Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 8
to be a long day, he just knew it.
Thankfully, the car ride to the Sixth had been uneventful. Well, mostly uneventful. Harlan had been forced to threaten Danny and Nathan with getting tossed out on their asses if they didn't shut their traps and stop the childish argument over who was funnier, Buster Keaton or Harold Lloyd.
Once they'd arrived, Danny had been absolutely correct in assuming that John wasn't happy with him. The moment John laid his silvery-gray eyes on Danny, his broad grin turned into a thin-lipped smile.
"Fellas," he greeted, folding his beefy arms over his chest. Harlan noticed Danny's eyes follow the movement, his gaze fixed on John's expansive chest and the muscles of his forearms. John wasn't one to wear a jacket any longer than he had to, and his rolled up sleeves added to his brash personality. John pinned Danny with a glare. "I thought I told you I didn't want to see you in my station again."
Danny cleared his throat and discreetly elbowed Harlan in the ribs.
"John, Agent Brogan here would like to apologize for acting like a complete pill in your precinct," Harlan said, turning to Danny and arching an eyebrow. "Isn't that right, Agent Brogan?"
"Right." Danny held a hand out to John, who merely looked at it, his frown deepening. "Detective Flynn, I apologize for my behavior. It was unacceptable and I was hoping we could start over. I'm Agent Danny Brogan from Chicago, newly appointed to the southern district of the New York City's Prohibition Unit. It's a pleasure to meet you."
John's gaze shifted up to Harlan who was promptly prodded by Nathan. Damn it all. Hoping he wouldn't regret it, he gave John a subtle nod. With a resigned sigh, John took Danny's hand and shook it.
"Detective John Flynn," John grunted. "I expect you to behave yourself in my station, Harvard."
Danny opened his mouth only to have Harlan give him a kick. Stifling a curse, Danny forced out a smile. "Sure thing."
Heading toward the back of the station, Harlan agreed to let Danny and Nathan interrogate Shifty, seeing as how Shifty would all but wet himself as soon as he laid eyes on Danny, and Nathan would be there representing the better of the two evils.
As he sat in the empty interrogation room next door with John, he noticed his friend was rather pensive, and he knew exactly what it was occupying the detective's thoughts.
"What do you want to know?" Harlan offered. "Keep in mind, I met him the same day you did. He and Nate were childhood friends."
John gave him a penetrating look, and Harlan chuckled. The guy had always been too smart for his own good. "Yeah, that, too."
"Yet he's still in one piece?" John asked curiously.
"We had a… miscommunication, but that's been resolved." Harlan leaned forward and John did the same, his interest clearly piqued. He wondered how long his friend had been thinking about dear old Danny Boy. "I ain't gonna feed you no lines, John. The kid's arrogant, screwy in the head ten ways from Sunday, elusive, ambitious, dangerous, and possibly on the take."
John let out a sigh and started to sit back when Harlan held a hand up. "But Nate obviously sees something in him that I don't, and you know Nate's never wrong about these things. Maybe he just needs someone to take a chance on him. Hell, maybe he'll surprise all of us."
"I don't know, Harlan." John shook his head and ran a hand through his dark hair. "He's a looker, no doubt about it, but I got enough troubles. Besides, he's gotta be what, Nate's age?"
"A couple years older. Twenty-nine, I think."
"Jesus, he's just a kid."
"He's only a year younger than me," Harlan reminded him.
John gave him a wicked grin, causing little lines to form at the corners of his silver eyes. "Yeah, but you're old on the inside."
"Thanks," Harlan muttered, casting him a sideways glance. "Thirty-seven ain't old, John."
"Sure as hell feels like it sometimes," John grumbled, stretching out his long legs, his expression growing troubled, and not because of Danny.
"What's wrong?" Harlan asked. Whatever it was that was concerning John, it had obviously been keeping him awake at night, judging by his somewhat scruffy appearance. Granted, John was one of those fellows who seemed to sport a permanent five o'clock shadow, but he didn't usually look so haggard.
"I got a rat in the precinct."
"What?" Harlan certainly hadn't expected that. "How is that possible?" He knew exactly how it was possible. Every man had his price, so they said. It was only a
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