Free Grace by Laura Marie Henion

clearer view of the black holster and revolver as well as his trim waist.
    "I think we got off on the wrong foot. I'd like to resolve this, so we can move on with the case together,” Grace suggested.
    Max gave a slight laugh. “Together, huh? I don't think so. You see, I'm the lead detective. You're going to be answering to me."
    Grace stood up straight, also placing her hands on her hips, prepared to go round for round with the lieutenant.
    "How is that, Lieutenant Mathews? The way I see it is we can find Celina together or we can continue this unnecessary battle between us. I'm willing to forget how you ignored my calls, pushed meeting me off to some idiot who had little knowledge of the case and was told to withhold info from me and ... about the sexist way you acted at the courthouse."
    "Now hold on, Detective. It was you who ran into me and held on,” Max countered.
    Grace huffed and tried to move away from the front of the desk, toward the door, when Max grabbed her arm to stop her. With his other hand, he stuck his finger in her face again.
    "You tell me everything you know right now."
    "You tell me everything you know and you have a deal,” Grace responded.
    Max appeared furious. Grace thought he probably wondered, Who the hell does this woman think she is? She's not intimidated by you, buddy.
    Grace's cell phone rang, but she didn't move to answer it, and a moment later, Barry walked in concerned about the scene unfolding in the computer room.
    Max took a step away from Grace as Barry entered the room.
    "Sorry to interrupt, Grace, but that was a Mary Chloe on the phone. She wants to know if this Friday night at 9:00 p.m. is all right?"
    Grace looked toward Max, who immediately gave her another dirty look, knowing she was up to something.
    "Tell her that's fine. I'll call her back in a little while."
    Then Barry left the room.
    Max took a deep breath, leaning against the desk.
    "Do you really want to do this the hard way?"
    "Are you going to play fair or what?” Grace replied.
    Max took another deep breath, eyeing Grace. She was stubborn and not easily intimidated. She had dealt with enough cops like Max Mathews in her career. There was no way she would start backing down now.
    He reached out his hand. “Hi, I'm Lieutenant Mathews and you are...?"
    Grace hesitated a moment, then smiled and shook his hand. “Detective Grace Martin. It's nice to meet you, Lieutenant."
    Max still didn't smile, nor did he let go of her hand. The blood rushed to her cheeks, and she was instantly nervous.
    Max appeared to feel a similar response as she noticed his cheeks turn a shade redder. It was an odd moment, an instant attraction entwined with annoyance and anger. He was an attractive man, in a rugged, no-nonsense type of way.
    "I'm in charge and everything goes through me first. I'll share everything I have, and you will do the same. I'll clear it with the commander, got it?"
    "Yes,” was all Grace could say. She didn't want to say too much out of fear her voice would sound as shaky as she felt.
    Max let go of her hand then took a seat on the edge of her desk. His confident take-no-shit attitude was all street cop. She stood her ground even though her inner voice told her to run and cower behind her desk.... No way!
    "So tell me what you have so far and what your meeting with Mary Chloe Friday night is all about.” Max crossed his arms in front of his chest, as if absorbing Grace's every feature and not out of habit. He didn't take his eyes off of her.
    Grace moved around the desk to take a seat, so she would appear more at ease with the lieutenant's questioning tactics. His staring, however, was a different story.
    She explained about Celina seeing some attorney and that she believed they may have met at her parents’ house during a party, and then later at some sort of underground club where the patrons engage in not-so-traditional sexual activities. Max's eyes widened.
    "Did this information come from Mary Chloe?"
    "Yes,