shadows of salem 01 - shadow born Read Free Page B

things back on track, not make them worse. “No, sir, it’s just that this is my first day here. I expected a little more from our first meeting.”
    The Captain fully turned his body toward mine now, swiveling his chair around. “What, did you want a pep talk? Because the last time I checked, nobody was forcing you to come out here. I didn’t think I’d need to hold your hand since you’re an experienced detective.”
    “No, you don’t,” I agreed, my voice growing tight despite my efforts to rein in my temper. “I’m an excellent detective, which is why I came here. I want to find out what happened to Tom, and I also want to take over the kidnapping case he was working on for you.”
    Captain Randall blinked. “Kidnapping case? What the hell are you talking about?”
    “The missing kids from the orphanage Tom grew up in.” Incredulity crept into my voice. “He said a couple of the cases were connected to Salem, which was why you called him, and that he came out because he felt personally connected. And now he’s dead, and I feel personally responsible for letting him come out here by himself. I want to take over his case and find some answers.”
    Captain Randall shook his head, looking at me as though I’d grown a second set of eyes. “Look, Detective Chandler, I don’t know what kind of problems you and Tom were having where he felt like he couldn’t be honest with you, but he didn’t come out here to look for any missing kids. I called him up to help me with an old murder investigation he’d been working on years ago. There were no kids involved, and no orphanage, either.”
    “W-what?” I gripped the arms of my chair so hard that my fingernails scratched the wood. “That’s ridiculous. Tom wouldn’t lie to me.”
    Annoyance flashed in Captain Randall’s eyes, and he bared his teeth at me. “Again, I don’t know what kind of relationship the two of you had—”
    “We were getting married. ” I surged to my feet, unable to hold my anger in any longer. “That’s what kind of relationship we had. Tom was my fiancé, and we told each other everything. If he said there was a kidnapping case, then there was.”
    “Look, Detective,” the Captain said, his voice hard. “Tom was a good man and a good detective. Unfortunately, we can’t ask him why he told you what he did, but I’m sure he had his reasons.”
    “I can’t accept this.” Anxious now, I yanked my phone from my pocket and pulled up the article I’d found in Tom’s email. “Look, here’s an article on two of the missing kids. You can’t tell me that’s not real.” I shoved the screen in Captain Randall’s face.
    The Captain’s eyes narrowed, eyebrows furrowing in concentration as he read the article. He shook his head. “I don’t know where you got this article, but your information is wrong. I’ve never even heard of those two boys.”
    “This article is from the Boston Herald,” I said, though my determination was starting to waver. “Are you saying it’s a lie?”
    “I’m saying I’ve never heard of those boys, and that Tom wasn’t working on a kidnapping case with me.” Captain Randall’s voice was firm. “Look, Chandler, I know you’re upset that he’s gone, but there’s nothing more to do than move on. If you’re not going to do your job, the door’s there. Otherwise, take your paperwork and get out of my office.”
    “I—” I clamped my lips together, choosing my words carefully before the Captain really did give me the boot. “Sir, I would appreciate it if I could at least take a look at the file regarding Tom’s death. I just don’t believe he died in a fire.”
    “You’ll get your files tomorrow,” he said. “Today, you’re to finish that paperwork and get familiar with the way we do things around here. Just because you’re here to work on Tom’s case—a case which I don’t believe needs further investigating, by the way—doesn’t mean you won’t be expected to help out