Hunter's Way Read Free Page A

coffee. “So, you have a boyfriend?”
    “Yes. Why?”
    Tori shrugged. “It’ll make it easier on you. Sikes will only hit on you every other day. Adams will at least think there’s hope you’ll get married and pregnant and get out of his territory.”
    “You paint a very bleak picture of this office, Hunter. I’ve worked around men my whole career. I’ve never had a problem with them. I doubt I will here, either. I do a good job.”
    Tori shrugged again. She was probably right. She was straight and attractive. She was no threat to them. Unlike herself.
    “I’m going to go down to Central and show our girl’s picture around. Maybe she’s been hauled in before. Want to come?”
    “As opposed to staying here and being leered at by Sikes?”

Chapter Three
    It was after six when Samantha walked into her apartment and collapsed on her sofa. It had been a mentally trying day and she was exhausted. She glanced over at the phone. Three messages. Kicking off her shoes, she stretched out, hitting her voice mail as she lay down.
    “It’s me, sweetheart. I wanted to see if you were up to dinner. Can’t wait to hear about your first day. Call me when you get in.”
    She nodded, waiting for the beep.
    “It’s me. So how did it go? If you can sneak away from Robert one night, why don’t we get dinner. It’s been awhile.”
    She nodded again, mentally making a note to call Amy later.
    “Sorry, Samantha, can’t do dinner tonight after all. I’ve got a late meeting. I’ll call you when I’m done. Maybe I can swing by.”
    She shook her head. She was too tired. She was actually thankful Robert had a meeting. She pushed off the sofa, taking her clothes off as she headed to the bathroom. A long, hot shower helped revive her somewhat. Unfortunately, her refrigerator didn’t miraculously contain dinner. Sorting through the frozen meals in her freezer, she grabbed one and popped it in the microwave. Her refrigerator did, however, contain a bottle of wine.
    She took a glass and the entire bottle into the living room, settling into her recliner.
    “Ahh,” she murmured as she put her feet up. She grabbed the phone, and with her thumb, punched out Amy’s number.
    “It’s me,” she said when her best friend answered.
    “Well, hello, Detective. How’d it go?”
    Samantha smiled and sipped from her wine.
    “I survived… barely,” she said. “I’m afraid it’s dangerously close to a mental ward, but I survived.”
    “That bad, huh?”
    “I’ve never in my life seen so many egos and that much testosterone in one place before.”
    Amy laughed. “I told you to stay put. The boys in Homicide don’t mess around with little girls.”
    “My partner’s a woman,” Samantha said.
    “You’re kidding? What? They lump you both together so you won’t get in the way?”
    “You may have heard of her. Tori Hunter.”
    “Jesus Christ! She’s the nut that jumped out of the two-story building. We’re defending the guy she nabbed,” Amy said.
    “Yes, that’s her. So, you got the case?”
    “No, Michaels does. It’s a dead end, though. He’s going to plea.”
    “She’s supposedly very good at her job,” Samantha said. “She doesn’t exactly fare too well with partners, though. I’m not sure we’re going to get along.”
    “Oh, you’ll do fine. Everyone likes you.”
    “Yes. But not everyone likes her. It’s going to be difficult. She’s moody as hell and she resents me being assigned to her.”
    “I’m sure you’ll win her over. Where’s Robert?”
    “Meeting. Thankfully. I was too tired for dinner. In fact, I’m too tired for company, period.”
    “So how are things going with you guys?”
    “Okay.”
    “Okay? You’ve been seeing him for two years. When are you going to talk marriage?”
    “Marriage? I don’t think we’re at that stage, Amy.” In fact, she knew she wasn’t. Robert had hinted they might move in together, but she’d balked. She liked her privacy and her time alone. He