Rafael (The Santiago Brothers Book One) Read Free Page A

another officer would slow the quality and productivity of her
work. Her boss had to listen to reason.
    He can’t mean Santiago…
    “No,” Genie said emphatically. “Besides,” she
relaxed her tone, “it would take a while to bring a new detective
up to speed. I don’t have time to waste doing that. We could be
looking at a serial killer here and I need to spend my time solving
the case and not lecturing on it.” If Springfield did have a serial
killer, time would be short for the next victim. The previous four
were killed mere days apart. “Just allow me to work on the case my
way. A partner would slow me down and no one in this office has any
time to devote to another case.”
    Throughout her entire monologue, Genie got the feeling her
boss was only half listening. The bored look in his eye as he
sipped his coffee, the glance at his computer screen when it chimed
indicating an incoming email. He even motioned to someone outside
the office to come in. She gave him his due respect, but what about
hers? If I
said I could handle it, then I can handle it!
    Lieutenant Winters cleared his throat. “Don’t
think of it as a partner per se, more like a consultant.”
    Genie’s brows furrowed. “A consultant?” Who
else knew about her investigation? This was the first case of its
type in their district. Her boss wouldn’t discuss intimate details
of the case with someone not directly connected. Yet, if there was
someone who had fresh information about the crimes, she couldn’t
exactly refuse the assistance.
    “You said you know everything about this
case, right?” He eyed her with uncertainty.
    “Right.” Genie lifted her chin a degree
higher. “I’m the resident expert here. It’s my case.”
    “And you mentioned it might have something to
do with the La Cocina Dulce restaurant chain which, correct me if
I’m wrong,” he repositioned his girth in the chair, “has a location
out in San Diego?”
    Where was he going with this? He didn’t take
his eyes off her, leaning forward in his chair like a cat ready to
pounce on unsuspecting prey. Genie nodded but the baby hairs on her
neck stood up. “Yes, sir. The other location is being investigated
for possible money laundering. I’m having the financial unit look
into that as we speak. But like I said, I’m waiting on the results
of the agency search. I’ve been at the scene so I haven’t had time
to get an update on the search.”
    “You’ve been to San Diego?”
    Genie fought an eye roll. Of course not; he
knew that. If there was one thing Lieutenant Larry Winters didn’t
like, it was his people taking expensive trips anywhere. He'd
sooner call the department halfway around the country and have them
run the case there before he dipped into his budget to send one of
his own. State budget cuts did not afford them the luxury of
pursuing “frivolous trips,” as Winters described some of them.
    “No, sir, I haven’t been.”
    “Then you don’t know the case out there.”
    Genie’s
lips thinned into a tight smile. What case? “Only that the initial hit I received before I
left last night mentioned an inquiry concerning money laundering
for a restaurant out there. No murders, yet. No clear connection.
Besides, two restaurants is not exactly a chain.”
    “Not exactly. Ah, come in!” Winters motioned
for someone to take a seat. “Sorry about that, Santiago.”
    “You can just call me ‘Rafa.’”
    Genie
sucked in a breath. Santiago! Genie
turned her head slightly, her mouth agape. Did he have something to
do with the restaurant in California? Rafa took the seat beside
her. Genie continued to stare at him. His obsidian-colored eyes
laughed at her as if he were privy to some private joke. It had
been such a long time since she’d last seen him. He looked… and
those dimples… no warm-blooded woman could ever forget those dimples.
    Genie swallowed thickly, her mind
involuntarily flashing to images of Jeff Butler. He, too, was
incredibly handsome,