Yep. Just like Oscar. Trexler unknowingly catapulted Jonah back to the summer he’d fallen from the treehouse and broke his arm.
“Boys don’t cry, Jonah. How many times do I have to tell you that?”
He’d been seven. God, he fucking hated toxic masculinity.
“You’re supposed to be using your supercomputer to solve crimes.”
“I’m not experienced in the field, and I understand if you want to assign this investigation to another agent,” Jonah said.
“How big of you, St. John,” Trexler said snidely, shoving the document back across the desk to Jonah without looking at it. “You have two minutes to tell me why the case needs further scrutiny.” Trexler looked at his watch. “Starting now.”
Jonah quickly went through the facts he uncovered as succinctly as he could in the time allotted.
Trexler steepled his fingers at mid-chest. “I’m not willing to reopen a thirty-eight-year-old case on a whim.”
“With all due respect, sir, it’s not a whim. Bo Cahill couldn’t have killed Earl Ison if he was incarcerated in DeKalb County. Can I at least have your permission to request their official file?”
“People could’ve entered the wrong dates, St. John.”
“True,” Jonah agreed, “and a quick look at the file will resolve the issue once and for all.”
Trexler heaved a deep sigh. “You might be willing to stake your career on this, but I’m not willing to hinge the reputation of retired officers and prosecutors on your conjecture. I have faith in the system and trust that those involved practiced due diligence. As I see it, this is SPD’s problem. If a mistake was made, it’s their responsibility to investigate and correct their error. You may tell your aunt, the police commissioner, I said so. My answer is no, Agent St. John.”
Jonah knew he should accept the verdict and leave, but he couldn’t. He’d given Marla his word. “With all due respect, sir, the Ison file wouldn’t be in our database if the GBI wasn’t involved. We had either requested the information or SPD sent it to us when asking for our assistance.” Jonah thought the latter was unlikely.
Trexler’s nostrils flared as he jabbed the air with his finger. “All I’m hearing from you are assumptions, and I don’t appreciate you wasting my time. Send this information to your aunt and let her sort it out and be ostracized by the public if what you discovered is true.”
Trexler was on a roll and wasn’t finished. “We went over your shortcomings in detail during Monday’s meetings. Apparently, I need to reiterate a few key points.”
Jonah sat ramrod straight, unmoving except for the ticking in his jaw.
“I know how highly you think of your criminal analysis and profiling skills, and you’ve even convinced Director Malcolm of your merit. The key fact remains that your primary task at this agency is to detect and prevent cybercrimes. You don’t get to dust off your supercomputer and investigate crimes at whim, especially not cases that are already marked as solved. You are to wait until your assistance is requested and approved by me before you start feeding facts into Starla.”
“Stella.”
“Whatever,” Trexler said dismissively. “What about this ‘game-changing software’ you’re developing?” Jonah briefly fantasized about dislocating the fingers Trexler used to form his obnoxious air quotes. “Do we need to discuss how to best allocate your energy and focus? Again.”
“It’s a cybersecurity microchip, sir,” Jonah said. He was impressed with how calm he sounded, especially since Trexler had been put in charge of a division he didn’t even appreciate or understand. Whose dick had he sucked to get this promotion? Maybe someday Jonah would find the nerve to ask. “Software is too easy to hack and manipulate. I plan to finish the mockup today, which is a week ahead of schedule.” He never missed a deadline and sure as fuck wouldn’t start now.
“Then I expect to see the results of your trial runs by the end of this week instead of next. I can see that having too much time on your hands is detrimental.”
“Yes, sir.” Not that the idiot would understand the data.
“I knew allowing you to participate with the Sinister in Savannah podcast was a mistake, and I wish Director Malcolm would’ve listened to my opinion on the matter. It’s obvious the success has gone to your head and made you think you’re an amateur sleuth.” Trexler took a deep breath. “It’s also apparent you don’t respect proper protocol since you went over my head and discussed reopening the case with Director Malcolm instead of coming to me first.” Trexler opened a desk drawer, pulled out a piece of paper, and slid it across the desk to Jonah. “I think the director’s friendship with your aunt has given you a false sense of security and importance around here. This,” Trexler said, nodding to the paper, “should help you put things in proper focus.”
Jonah glanced down at the document, and his gaze snagged on words like “insubordination” and “official warning.” He glanced up and met Trexler’s smug expression. No wonder the bastard had seemed happier this morning. Jonah had finally played into his hand and given Trexler a legitimate reason to write him up.
“I think you should be grateful it’s only a warning this time. I could’ve suspended you without pay, but I chose not to.”
Bullshit. Jonah’s offense wasn’t severe enough to warrant a suspension without prior written warnings. Was Trexler expecting Jonah to thank him? The supervisory agent’s smug grin morphed into a joyous smile. Trexler knew Jonah was choking on bitterness and was daring him to pop off. Jonah would not let this asshole make him “Hulk out” at work, no matter what everyone thought.
Nope. Jonah needed to focus his energy on where it was needed most: making the person who betrayed him pay.
Trexler’s phone rang, and he picked up. “Yes, Tabitha. Jonah was just leaving. Please send the call through once he steps out of my office. Thanks.” He returned the phone to its cradle and looked expectantly at Jonah. “Did you have anything else you wanted to discuss with me?”
“No,” Jonah said tersely.
“You can show yourself out so we can both get on with our workday,” Trexler said.
Jonah snatched up his warning along with the summary he’d prepared, got up, and left the room. He passed Tabby’s desk without saying goodbye because his brain was too busy trying to figure out who had betrayed him. Jonah knew damn well Malcolm hadn’t ratted him out to Trexler, and he hadn’t discussed the investigation with anyone else.
The truth hit Jonah with the force of a tornado, and he almost stumbled.
When he returned to his office, Avery was working on Stella. He was so engrossed in his project that he hadn’t realized Jonah returned until he shut the door more forcefully than he’d intended.
Avery jumped, and the pencil he’d been gnawing on fell out of his mouth. “Jonah,” he said, clutching his chest. “You scared the hell out of me.”
“Or are you just jumpy?” Jonah asked.
“I don’t have a reason to be jumpy,” Avery protested.
Jonah stalked across the room until he practically stood over him. “Is that so?”
Avery swallowed hard but didn’t look away from him. “What’s going on?”
“Did you read the document I prepared yesterday before you placed it in the interoffice envelope?” he asked.
“I glanced at it, yes,” Avery admitted, raising his chin defiantly.
“Who’d you tell about it?” Jonah asked.
Avery’s mouth dropped open in shock. “No one. I only delivered it to Desiree since I figured you would need it for the meeting. What’s going on?”
Jonah shoved the insubordination warning at Avery, who looked at it, then gasped.
“Oh no.” Avery pushed back his chair and rose to his feet, glaring at Jonah. “You think I told Trexler about your meeting with Malcolm? How could you think I’d betray you like that, Jonah? I know how much you can’t stand the smug bastard.”
Avery’s anger took a little wind out of Jonah’s sails, but he wasn’t willing
to dismiss his suspicions altogether. “Okay, maybe you didn’t tell Trexler directly, but you told someone during morning gossip, who told someone else, who—”
“Fuck you, Jonah,” Avery snarled, stepping around him and walking quickly toward the door.
Jonah caught up to him in three strides, bracing his hand against the door to prevent Avery from opening it. “I’m not done talking to you.” Jonah knew he was acting irrationally but couldn’t seem to stop himself.
Avery’s body vibrated. From anger? Or was it from lust pooling in his gut? Jesus. Heat rolled off Avery, making his rain-fresh scent stronger. Jonah had the insane urge to press his nose behind Avery’s ear and inhale deeply.
“Take your hand off the door, Jonah. I don’t want to be near you right now.”
“Avery, I know how much you like to gossip with some of the ladies. Maybe you didn’t mean for this to happen, but—”
Avery threw an elbow, driving it into Jonah’s gut and temporarily cutting off his ability to speak. Avery followed it up by stomping on Jonah’s instep.
“Fuck,” Jonah groaned, limping backward.
Avery spun around and boldly strode toward Jonah, his nostrils flaring as he breathed heavily. “I told you to back off, and you didn’t,” Avery said, jabbing his finger in Jonah’s chest. “Next time, I’ll knee you in the balls.”
For the first time since Jonah left Trexler’s office, he started to second-guess himself. If Avery was lying to him, he was very persuasive. Jonah ran both hands through his hair.
“I told no one about what I read on the report. I didn’t seal the interoffice envelope, so Desiree could’ve read it and told Tabby about it. They’re cousins and probably wouldn’t even view the exchange as gossip. Trexler is always on Tabby’s ass, so she probably told him to score points. So, indirectly, I’m probably responsible, and I am sorry. I wouldn’t intentionally betray your trust, and I’m hurt you think I would.”
Jonah had the strongest urge to pull Avery into his arms, but he couldn’t…wouldn’t. “I’m sorry, Avery. I should’ve known better. I don’t know what’s come over me.”
“You’re not forgiven, Jonah. I need a few minutes to calm down before I can continue working,” he said before spinning around and leaving Jonah’s office.
Jonah walked over to his desk and flopped down in his chair. Snatching up the bag of Bugles, he devoured them in two minutes or less while white-hot rage burned through him. He couldn’t believe Trexler refused to even consider requesting Bo Cahill’s official case file from DeKalb County. Jonah wasn’t buying his pomp and circumstance about protecting the law enforcement officers’ reputation either. Trexler would throw his own mother under a bus if it meant advancing his career. Fuck. Had Jonah approached this the wrong way? He’d gone into the meeting armed with facts when he should’ve gone in there ready to stroke the man’s ego. The thought left a bitter taste in Jonah’s mouth, but his pride could’ve cost him the one chance to give Marla peace of mind.
“Idiot,” Jonah mumbled under his breath.
“Well, I can see our little time-out wasn’t long enough,” Avery said from the open doorway. Jonah snapped his head up and found his intern scowling at him. God, he was so fucking cute when he was mad.
“I wasn’t calling you an idiot, Avery. Get in here and shut the door so I can grovel in private.”
“What if I want the entire office to witness you on your knees?”
Heat uncoiled low in his belly and spread upward as very tantalizing images flooded his brain. Jonah raised a brow.
Realizing what he said and how it could be interpreted, Avery started to sputter. “I…um didn’t mean I wanted you on your knees for that. I meant begging for it.” He gasped and choked. “No. Begging me.” He shook his head. “I meant you should be on your knees, begging for my forgiveness. Christ. I am an idiot. You’re right.”
“You’re adorable,” is what Jonah wanted to say. Instead, he smiled and said, “Maybe we should start over.”
“We can try, but it’s not likely either of us will forget this disastrous morning,” Avery quipped.
“Maybe it’s for the best. Let’s aim for learning from it instead.”
“Deal,” Avery said with a firm nod. “Let me grab my tea, and we’ll start over.”
Jonah scrunched up his face. “Gross.”
“Don’t you start with me,” Avery tossed over his shoulder as he ducked out of Jonah’s office. He returned with a cup of something that didn’t resemble his usual sweat-sock stew. It smelled like cinnamon and cloves and other things he couldn’t name. Black licorice? “Good morning, Jonah,” Avery said, plastering a huge smile on his face. “Did you have a fun night?”
Jonah’s expression must have given away his confusion.
“I said I wanted to start over, and you agreed,” Avery said.
“I scoffed at your choice of beverage, and you consider it agreeing to your plan?” Jonah questioned.
“You didn’t say no,” Avery countered.
Jonah shook his head. “I didn’t say yes, either.”
“Quit splitting hairs and tell me about your night,” Avery said.
“My roommate and I ate too much Chinese food and drank too much bourbon. What about you?”
“My night wasn’t nearly as exciting,” Avery said. “I ate a frozen dinner and drank pink lemonade.”
“Those dinners taste better if you heat them up.”
Avery gasped. “Why didn’t I think of that?”
“What’s in your tea?” Jonah asked.
Avery puckered his lips and blew his steaming brew before taking a sip. Jonah’s tie started to feel like a noose. “It’s called chai.”
“Okay, what’s in your chai tea?” Jonah tried again.
Avery laughed. “Chai means tea, so when people say chai tea, they’re saying tea tea. This is a chai latte.”
Jonah blew out a frustrated breath. “Avery, this redo isn’t going much better than the first time around. What’s in your chai latte?”
“Unlike English teas, it contains cardamom, cinnamon, black peppercorns, star of anise, cloves, and a few other spices. It’s full of flavor and good for you. Would you like to try it?”
“Maybe later,” Jonah said noncommittally, making Avery smile.
“So, you were telling me why you got hammered on a Tuesday night,” Avery prodded, distracting Jonah by blowing on his steaming mug again.
“No, I wasn’t,” Jonah said.
“You were about to tell me,” Avery amended.
“Was I?” Jonah asked. “Pretty sure I was going to tell you we need to buckle down and finish the final phase of our cybersecurity microchip. I kind of told Trexler we would finish it today, then he shortened our deadline for trial testing by a week.”
“You kind of did what?” Avery asked. His mouth fell open, and his mug wobbled in his hand.
“Set your chai down before you spill it all over me,” Jonah insisted.
Avery rolled his eyes but did it anyway. “A guy knocks over coffee one time…”
Jonah held up two fingers. “But who’s counting?”
“You obviously are,” Avery groused. “Why’d you guarantee we’ll finish the final phase so quickly?”
Jonah sighed. “It wasn’t my finest moment.” He’d been reeling from Trexler’s insults and dismissive attitude toward his abilities, but Jonah left his excuses unsaid. “Now, we need to find a way to finish the microchip and begin phases of testing.”
“Sounds like we’ll be ordering in lunch,” Avery said.
“Maybe dinner too. Or do you have plans?” Jonah asked.
Avery broke eye contact by looking down at the cup in his hands. “No plans,” he said softly.
What was the wistful tone all about? Was Avery pining for the new guy? Jonah wanted to ask more, but he needed to keep their focus on the task at hand and not open a can of worms. Instead, Jonah said, “Fine, but no eating or drinking around Stella.”
Avery met his dec
laration with an eye roll, then finished his tea while they reviewed their plans for the final phase. Once they finished, Avery walked over to Stella, stroked her keyboard, and said, “Hello, beautiful.”
Jonah felt the caress in his soul and barely suppressed a shiver. Damn, it was going to be a long fucking day.
Eleven hours, dozens of pages of scribbled notes, two rounds of takeout food, and three bags of Caramel Bugles later, they had reached the testing phase. Jonah intently watched his monitor as Avery attempted to hack through their new cyber-protection from his laptop. As the day wore on, Jonah’s office seemed to shrink in size until it felt smaller than a coat closet. He’d lost his jacket and tie not long after they started their marathon of coding. At some point, he’d loosened three buttons on his shirt, and had caught Avery staring at the swath of tan skin exposed there every so often. Pointing it out would’ve embarrassed Avery, so Jonah silently basked in the attention and debated tempting the devil by undoing another button.
Jonah traced his bottom lip with his forefinger and watched with glee as their cybersecurity chip blocked Avery’s attempts to breach the firewall. Each time he was thwarted, Avery made this adorable little grunt that had Jonah thinking dirty, dirty thoughts.
“I wish I’d thought to program sounds,” Jonah teased.
“What kind of sounds?” Avery said without looking up from his laptop. His fingers flew over the keys as he continued trying to penetrate the fortress.
“Video arcade noises like when Pac-Man died. I could’ve rigged it to play every time you failed to breach the firewall.”
Avery chuckled. “Explosions like Battleship?”
Jonah grimaced. “I’m not too keen on war games or explosions.”
Avery’s fingers stilled, and he looked up at Jonah with a horror-stricken expression on his face. “Oh, God. That was such an insensitive thing to say.”
“Why?” Jonah teased.
Avery pinned him with an annoyed look. Apparently, he’d uncovered the truth about Jonah’s injury. For eight months, Jonah had given a variety of reasons for his scar ranging from getting struck with debris while rescuing a kitten from a tree during a hurricane to battling a samurai.
Ride the Lightning : Sinister in Savannah Book 1 Page 7