Lee’s eyes flickered between mine, his mouth firm as he studied me. It obviously surprised him to realise that I actually cared about what happened to his family. He took a step forward so that there was barely an inch between us.

“You think I don’t know that?” he gritted out, voice low.

“I had no idea it was him in that car. I was doing my job. So don’t you dare try to lay the blame on me.”

Lee scowled. “When did I ever lay blame?”

“Your text.”

“I asked you a question. I never blamed you. Liam’s actions are his own, but I practically raised that kid. I’m allowed to be angry.”

“I never said you weren’t, but it’s your own fault for leading him down this path in the first place, so don’t go directing your anger at me. It could have been any number of officers chasing him. He still would have been caught.”

Lee shook his head and turned away for a second. His shoulders rose and fell sharply, like he was trying to gain some composure. Finally, he swiped a hand down his face and turned back to me, one eyebrow arched, “Were you behind the wheel?”

I bristled. “I don’t see how that has anything to do with it.”

“Liam’s driving is second to none. No ordinary cop would have caught him.” He paused, some sort of interest lighting his eyes. “You must have some skills, Snap, chasing down a Gran Coupe in a Vauxhall Corsa.” He actually seemed impressed.

“Yeah, maybe I should pack it all in and come work for you, huh?” I deadpanned, cynicism lacing my every word.

We locked eyes for a long moment, a silent battle of wills. He didn’t like me insinuating he was a thief. Few people enjoyed the sight of their true reflection.

“Be real careful about what you say next, Karla,” he warned me.

“Or what? Will you have some thugs come and rough me up? That’s generally how it works with people like you, right?”

He neared me again, and my back hit the wall. His voice was low and measured when he spoke. “You have no clue what you’re talking about. And, just so we’re clear, I would never hurt you, never. If any man tried to lay his hands on you, I’d make sure that was the last thing he did.”

I stared at him, not sure how to feel. I’d been all geared up for a fight, and then he went and said something that was so protective, but equally so wrong. It took me a long time to reply, and when I did, my tone was a good deal softer.

“I know what I’m talking about.”

“No, you don’t,” he said, snapping his fingers over the material of my shirt. “When you put this uniform on every morning, you see a woman working to make the streets a safer place. To you, the law works to keep good people from hurting bad people, but ever since I was a kid, I knew that wasn’t true. The police were just a bunch of pricks in black and white threads and a stupid fucking hat, trying to stop me from feeding my family.”

His words hit deep, and I was just about to say something, anything, when I heard footsteps approaching. Immediately, I turned and walked back to my desk, picking up my pen and pretending like our conversation never happened. Lee went back to the reception area to wait for Liam, and all the while his words rang in my ears.

To you, the law works to keep good people from hurting bad people, but ever since I was a kid, I knew that wasn’t true.

***

I was almost finished my shift and on my way back from a house call later that day when Keira texted asking if I’d pick up some drinks and sandwiches for the station. Making the mistake of stopping at a shop in a rough neighbourhood, I went in, threw a few things in my basket, checked out, and left to find a gang of young men waiting for me.

I counted them all, five in total, and clenched my fingers tighter around the plastic bag I was carrying.

“Your lot aren’t welcome round ’ere,” one of them called over, and I kept walking. I was outnumbered, so there was no point in responding. I didn’t think they’d get physical, since I wasn’t trying to stop them from doing anything, but then one of them stood in front of me, sucking on a smoke and exhaling right into my face.

“Good-looking for a copper, though. Hey, red, why don’t you stick around and have some fun with us?”

“Look, lads, there doesn’t need to be a problem here, so if you could quit the side show, I’ll be on my way.”

I knew instantly that my tone didn’t sit well with the ringleader, as he flicked the butt of his smoke to ground and shot me a dirty look. He had tattoos on his neck and face, and, by the look of them, they’d been done in prison. This bloke obviously had some sort of chip on his shoulder about law enforcement.

“Side show?” he said, and glanced back to his boys. “This stupid bitch has a mouth on her.”

He took a step closer. Quickly shifting my shopping bag into my other hand, I pulled out my Taser and held it at arm’s length.

“Back off now,” I ordered him, and he stared at me cockily, like he wasn’t scared. Lifting his T-shirt, he revealed a gun tucked inside the waistband of his pants.

“You’re not the only one who’s packing, cunt,” he spat, but I stood firm.

“Do you really want to pull a gun on an officer right out in the open? I’m pointing this Taser directly at you, so who do you think is going to be quicker?”

“Come on, she’s not worth it,” one of his mates said. A few seconds passed before he threw a few more ugly words at me and slunk off. Letting out a slow breath, I returned to the car, dropped my shopping bag in the back seat, and pulled out my phone to call the station. I made a report on the incident, described what the guy with the gun had looked like, and then hung up.