Diana slipped the switch out of Granger’s hand and replaced his thumb with her own in one smooth move, making sure not to release the pressure on the button. She turned around quickly and kicked Granger in the groin. He promptly went down on his knees. She brought her gun up, pointing it at his head.
“Tell your men to put down their weapons or I will put a hole in your head,” she said. There was no question she meant it.
Granger whimpered but said nothing. “Do it,” she snapped.
“You won’t shoot me,” he hissed. “It’s probably not even loaded.”
With the tiniest flick of her wrist, Diana moved the gun slightly to his left and fired into the floor, the bullet missing Granger by a hairsbreadth. He flinched. She brought the gun back to point directly at his head.
“Put your guns down,” he whimpered. It was all over.
With Nik and Scott dealing with Granger’s henchmen, Diana kept her hand on the dead man’s switch as Peter came over. He dangled a pair of handcuffs in front of her.
“Would you like to do the honors?” he asked.
Diana grinned at him. “I’d love to, but I’ve got my hands full.” She lifted her hand and showed him her thumb was still over the dead man’s switch.
She watched Peter as he slapped the handcuffs on Granger and read him his rights. She noticed he tightened them a little too much, just to be safe.
“Where are the canisters, Granger,” she demanded.
“You find them, “ Granger replied petulantly.
Diana ground her metal heel into his ankle. “Where?”
“In the plants,” he gasped.
“Get him out of here,” Diana said as Scott came over. He grabbed Granger and roughly pulled him to standing.
Diana lifted her chin and looked Granger in the eyes. “Next time, know who you’re messing with, okay?”
The ballroom was empty except for Diana and Peter. The bomb squad had deactivated the switches, and the room had been cleared of canisters. Nik and Scott had gone back to VPD to handle paperwork, after congratulating her for doing an amazing job and being “a kickass woman in an amazing dress.”
“You’re my every fantasy rolled into one. Please marry me,” Nik had pleaded with her.
Diana laughed. “Nik, one of these days, some woman is going to say yes, and you are going to be in a lot of trouble.” He had just grinned and walked away, waving at her.
She had spoken to Finn, who had waited outside for her throughout the whole ordeal. First, he wanted to make sure she was alright. Then, he spent the next five minutes berating Granger and his plan, providing gruesome details of what he would like to do to him for trying to hurt her.
After thanking him for his help and promising she would come have lunch with him again real soon, Finn left. He offered her a ride, but she was not quite ready to go home yet. She was on an adrenaline high. She returned to the ballroom to see if Peter needed any help.
“Those were some interesting moves you showed Granger,” Peter said, when she took a seat beside him.
“It’s been a while, but it’s like riding a bike when your life is on the line.”
“You did a great job taking him down. Especially in that dress. And those heels.”
Diana laughed.
“The uniforms had to beat off all the firefighters who wanted your number, you know,” Peter said with a grin.
Diana glared at him. “They drove them all off? What if I wanted to meet them? You do know that firefighters are on every woman’s ‘most wanted’ list.”
Peter rolled his eyes. “Very funny,” he said. “But, seriously, I had no idea how well you would manage a situation like that.”
“And now?” Diana asked.
He grimaced. “To be honest, I’m still going to worry all the time, but I’ll try to be less of an ass. How’s that?”
Diana chuckled. “It’s better than nothing. And—” she paused for a moment, while Peter looked at her expectantly. “Well, I just want to thank you.”
“For what?” he asked, looking honestly perplexed.
“For coming to my rescue,” she said with a soft smile. “Again.”
Peter shrugged, looking slightly embarrassed. “I didn’t do all that much.”
“It was more than enough.”
“It was no big deal,” he insisted.
“It was for me. So, thank you.”
Peter just nodded, looking awkward.
“How did you find me, anyhow? It was like a rabbit warren down there.”
“I can read blueprints, remember? And I’ve a good memory. You never know when something like that will come in handy. Like when you’re searching for problem women who don’t know when to leave well enough alone.”
“Problem women?” They looked at each other for a long moment.
Peter changed the subject. “We got the warrant about an hour ago and raided Granger’s warehouse. All the scopolamine has been taken in as evidence. There’s no chance it will end up on the street. With Granger behind bars, it looks like the threat of biological warfare on the streets of Vancouver won’t materialize anytime soon.”
“That’s a relief. Maybe you can do a deal with him to find out who was doing the supplying and how he was getting the scopolamine into the country.”
“I’ll suggest it to the prosecutor. It’ll be his decision in the end.”
Diana sighed and stretched. “You know what I could really use right now?” she asked.
“After what you did tonight, name your heart’s desire, and it shall be yours.”
“A slice of really rich, really dark, chocolate cake,” she replied dreamily.
Peter laughed. “Well, I know this little place that’s open all night and serves the most incredibly moist, chocolate cake you’ve ever tasted in your life.”
Diana jumped to her feet. “Well, what are we waiting for?” she barked.
“Okay, okay” he said as he got to his feet. “Wouldn’t want to deprive the woman of the hour of her chocolate.”
“You better not. I get mean if I don’t get my chocolate. And I’ve still got my gun, you know.” Diana smiled up at Peter. “Shall we?”
“Yes, ma’am,”
This time it was Peter who held out his arm as Diana slipped her hand through the inside of his elbow. As they traversed the hotel lobby, him in his black suit, bowtie hanging loose at his collar, Diana in her evening gown, her earlier complicated hair confection now slightly messy in a way Peter considered very sexy, they looked for all they were worth like a couple who had attended one heck of a good party. Peter caught sight of himself in a large ornate mirror in the hotel lobby. Was he preening? He didn’t think so. Perhaps he was. Just a little. Okay, quite a lot.
Diana simply looked straight ahead, smiling. “Let’s go, soldier.”
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DIANA HUNTER WILL RETURN…
Things get tense for Diana and Peter in the next book in the series. What more will we learn about them? Find out in the subsequent book in the Diana Hunter mystery series, Chopped. You’ll find an excerpt on the following pages.
CHAPTER 1
DIANA DRAGGED HER eyes open. She glanced outside. It was still dark. Her alarm clock’s bright green numbers said four o’clock. AM. Why was she awake? She had only had two hours sleep.
She concentrated for a moment. She couldn’t hear any strange noises coming from her apartment. No one had broken in. Whatever had awakened her, she didn’t rightly care. She turned over, burrowed deeper into the covers, and sighed. It was time to get back to sleep. A moment later, Pharrell William’s Happy blasted into the silence of her bedroom and Diana’s eyes snapped open. Again.
She turned back over with a grunt and glared at her cellphone. She considered her opt
ions. Should she throw it across the room and break it into a million pieces? Should she answer it and explain a few facts of life to whomever was calling at this ridiculous hour? The first option would be incredibly satisfying, and she would be able to get back to sleep. The second would prove just as satisfying, but she would be wide awake.
Choosing option two on the basis that it would be cheaper in the long run, she picked up her phone and looked at the caller ID. Hopkinson. “What?” she barked.
“Aren’t you cheerful?” Peter’s sunny disposition grated on her nerves.
“Do you know what time it is?” She was in no mood for Peter’s quips. Her soft pillows called out to her. They tempted her to rest her head in that lovely softness and let the warm cocoon of sleep take her back to Neverland. And Peter bloody Pan here just had to ruin it.
“Yup. Four o’clock. Were you still asleep?” he asked.
“No, I was counting the ways in which I’m going to torture you when I see you,” she replied.
“And that’s precisely why we get on so well,” he replied.
“Why? Because I threaten to do you grievous bodily harm all the time?”
“That, and the fact that you’re such a sweet, caring person.”
“Peter, if you just called to irritate me, you’re doing a damn good job of it,” she growled into the phone.
“Unfortunately, murders don’t have the decency of occurring on a nine-to-five schedule,” he said gravely, the light and teasing tone gone in a flash.
Diana’s eyes flew open, and she was instantly alert. “You’ve got a case for me?” she asked. She was just a little excited. They had been working together for about seven months now, but it had been more than two weeks since their last case. Diana was itching for some action. She had reached her limit with infuriating writers, annoying suppliers, and everything to do with running her magazine. The work seemed so trivial in the grand scheme of things. She loved her job most of the time, but right now she was frustrated and snapping at everyone. A little sleuthing action was just what she needed.
“You know, you worry me. Every time we get a case, you’re like a kid in a candy store,” Peter said. She could hear the smile in his voice.
“More, please, sir,” she replied in a high-pitched voice.
“That’s what I mean. You worry me.”
The doorbell shrilled into the silence. Her heart skipped a beat. “Please tell me you’re not standing right outside my door,” she sighed. Larry, the night doorman, would only let one person upstairs this early in the morning. Peter.
“Yes, I am. And I come bearing gifts.” He was too smug for his own good sometimes.
“Well, thanks for the heads-up,” Diana snapped. She flew out of bed, grabbed a robe, and shrugged into it. She glanced over at Max, her tiny, white Maltese terrier, who was sleeping soundly. He was so used to Peter coming around at all hours of the day and night that he simply didn’t react anymore. He had a sixth sense, even in sleep. He always knew when Peter was at the door. Anyone else and he barked his head off. The pizza delivery guy was terrified.
Peter hadn’t let up off her doorbell. Typical. She hurried to the door and yanked it open, glaring at the six foot two detective who filled up her doorway. His blue eyes twinkled at her, and he flashed her an all too pleased grin.
She glared at him. “Stop it,” she hissed. “You’ll wake the neighbors.” She hesitated. She sniffed the air and looked down. He held a cardboard tray with two coffees from Waves, the only chain where one could get coffee so early. Or late, depending on one’s point of view. “Espresso?” she asked hopefully.
He nodded. “Of course. Am I forgiven?” he asked.
Diana rolled her eyes. “Get inside.” She stepped back to let him in. He brushed past her, raising the tray so she could get a better sniff of the coffee.
It hadn’t taken Peter long to learn that Diana didn’t do well without coffee in the mornings. She was not fun before her first cup.
He had gotten to know her very well and very quickly in the time they had been working together. He didn’t know it, but ever since her parents’ murders, Diana had done her best to keep her relationships as casual as possible. She knew that whoever was responsible for the deaths was keeping a close eye on her, and she didn’t want to put anyone in danger because of their association with her. Yet, she had broken her cardinal rule with Peter. She knew he could take care of himself, but she still felt guilty. She knew that she should tell him how complicated her life was, and that spending time with her might not be so good for him. She would tell him soon, she promised herself, before she got so attached to him that her heart would break into a million pieces when he ran the other way.
“So, where’s my favorite four-legged buddy?” he asked.
“Asleep, just like I should be,” she muttered. “Give.” She tried to grab the cup of coffee he was still waving under her nose. He quickly moved it out of her reach.
“You really are a terrible morning person,” he said. He took pity on her and handed her the cup.
She took it and lifted the lid, inhaling deeply. It would be perfect, she knew. Two sugars and enough milk to give it a caramel color. She took her first sip with a moan of pleasure. “No, I’m not a morning person at all. And this isn’t morning. This is still the middle of the night.”
A sleepy Max crawled into the room and mewled pathetically at Peter. He wagged his tail, sat at the detective’s feet, and looked up expectantly. “And look who just got up.” Peter lowered himself to his haunches and gave Max a good scratch between the ears.
“Traitor,” Diana muttered at Max. “You’ve completely corrupted my dog.”
“He’s a smart dog. He knows who he can trust.” Peter grinned up at her and winked.
Diana hid her smile. Max did trust Peter, and so did she, up to a point. She trusted him with her life, but not with the truth of her past. Not quite yet.
“I’m going to get dressed.” She turned away with her cup of coffee still cradled lovingly in her hands. “Do we have time for breakfast?” she threw over her shoulder.
“Of course,” Peter called out. “We have about an hour before they’re expecting us.” He took a seat at the island dominating the center of her kitchen.
Diana froze in her tracks and walked backwards until he was in her line of sight again. She glared. “You’re telling me I could have slept in at least another half an hour?”
“Uh, no. Definitely not. Remember the last time I dragged you straight from bed to a crime scene without coffee and food? You made one of the uniformed officers puke, you had the rookies practically in tears, and even Doc, the most patient man I know, and Tina, who worships the ground you walk on, wanted to brain you.”
“It’s not my fault that uni had a weak stomach,” she huffed. “And those rookies were just standing there, gawking, instead of doing their jobs. When they finally did get around to it, they proved themselves to be completely incompetent. They couldn’t even hold back the crowd.”
“For your information, when you explain in detail how bodies liquefy when they decay and then proceed to provide visual corroboration by poking at the dead body, making it ooze, anyone would throw up,” he said with a cocked eyebrow.
“You didn’t,” she pointed out. “And at least I asked Doc’s permission before I did it.”
“He thought you were trying to determine something relevant to the case,” he replied in exasperation. “He’d no idea you wanted revenge on that poor constable simply because he found the body, and didn’t, as you put it, have the decency to wait until a more civilized time of day to report it!”
She smiled sheepishly. “At least I waited until the rookies left.”
“Well, that’s alright then. Thank goodness for small mercies. Now, go get dressed,” he ordered.
She snorted. “Why are you in such a rush? It’s not like the body’s going to get up and go anywhere.” He gave her a dirty look. “Alright, alright, I’m going. Might I point out th
at’s precisely where I was heading until you accused me of being a tyrant?”
“Your words, not mine.”
Diana glowered. She turned, marched into her bedroom, and slammed the door. “Don’t even think of cooking anything,” she hollered.
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” he answered.
Peter bragged about his famous pancakes all the time. Like a fool, she had once given him carte blanche to put his money where his mouth was. It had been a monumental mistake. The pancakes were incredible, no doubt about it. Her kitchen, though, was a disaster. Peter was permanently banned from cooking in her apartment. It had taken her three days to clean up his mess!
Peter sipped on his coffee as he waited for Diana to make an appearance. He was constantly on her case about how long she took to get ready, but the truth was that the woman was a speed demon. He didn’t know anyone who could get ready as fast as she did. And no matter how disheveled she was when he found her, she always emerged looking perfectly put together.
Dragging her out of bed at all hours of the night hadn’t gotten old yet. The annoyed look on her face was so funny that he didn’t think he would ever tire of seeing it. And he had a great excuse. She’d asked to be called in for any unusual case. Most of the cases that crossed his desk were unusual.
The first time he had been called out in the middle of the night, he waited until a more reasonable hour to call her. Diana wasn’t pleased. She wanted to see the crime scene intact. She was not happy to see all manner of people traipsing through it as they did their jobs. And she made sure everyone knew it. He had learned his lesson well. Now he called her immediately, no matter the time.
He thought back to the first day he had visited her apartment. That day changed his life in ways he couldn’t have foreseen. They had disliked each other intensely, but as he got to know her, his opinion changed. She thought she was always right, and that she could manage any situation, even if sometimes she couldn’t. But she was loyal. Intensely so. And she was willing to risk her own life to save someone else, no matter who. Even him. Especially him?
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