
    “I’m not finished!
If you took your head out of your own ass for just one day, you would have some clue to how this job works. I
still
have no concrete evidence that anything Matt Hensley said is true! Just listen to yourself! I’ve had enough of your crap and this conversation!” I snarled dismissively as I walked towards the door, kicking the garbage can against the wall on my way out.
    “CeeCee, you get back here!”
    “I don’t think so!” were my last words as I was through the door.
    Coop and Sean were standing in the middle of the hallway with their mouths hanging open as I went barreling by them into my office, slamming the door. I sat down at my desk and took several deep breaths.
Could this day have possibly started out any worse?
    After I calmed down, I started thinking about what I was going to do over the next several weeks, if not months, that I would obviously be suspended for, if I wasn’t terminated completely.
    Maybe I would have those candle or Tupperware parties. That might be fun. I was still in thought about my career change when there was a light knock at my door. I