A Dozen Deadly Roses Read Online Free Page A

but overall, his cop skills were still intact – a fact that surprised him.  Working with Jade hadn’t been nearly as bad as he’d imagined.
    After unloading the patrol car, they hauled their gear back to the kit room, and then waited in line to return their equipment.
    “Hey, Donovan,” an officer called out.  “You’ve got a package up at the front desk.”  As he passed by, he poked her in the arm.  “Don’t worry, it’s not ticking.”
    The officer joked, but Mac immediately noticed Jade’s expression froze in place.  In fact, her usually creamy complexion turned as pasty as a cadaver’s.
    “Thanks, Bill.  I’ll get it as soon as we get this equipment checked in.”
    Mac turned to her, taking the shotgun from her hands.  “I’ve got this covered.  Go get your package.”
    Jade bit her lip.  “Okay, thanks,” she murmured.
    Like a walking zombie, she headed toward the front desk.  Mac frowned.  Something was definitely wrong.  His partner appeared dazed.
    After turning in their equipment, Mac settled into the officers’ report writing room to finish his paperwork.  He glanced up as Jade came from the front desk.  She held a gold foil box, typical of ones used by florists.  A scarlet ribbon and bow secured the container.  She hadn’t opened the package yet.
    “Hey, partner, need a knife?”
    “Oh, no.  Thank you.  I’ll open it at home,” she replied in a monotone.
    Again, Mac frowned.  With her blank stare and droned response, she walked and sounded like someone high on PCP.
    “Is everything okay?”
    Her eyes finally focused on him.  She gave him a sickly smile.  “Yes, everything is fine.  I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    “Okay.  Drive carefully.”  He felt his stomach tighten.  His years of experience told him the sensation in his belly meant something was wrong.  Maybe she’d had a fight with her boyfriend, and he’d sent the flowers as a way to make amends.  If so, she didn’t look happy to get them.
    # # #
    After changing out of her uniform, Jade drove to her father’s home and pulled her ice-blue SUV onto the cracked driveway.  No matter how long she lived on her own, this one-story ranch style house in the San Fernando Valley would always be home.
    Stepping onto the concrete front porch, she rapped lightly on the wooden screen door.  Creaks in the floorboards announced someone's approach.  She plastered a smile on her face.  She didn’t want her Dad to see any evidence she was upset.  The door opened.
    “Hi Dad.  How’s it going?”  Although he hadn’t touched a drop in three years, she couldn’t keep herself from looking for the telltale signs he’d been drinking.
    Angus Donovan opened the screen door, allowing her entry.
    “Oh, fair to middlin’.  That young ‘un of yours is a handful.  He’s kept me and Mona hopping all day.”
    Jade followed her father to the family room.  Well-worn furniture lined the walls.  A blanket covered the floor in the center of the room.  Donnie and her father’s friend from Alcoholics Anonymous, Mona, lay on the blanket and colored in large books while cartoons blared from the television in the corner.
    “Mama!” Donnie jumped up and ran to her, throwing his plump arms around her knees.
    Jade bent down and squeezed her son tight.  Tears filled her eyes seeing how much he resembled his father.  It broke her heart that Donnie’s daddy wasn’t around, but having no male parent was better than having an unfit father.
    “Hey, Sweetie.  Did you have a good day with Grandpa and Mona?”
    The child nodded his head, his dark hair framing his chestnut eyes.  “Mama, you’re holding me too tight,” Donnie complained, wiggling from her arms.  “We played war, and Grandpa and Mona were terrorists.  I was a fireman, and I saved the world,” the four-year-old said, proudly.
    “I think it’s disgraceful children his age even know about terrorists,” said Mona, rising from the floor and moving to the tan