Hunter's Way Read Free

at the scene, there would be too much evidence that would point to him,” Tori said.
    “Motels that rent by the hour? Come on. You could get hundreds of prints.”
    Tori nodded.
    “Okay. Her pimp?”
    “That would be logical, but we can’t find anyone who recognizes her.”
    “Then maybe she’s not from East Dallas,” Samantha said. “Downtown?”
    “Probably. There’s a small area on the West End and Little Mexico. That’s about it.”
    “She was black. I doubt she worked Little Mexico,” Samantha said.
    Tori leaned back and studied the other woman. She looked young.
    “How long have you been a detective?”
    “Five years. Why?”
    “You barely look thirty,” Tori said.
    “Thirty-four, but does it matter?”
    “Of course it matters. No one takes a woman seriously, especially when she looks like she’s fresh out of college.”
    “Why, thank you. I knew there was a compliment in there somewhere,” Samantha said sarcastically.
    Tori Hunter stood and grabbed her coffee cup and walked away. Samantha stared after her. She was taller than Samantha, but only by a few inches. Short dark hair, dark eyes. She wouldn’t call her boyish, she was too attractive for that. Definitely moody. Why the sudden change? Did she answer one of the questions wrong?
    “Don’t worry about her, honey. She’s just being her usual bitchy self,” John Sikes told her as he walked over.
    “Excuse me?”
    “Hunter,” he explained.
    “No. Honey? Were you talking to me?”
    He flashed her a charming smile and sat on the corner of her desk.
    “Sorry. No offense.” He stuck out his hand. “John Sikes, at your service,” he said.
    She took his hand, then dropped it quickly as he squeezed.
    “No offense, John, but I’d appreciate it if you didn’t call me honey. I’ll try to refrain from calling you names as well.”
    He laughed and she smiled at him. He really was attractive, she had to admit.
    “So, you’re stuck with Hunter. Sorry about that. I wish you luck.”
    “I’m sure I’ll be fine,” she said.
    “Well, if you need anything…
anything
at all, you just let me know.”
    “Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind.”
    Tori came back with two steaming cups of coffee and set one on Samantha’s desk. She flicked her eyes to Sikes.
    “Don’t you have work to do?”
    “Just introducing myself, Hunter. Don’t get excited.”
    “Trust me, you don’t excite me.”
    He laughed again, then pulled himself off of Samantha’s desk, ignoring Tori. “So, Samantha, you want to maybe get dinner some night? I can fill you in on all the local gossip,” he offered.
    “No thanks. I’m involved with someone. I doubt he’d appreciate that,” she said.
    He shrugged. “You never know. Offer is always open,” he said as he walked away.
    “Stay away from him,” Tori said. “He’s a jerk.”
    Samantha smiled. Yes, she agreed.
    “Does anyone here like you?” she asked.
    “No.”
    “Why?”
    “I don’t bullshit, I don’t play games.”
    “That doesn’t mean you can’t be friends with the people you work with,” Samantha said.
    “Friends? With those guys?” Tori leaned forward. “Adams hates me because I’m a woman. He could care less about my job performance. I’m just a woman. Donaldson, his partner, follows his lead, even though Adams barely tolerates him because he’s black. Ramirez is the only one who shows me even the slightest consideration and because of that, he has to listen to ridicule from the others, especially Sikes, his partner.”
    “That can’t all be because you’re a woman.”
    “No, not just because I’m a woman. Because I’m a woman and I’m better at the job than they are.”
    “Oh. Well, it’s good to know you’re not in the least conceited,” Samantha said with a smile.
    “Why are you here?”
    “Excuse me?”
    “Did they ask you or did you volunteer?”
    “I requested a transfer months ago. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    Tori nodded and sipped from her