Embrace the Night by Alexandra Kane

slacks. “I wouldn't even know what to say to him after the way I acted.”
     
    Ralph waved her off. “I'm sure you'll think of something.”
     
    A barrage of shouts broke into their conversation.
     
    “Oh, Lord!”
     
    “Hey! Mrs. Jenkins's dryer is smoking!”
     
    Tatiana shot out of the chair and darted across the room with Ralph on her heels.
     
    I guess I was needed here today after all.
     
    After escorting the shaken Mrs. Jenkins away from the dryer, Tatiana placed a call. Within an hour, an electrician was dispatched to tend to the frayed wiring that led to the problem. She was watching him make the repair when her PHOENIX cell phone vibrated in her pants pocket.
     
    Scampering to her office and closing the door gently behind her, she answered the call. “Lieutenant Yates.”
     
    “Lieutenant, it's Junjie.”
     
    She perched on the edge of her desk, filled with anticipation over what he was about to say. “Have you culled all possible details from the note?”
     
    “Yes, ma'am. In fact, in light of what I discovered, I think we should meet tonight.”
     
    She blew out a pent up breath, knowing this must be a very big break in the case. “I'll call a meeting right away.” She turned to glance quickly at her office wall clock. “We'll assemble at headquarters in an hour.”
     
    “Understood.”
     
    She disconnected the call and held the phone in front of her. Pushing the blue buttons that would automatically alert John and Marcelo, she recorded a quick voice message for them, informing them of the meeting. Grabbing her black blazer and handbag from the back of the chair behind her desk, she hurried to the door and flung it open.
     
    And nearly knocked Ralph right off his feet.
     
    “Ralph!”
     
    “Sorry,” he said, looking only semi-guilty. “When I saw you dash out of the room, I knew something juicy was going down.”
     
    She wanted to pop him upside his big bald head, but she restrained herself. “Ralph, what I do in the evenings is dangerous. I don't want you getting hurt.”
     
    He nodded. “I get it.”
     
    “Good. Then stop being so damn nosy,” she scolded, even as a laugh escaped her. Ralph had been that way ever since she'd known him, so nosy his nickname could be Axle Foley.
     
    “I'll try. Anyway, go handle your business. I'll close up here after the electrician leaves.” He shooed her toward the door.
     
    “Thanks, Ralph.”
     
    Easing out the door and down the steps, she left the shop and headed for her car in the parking deck across the street. It was a good thing she had on flats today, because she had a feeling things were about to get very interesting.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

CHAPTER 10
     
     
    When John pulled up to PHOENIX regional headquarters, he could see three other vehicles already there. That meant he was the last to arrive. With today being one of the evenings he had posted office hours to meet with his students outside of class, he hadn't really had a choice but to stay on campus later than usual. He glanced at his wristwatch, realizing he had about five minutes to get inside before the emergency meeting started.
     
    He was eager to find out what new information his friend Junjie had discovered. For the first time in a while, though, he was not eager to see Tatiana. As thrilled as he was that the clue he'd found would probably help catch the jackasses stealing the museum's priceless artifacts, he wasn't really in the mood for any lip from Lieutenant Attitude. Exiting his car, he pulled his trench tighter against a chilly breeze that rustled the trees around him, the scent of pine sap wafting past his nose. Soon he completed the security check at the door and was let in by the electronic system.
     
    He drifted down the hallway, and could see the yellow light coming from the conference room near the opposite end. It was nearly silent in the corridor, except for the beeping of various equipment PHOENIX used to monitor the building twenty-four