Training Kevin [Hard Hits 14] (Siren Publishing Classic ManLove) Read online

  Wyatt offered his hand. “Chief.”

  They shook hands. “Let’s get to my office. I need to pull you in on something. It’s sensitive.”

  They headed toward his office. Something was really wrong. He shut the door behind him.

  “I have Det. Royce in a meeting with a Dr. Jeff Hood. He came in here this morning to file a formal complaint against one of my men.”

  “What’s the accusation?”

  Chief Rask sighed heavily, sitting behind his desk. “Stalking and harassment after a failed relationship.”

  Shock vibrated through his system. “Who?”

  “Lt. Kevin Philips. I want you in on the questioning of both men. This is going to go to IA. I think this is going to be your last case.”

  “Sir, I really don’t think that’s a good idea. Some of these cases can drag out for months.”

  “I need you to do this as a favor to me. I don’t trust anyone else to take this case with Internal Affairs. So, can I count on you?”

  Wyatt hesitated only a moment. He couldn’t get the haunted image of that officer from the hall out of his mind. “Sure.”

  “Good. This stays between us and Det. Royce.”

  “Not a problem.”

  “Let me show you to your office.”

  Wyatt followed Chief Rask out and they headed toward where the other detectives were stationed. “This will be your desk.”

  Wyatt looked around the office, setting his messenger bag next to the desk. The chief indicated for him to follow with a nod of his head. He took one last drink of his coffee before throwing it out and followed Chief Rask out the door.

  “They’re still in interrogation. We’re going to watch from the other room.”

  When they were finally behind the two-way mirror, Wyatt started listening in on the conversation. He took a hard look at the man who was making some pretty severe accusations. Men like that didn’t go around throwing allegations out if they weren’t warranted. Wyatt took a notebook from his pocket, followed by a pen. He started to take notes.

  The chief headed for the door. “I’ll let you get to work. Keep me posted on what you find out.”

  With that, Wyatt openly studied the man. His hard, angular face was of a person who exuded confidence and strength. It completely went against the fact that he was playing the victim. Something didn’t add up with the situation. He was lying about something. Wyatt could see it in his body language, the way he would look away to the left and the way he wouldn’t meet the officers’ eyes directly.

  “You’re certain about wanting a restraining order?” Det. Royce asked.

  “Absolutely.”

  When the interview looked to be about over, Wyatt left the room. He waited just outside the hall for the detective to come out.

  “Mind if I ask him a few questions?”

  Det. Royce nodded. “Be my guest.”

  Wyatt opened the door and held the man’s gaze as he crossed the room. He sat down across from the man and their eyes locked. Wyatt stared at him for several hard seconds before he started. “I’m Det. Rome. I’d like to ask you a few questions about the officer stalking you.”

  “Please do.”

  “How did you two meet?”

  The question seemed to catch the man off guard, and that was exactly where Wyatt wanted him. “At the hospital where I work.”

  Truthful.

  “He was a patient?”

  “Yes.”

  “And how long did you two date?”

  “Almost a year.”

  “I’m guessing that you were intimate?”

  “Yes. We were, and I’m glad you brought that up, honestly.”

  “Why is that?”

  “He has some pictures that he sent me that he’s blackmailing me with. He’s threatening to make them public. He’s…please. Help me.”

  Jeff’s voice broke with emotion. Wyatt didn’t believe it was genuine. “Do you still have those pictures?”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “I’d like to see them for evidentiary purposes. Would you happen to have them on you?”

  “Yeah. I wasn’t sure if I needed to bring them as proof of what he was doing to me.”

  Wyatt waited as the man went through his coat pocket, pulling out a small envelope. He handed over the envelope with a steady hand. Wyatt opened it, looking at the pictures inside. He flipped through them, seeing very intimate photos with Jeff and Lt. Philips. “Do you mind if I keep these?”

  “No, not at all.”

  “One more thing.”

  “Yes?”

  “Where do you live?”

  “Just outside of Indian Hill.”

  “Thank you for your time. I’ll be in touch.”

  “Are you going to arrest him for doing this to me?”

  Wyatt slid his business card across the table. “Right now, this is an open investigation. I’ll be in touch when I know something more. Until then, just stay away from the man.”

  “You tell him to stay away from me.”

  Anger flashed within Jeff’s eyes. He was definitely ticked off about something.

  Wyatt left the room. He saw Det. Royce coming back with paperwork for Jeff to fill out. “Have you talked to Lt. Philips yet?”

  “That’s next on my list. You want to sit in on this with me?”

  “I think that would be a good idea.”

  After waiting for the detective to finish up with Jeff, he finally came out ten minutes later. He escorted Jeff out and then headed back to the bullpen where Wyatt was waiting. “I just sent Philips a message. He’s waiting in interrogation room C for us.”

  Wyatt followed Det. Royce down the hallway. “I’ll let you take the lead on this, if that’s all right.”

  “That works for me.”

  They headed into the room to see Lt. Philips looking really nervous. His arms were crossed and he was leaning back in the chair as though he’d rather be anywhere but there. He was bouncing his leg up and down. His blond hair was messed as though he ran a few hands through it. Dark freckles were scattered across his nose and cheeks. Wyatt hung back by the door where he could openly watch them. He leaned his shoulders back against the wall.

  “What’s this all about?” Kevin asked.

  Det. Royce sat down in one of the two open chairs across from Kevin. “We have reason to believe you’ve been stalking an ex-boyfriend. A restraining order has been put out on you by Dr. Jeff Hood. Mind telling us what’s going on?”

  “Yeah, actually I do.”

  “You better start talking. IA has already been informed and you’re in a lot of trouble.”

  Shock moved over the officer’s face, but he still wasn’t talking. Wyatt couldn’t blame him for clamming up. They all stared at each other for several long beats. Lt. Philips really wasn’t going to say anything to them.

  “Give us a minute,” Wyatt said.

  Det. Royce looked at him hard before leaving the room. Yeah, he got the message. They needed to do everything by the book. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on?” Wyatt sat down across from him at the table. Still, he didn’t say a word. “Would you like to speak to a lawyer?”

  Surprise moved over the lieutenant’s face. “You really think that’s necessary?”

  “I guess it depends on what you’re willing to tell me about what’s going on.”

  The lieutenant leaned forward, resting his head in his palms and running his hands through his silky blond hair. Finally, he lifted his gaze. “I need you to believe what I’m about to say.”

  “I’m listening.”

  “He’s stalking me. He’s coming to my apartment and going through things. He’s been harassing me for the last six months. Things are escalating. I’m not usually one to be afraid, but I’m afraid of him.” Disbelief moved through Wyatt. Out of everything he’d expected, this was not it. He couldn’t believe that this lieutenant was truly afraid. He carried a gun. He was trained in Israeli martial arts. Something didn’t add up here. One of
them was lying and Wyatt had to figure out which one it was. If he had to put money on it, he would’ve guessed that both were not telling the complete truth. The good old doctor was holding back and so was Kevin.

  “You’re afraid?”

  “Yes. You believe me, don’t you?”

  He did but he wasn’t about to tell Kevin that. “I’m here to figure out the truth of what’s going on.”

  “What happens now?”

  “Chief Rask asked me to do a formal investigation.”

  “You’re with IA?”

  “I am. You’re my last case before I move over to homicide with District Two.”

  Wyatt usually didn’t give the men he was investigating so much personal information. A small part of him wanted to reassure Kevin that he would do his best to find out what was going on. This investigation would slowly pull Kevin’s life apart.

  “Are we finished here?”

  “We are now. I’m going to need you for more questioning later, though. Here’s my card. Call me if you need anything or if he shows up again.”

  Hope flashed through Kevin’s eyes before he closed it off. “Thanks.”

  As their eyes locked, Wyatt was determined to find out everything that was going on. “I’ll be around when you need me.”

  “I’m free to go?”

  “Yeah.” Relief seemed to move through Kevin as he stood up, leaving the room. Wyatt followed him out where he headed back upstairs to find Chief Rask. He wanted to give him a personal update about what was going on. The chief’s door was open and when he saw Wyatt coming toward the room, he waved him inside.

  “Go ahead and shut the door.” Wyatt did as asked and stood across from the chief’s desk. “So what do you think?”

  “Neither one of them is being completely honest. I’m going to withhold giving an opinion until I’ve investigated things further.”

  “Do you think he’s fit for duty?”

  “I think he’s going through something right now. I would refrain putting him on SWAT until the investigation is over.”

  “Here’s his file. I want you to go through it and report back to me with your findings. How long do you think this investigation is going to take?”

  “I’ll do my best to have things wrapped up in a couple of weeks.”

  “The sooner the better. I don’t want this thing to be leaked to the media. Can you imagine the shit storm? That’s the last thing any of us needs.”

  “I can agree with you on that one.”

  Wyatt headed out of the room with Kevin’s file tucked under his arm. He went to one of the open conference rooms and shut the door behind him. Since he was new, he was still flying under the radar. Yes, there were trainings and sessions he needed to attend, but nothing pressing.

  Today was all about finding out what was going on with Kevin. He sat down, flipped open this file, and started at the beginning. Kevin had gone through training like any other new cadet. He had a four-year criminal justice degree from the University of Cincinnati and had gone on to do another year of forensics work in an accelerated master’s program.

  His love was fieldwork, though. He didn’t like to be cooped up in the lab. He was the liaison for the field officers who collected evidence. There were several letters of recognition for closing cases.

  By the looks of things, Kevin was moving up the ranks. He had everything going for him. His life shouldn’t have been falling apart. Wyatt usually didn’t follow his target so closely, but he was going to now. He knew if he got closer to Kevin, he’d find out what was really going on, and that was what he was going to do.

  Chapter Two

  Kevin was inwardly shaking as he watched the man who held his life in his hands move down the hallway.

  Intense. That was how he would describe his interaction with Detective Rome. The way he looked at Kevin made him feel vulnerable in a way no man ever had before. It was different than what he experienced with Jeff. This man was going to cause him trouble in his professional life—the kind of trouble he did not need right now. What was he going to do?

  Det. Rome looked like he wanted to call all the shots in Kevin’s life. That frightened him in a way that Jeff did not. Shaking from his encounter with Rome, he went back to his office and got to work on some files he was late on. He wasn’t surprised when the phone rang moments later. It was his chief. He’d been putting this conversation off for a long time.

  He reached for the phone, but he didn’t want to answer it. He just couldn’t deal with this all right now. Eventually, he knew he had to, but he couldn’t stomach the thought of his life being picked apart again. He hated the fact that Internal Affairs was looking into his life. More importantly, he hated the fact that Rome was the one doing it.

  Instead of getting back to work, he went down to the Training Center to find TJ. He was working with a group of cadets. Kevin didn’t want to intrude but he had no choice. When TJ caught sight of him coming his way, he broke off his work with the men. The look on his face when their eyes made contact was not good. Chief Rask must have gotten to him already.

  Shit.

  Kevin followed TJ out of the Training Center where he indicated a spot in the hallway where they could speak privately.

  “Any word on when I can start my training?” Kevin asked.

  “Chief Rask doesn’t want you starting your training yet. He wants you to start bomb training first. Is that going to be a problem?”

  “Do I have a choice?”

  “Probably not. Well?”

  “I’ll do the training.”

  “Good. I think that will be the best thing for you. How’s everything else going?” TJ asked.

  “Couldn’t be better,” he lied.

  TJ frowned hard. His long, dark hair was pulled back in a low ponytail at the back of his head. “You know I’m here for you if you ever need to talk.”

  “Yeah, I know.”

  As he passed by, TJ tapped him on the shoulder with his palm. Kevin had to resist the urge to shy away from his touch. After his experience with Jeff, he didn’t like anyone touching him—ever.

  He didn’t want to think about everything that was wrong with his life and hash it out with TJ in the hallway next to the Training Center. All he wanted to do was forget about everything that was going wrong and focus on the man who was now investigating his life. What was he going to do when Rome found out about the pictures?

  The thought of him seeing those pictures made his stomach turn. Kevin was a private man, and he did not like to advertise what was going on in his personal life. He had little control over anything right now. He just needed to get started on his bomb training and not worry about the rest.

  He headed up to his office and shut the door behind him. After signing into the system for his training courses, it was hard concentrating for the rest of the day. He couldn’t keep hiding upstairs and pretending that life was going to be okay. Instead of sleeping at the station again tonight, he was going to find a place to stay and be safe. If it happened to be a hotel, that was fine with him, he would work it out the best way he could. Jeff wasn’t about to ruin everything in this life. He’d make sure that the man would pay for what he was doing. Kevin would not be his victim anymore.

  As Kevin headed out for the evening, he avoided his coworkers who were making plans. As he left the building, he glanced back over his shoulder, looking around. He did that all the time now. He didn’t like the fact that he lived his life as though Jeff was going to pop out of the shadows from anywhere. Rome was going to do his investigation, and until that was settled, Kevin’s life would be picked apart. He got into his car quickly and locked the doors behind him. He took several deep breaths, trying not to feel the anxiety that was bubbling up beneath the surface. He started the car and left the station. As always, he was checking the mirrors for any sign of someone following him. It didn’t look like anyone was there, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that Jeff was watching him from a distance.

  Kevin drove a
cross town, picking a hotel with lots of security. He wanted to feel safe tonight. If that meant he had to spend lots of money to do that, he would. As he parked his car in the parking garage beneath the building, where it couldn’t be seen, Kevin headed toward the elevators that would take him up to the front desk. He was going to check in under an anonymous name. That was something his police badge got him and was worth its weight in gold. He would sleep easy tonight, and he wasn’t going to be scared of Jeff coming to find him.

  When he got to the room, Kevin moved around, trying to settle in for the night. He went to the window and parted the curtain, looking down at the city below. He had a view of the skyline looking out over northern Kentucky. The lights were romantic. Too bad he wasn’t going to trust another man to come into his life.

  Insomnia was a side effect of having been in a broken relationship. Instead of going on to bed, he needed to get out for a little while. He should have gone for a run or done something positive for himself, but he just couldn’t. He wanted to get out and forget about all the crap that was holding him back in his job.

  For the first time in months, Kevin wanted to get laid. In fact, he wanted to do it tonight. He wanted to have a one-night stand. There wouldn’t be any more long-term relationships for him. That thought had him going to the shower and stripping out of his work clothes.

  He got under the hot spray and scrubbed his body with the herbal bar of soap he found in the shower. After washing up quickly, he dressed in a pair of relaxed Levis and a black T-shirt. He put on his leather jacket, zipping in condoms and a bottle of lube on the inside pocket.

  When the elevator dinged and it was time to step inside, Kevin froze. What was he doing? He shook his head and got inside. As the elevator went down, he had a sudden feeling of dread. What if he ran into Jeff? He’d purposely left his Glock locked up in the safe in the hotel room. He was scared, but he did not need his gun to keep Jeff out of his life. He closed his eyes, trying to convince himself that going out to clear his head was the right move.

  He wanted to go back upstairs to get his gun. He should. He shouldn’t. Why wasn’t he?