Free SEIZED Part 4: A Steamy New Adult Romantic Suspense Thriller (Seize Me Romance Fiction Series) by JC Coulton Page B

her anymore. It ended years ago. After that, we were friends. That’s all.”
    “Detective, you know I’m on your side. I’ve always had a soft spot for you, but there’s nothing I can do this time. The decision has been made. Effective immediately, you are officially suspended from your role as a NYPD Detective. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
    I nod. “I know I should have said something earlier. I took a chance on Neon and I understand that you’ve got no choice.”
    “I’m sure you’re aware there’ll be a full investigation into your conduct on this and other cases that may or may not have involved Neon.”
    “I’m prepared for that, Lieutenant. I have nothing to hide. I know I was doing a good job. I was onto something.”
                  “Regardless of that, Anderson, I need you to surrender your gun and your badge to me now.”
    I hand over the symbols that have come to mean so much to me.
    “I’m sorry to be the one to do this, Anderson. Your union rep will be in touch to advise you of recourse. Internal Affairs may also contact you for an in-person interview. Make sure they can reach you.”
    I leave her office without another word. I feel numb. I’ve been suspended. I don’t stop at my desk. I don’t say goodbye to anyone. I just keep walking. I get outside, jump into my car and start driving home. All I can do is wait for the outcome. I feel more powerless than ever before. I’m not angry. It’s strange, everything feels surreal. Even the busy traffic appears further away then ever. I’m in a bubble of isolation, driving towards a future I don’t understand.
    The only person I want to see now is Carrie James. She hasn’t taken my calls today, so to me, she’s further away than ever before. I’ve lost the woman I love, and I’m facing the end of my career. Jesus, how did this go so wrong?

Chapter Eleven
    Blake
    Now what? The phrase runs over and over through my mind. This is the worst I could have imagined. I’m suspended. There are so many things I wanted to say to Jacob back there. So many moments where I wanted to lose my shit and tell her she was wrong.
    Thank God I didn’t. There was no way I could have kept a cool head. I would have walked out fired instead, I’m sure. She’s doing what she has to do, but I thought she would have backed me up with the Feds. I respect her; well, I respect the work she’s been doing, anyway. She’s got a name for being fierce and unyielding. I admire her commitment, but this feels like the opposite. Jacob is bailing out because the going got tough, or the brass snapped their fingers. Fuck!
                  I decide to call Ryan. He’ll have the inside word after being stuck on desk duty with that wrist injury. Our precinct is too small for gossip not to get around. There has to something more to this than Neon. Who cares if she’s my ex? It’s not even relevant. That’s what doesn’t make sense.
    I suspect the real reason for a suspension is because I’ve been getting too close to Jessup. I need to find out who’s pulled the plug. It’s not like I’ll be gunning to take them down. I just want to know. It’s wise to find out who’s batting for which team around here. If there are a bunch of cops protecting Jessup, I’m going to have serious issues getting any further in this trafficking case.
    “Ryan, brother. It’s me.”
    “Blake, I heard. How are you?” His serious tone tells me he’s aware of the gravity of what’s happened.
    “Buddy, I’m floored too, man. It was the last thing I expected.”
    “What did Jacob say? Why?”
    “She said it has to do with knowing Neon. We have some history.”
    “That’s all?”
    “Honestly bro, that’s all she said.”
    Ryan is silent on the phone. I start to worry that he may know more. He says, “Don’t feel bad. I’ve seen worse shit happen. Talk to our PBA rep. They’ve seen it all. They can fix this.”
    “Yeah man. That’s what Jacob said.