“Calder, Kelso, my office, now.”

Both Jaden and Dorian watched Captain Sharp enter his office and sit at his desk. His face a mask of worry and almost anger.

“He always that snappy?”

“No,” Jaden glanced to Dorian. “Something must really be wrong.”

“Think he suspects we went beyond the partner thresh-hold?”

“I doubt it, and if he did, it wouldn’t matter.” She winked at him. “Let’s go see what bee is in his bonnet.”

They sat before him, watching and waiting. Sharp looked to Dorian once, and then his eyes stayed on Jaden. He looked like he was trying to decide if she stole the cookie from the cookie jar. Jaden felt her heart speed up.

“Jaden, I need to ask you this and I will only do it once.”

“Alright.”

“Where were you night before last,” He glanced at his notes. “Between midnight and three.”

“Well, I was home, sir.”

“Can anyone verify that?”

“Verify?” She started to question, but stopped as his eyes bore into her. “Jada called me about eleven I guess. Other than that, I guess you only have my word.”

Captain Sharp stood and crossed the room, closed the door and drew the shades facing the outer room. He paced, rubbed his neck and pinched the bridge of his nose. He looked like he was about to deliver bad news.

“Captain?” 

“Ordinarily, I would have this conversation in private. But as Kelso is your partner, he may be able to help figure this out.”

“Figure out what?”

“First let me say, I in no way believe for a moment you had anything to do with this.”

“Sir, please.” She was anxious now. “What the hell is going on?”

“Lab returned the report on the prints recovered from Bobby Keller’s wallet and a bloody print on the wall.”

“And?”

“They’re yours.”

If Jaden hadn’t been sitting, she would have fallen. She could feel the blood leave her face. Her heart pounded loudly, and for a second she wondered if the two men in the room could hear it. She heard Dorian speaking, but could make out little through the fog in her brain. She shook her head, hoping to clear it.