Murders & Romance: A Psychic Detective Romantic Mystery (Isaac Taylor Mysteries Book 5) by Lashell Collins (ready player one ebook .TXT) 📗

Miller and Dorn. Detective Jack Runyan will be transferring in from the 5th precinct Violent Crimes division, and the other, Officer Lonnie Spencer, will be rising from patrol, in-house. Now… due to the loss of Miller and Dorn, as well as Barker and Wheeler both being out for health reasons, there will have to be some significant shuffling of teams in order to pair our two new hires with seasoned detectives.”

More chatter began, and a couple of hands shot in the air before Gavin could go any further. He had a good idea what was coming next.

“Yes, Harris?”

“Forgive the interruption, Lieu, but what does that mean exactly?”

“I haven’t worked out all of the details just yet, but it means exactly what you think it does. Exactly what I just said — there will be some significant shuffling of teams in the near future.”

“So we’re all getting new partner assignments, sir? Whether we want them or not?”

“Harris, if you can figure out a way to keep everyone with their current partners and still pair the new hires with seasoned detectives, let me know.”

She didn’t like his response, but Gavin didn’t know any other way to do this. The fact was, they were simply too damned shorthanded right now to do it any other way.

“Sir?”

“Yes, Walker?”

“Is this significant shuffling only going to affect the day shift, or will the night shift homicide detectives get shuffled too?”

“Are you volunteering for night shift, Detective?”

“No, sir. Just asking.”

A soft laughter went around the room.

“I did begin my search for new detectives by offering the day shift to all those currently working nights. None of them were interested in the switch. However, a couple of them were open to filling in for a short time until the day shift is back fully staffed. So they may come into play over the next few weeks. I’ll just have to see how my reshuffling efforts go.”

He glanced around at them all and noted a few worried expressions. He understood it, but it couldn’t be helped.

“All right, dismissed. Let’s be safe out there.”

He marched for the door and exited the room before most of them had even had a chance to stand. He went straight to his office almost dreading the headache that shuffling his detectives around was going to cause.

But the reason for it made him smile.

Not all of it, of course. Not the part about Curt Dorn dying. But the part where he got to be with Gerri freely and not worry about jeopardizing his career?

That part he loved.

He plopped his paperwork down on his desk just as Ike Taylor stepped inside his office.

“Got a second, Lieu?”

Isaac closed the door behind him and walked toward Gavin’s desk.

“So, this transfer? I take it that has something to do with your new relationship status?”

Gavin pulled out his chair and sat down, but the grin on his face told Isaac everything he needed to know.

“We had dinner together with Trey the other night.”

“Oh yeah? How’d that turn out?”

Isaac took a seat in the chair across from Gavin’s desk.

“It went great actually. Trey said he thought it was high time I moved on and found some happiness.”

“Cause he’s a good son.”

“He and Gerri really hit it off too. And you were so right.”

“Of course, I was. About what exactly?” Isaac grinned.

Gavin chuckled at him.

“About Gerri having more in common with me due to this job. It’s funny, but she and Trey could not be further apart. It’s…” He paused, like he was searching for the right words. “It’s like she’s my age.”

Isaac shook his head. “Let it go, Lieu. That age thing. Just let it go. Don’t even think about it. It means nothing in your relationship.”

“I’ll try to embrace that.”

“Good. I’m happy for you both.”

“Thanks.”

“I’m sorry we’ll be losing her though.”

“Yeah. I’m sorry that couldn’t be helped.”

“You went with my suggestion and hired Lonnie Spencer.”

“I agreed with your assessment of his file. Good detective material. I also took it a step further and spoke with his current sergeant, his current lieutenant, and his current partner. I’m confident we can build him into a good homicide detective.”

“Good.” Isaac nodded. “About this reshuffling thing you were talking about in the briefing…”

Gavin held up a hand, and Isaac stopped mid-sentence.

“I know what you’re going to say, Ike, and you don’t have to. Pete Vega seems very open-minded about your psychic stuff, and I think you’ve actually warmed to him quite a bit. So, don’t worry. I won’t be busting up the two of you.”

“Thanks for that. We’re finally working really well together, so I appreciate it.”

Gavin nodded and folded his hands on top of the desk with a sigh.

“I was toying with the idea of bringing Palmer and Driscoll up from nights permanently and moving the two new hires into their spots, busting up the other night shift team to make two new teams. That way the new blood is on nights, and the day shift gets two seasoned teams who work well together.”

“Meaning me and Pete, and Sasha and Lynn?”

“Right.”

Talking about the two female detectives brought to mind the memory of Sidney asking how effective the all-woman detective team was.

“That way we’d have two seasoned teams and two restructured teams on days,” Gavin continued. “But, neither Sasha Palmer nor Lynn Driscoll wanted the permanent move to the day shift. They like working nights.”

“Go figure. Well, what about Cruz and Polanski?”

“Palmer and Driscoll were my first choice. Apart from being the senior detectives on night shift, they have the better record. Besides, Cruz and Polanski weren’t interested in the switch either.”

Isaac shrugged. “Some people love working nights.”

“I guess. And I’m all for trying to make everyone happy with their shifts if I can, but it doesn’t solve my problem.”

Isaac sighed and gave it some thought.

“Well, there is another option, sir?”

“I’m open for suggestions.”

“Since one of the new hires is actually a seasoned violent crimes detective, why not simply partner the new hires together?”

Gavin stared at him, not blinking.

“I mean, it’s not