He planned to put his knowledge and experience to full use in protecting the sweet and too damn sexy scientist-in-the-making.
And it was a damn good thing, because once the detective did get the gist of what Danusia was trying to tell him, he immediately dismissed her theories as far-fetched and fanciful. “This isn’t an episode of Law & Order, Miss Chernko.”
Max couldn’t decide if the man was getting her name wrong on purpose, or really was that dense.
“I’m fully aware that this is real life. It’s my apartment that’s been ransacked, detective.”
“And you want me to believe someone did it trying to get back a bunch of computer data you got for researching your paper?” The man couldn’t have come off as more dismissive if he’d called her little lady and rolled his eyes.
“Do you have a better theory?” Danusia asked.
But Max didn’t need to. The detective had nothing.
“Well, now. It’s a lot more likely that you’ve been turning your knowledge of chemistry to more lucrative endeavors.” The police detective’s words were annoying as hell, but expected.
Danusia,ugh, looked shocked and horrified by the implications. “You think I’ve been making drugs?” she demanded, proving her brains worked outside the classroom too. “Are you aware that one of my brothers is a former DEA agent?”
“Former?”
“Oh, my gosh, I can’t believe what you are implying.” She turned to Max. “Is he really saying what I think he’s saying?”
“Looks that way to me.”
“Now, listen here, Miss Chenkiro.”
The detective’s misuse of her name yet again was the last straw because she gave him a contemptuous look and got to her feet, marching away from his desk toward the exit without another word.
The detective wasn’t so quiet. “Wait a minute, there. You can’t go storming off. I’ll have you arrested on obstruction of justice.”
Danusia ignored the petty threat for the empty hot air it was.
The man jumped up to follow her, but Max got between them. “If you’d found drugs in her apartment, she’d already be under arrest. You’ve fucked up this investigation and any chance of a promotion you might have gotten out of it.”
With that, he left, catching up with Danusia before she was out of the building.
“That man is an idiot,” she said.
“He lacks imagination.”
“Oh, I’d say he’s
got plenty of that.”
“No, for him, it’s same old, same old. He can’t wrap his mind around a crime that isn’t centered on drugs or domestic violence.”
“He thought I was making drugs.” She sounded so furious and so hurt.
Max put his arm around her shoulder, even as he maintained easy access to his concealed weapon. “It wasn’t personal, sweetheart.”
“It felt personal.”
“I know.”
“Do you?”
“Sure. I’ve been pulled over for nothing more than DWB.”
“What’s that?”