1 Chapter Six
'I love my job' Tannis sighed as she flicked through the files on the Professors for the umpteenth time. Sloan had the right idea. At least he was out catching some rays. She on the other hand was stuck in this humid office on what was turning out to be one of the hottest days of the year. Was the Chief too cheap to spring for decent air conditioning or what?
Looking back at Summers' file she had to admit there was nothing much to go on, apart from the swiftness of his rise to prominence. He had a fairly typical academic track record, culminating in his Doctoral thesis and teaching post at the University of Ohio. Apparently to those in the know, the thesis had been hot real stuff and it was this research that had projected Summers' into his current high profile position at UCLM, gaining a Professorship at 38 – a reasonably young age by all accounts.
From his personal details she knew that he was married. In fact his wife Natasha was also an archaeologist on staff at the University. Now she would definitely be worth pursuing Tannis decided. In her experience most killers were known by the victim – could Mrs. Summers have wanted rid of her husband? She and Steve had spoken to the woman at the scene and she had not proved particularly forthcoming – in shock apparently. Tannis wasn't so sure. She'd watched Natasha Summers closely and granted the woman had done a pretty good job of looking upset, but there was something about her that didn't feel right.
When she'd voiced her suspicions to Steve he'd laughed at her. She'd cringed as he'd made cracks about 'women's intuition' and even worse jealousy. Tannis couldn't really blame him, after all she had nothing to substantiate her theory beyond gut instinct. Plus Natasha Summers was an amazing looking woman. The perfect figure and glorious dark hair which fell in waves around her shoulders, combined with the exotic brown eyes and full red lips – yep there was no doubt Mrs. Summers was quite a package. Tannis feeling dowdy in her grey suit and slacks with her hair scraped back and minimal make-up, hadn't failed to notice the admiring glances Mrs. Summers had received from the male officers, Steve included.
She sighed – was she jealous? She didn't like to think of herself that way. And more to the point, why the hell should she care that Steve found Natasha Summers attractive? They were partners, that's all.
'Get a grip Tannis' she told herself sternly, abruptly pushing back her chair and heading for the water cooler in the outer corridor.
'Hey Archer, how's it going?'
Tannis sighed, as she came face to face with the two burly officers blocking her way. John Wyatt and Cal McBride were good cops, but their schoolboy humour could get a little wearing. She knew exactly how this conversation was gonna go down.
Tannis had been in the force long enough to know that gaining acceptance as a female officer didn't come easy. At best they didn't take you seriously, at worst they refused to be paired up with you, not trusting that a woman could hold her own in the field. She'd struck lucky being paired up with Steve Sloan – he was one of the few men on the force who didn't discriminate. She knew Steve trusted her, just as she trusted him. Sure he was as macho as the next guy, and he'd rather take the risks himself than put her in danger, but Tannis guessed he'd be like that with any partner. Steve might tease her once in a while, but their partnership was built on mutual respect. Unfortunately, not all the guys in the department were as enlightened as Steve – she still had to deal with the Neanderthals.
'Hey Wyatt, McBride' she nodded to the two detectives, hoping to make this brief and escape to the sanctity of her desk and files.
'I hear you and surfer boy 'ain't doing so great on the campus crawler case' Wyatt smirked, popping the gum he perpetually chewed.
'You know' he continued 'if Sloan's not up to it and you need a real man to help you out - me and McBride don't mind stepping in.'
He grinned at her lasciviously and Tannis rolled her eyes, refusing to rise 'Campus Crawler?' she replied 'That's cute guys, real cute.'
Taking a step to the side she attempted to pass them.
'We thought so' McBride grinned amiably at her, blocking her way with his bulk.
'You gotta admit' he pointed out, 'the small spaces this guy gets into, he's gotta be able to crawl'.
'How do you know it's a he?' Tannis challenged 'Could easily be a woman'.
'Yeah right' Wyatt scoffed 'Taking out two guys? You see the size of Summers? He might have been a professor but he was built like a quarterback'.
'You don't think it's possible for a woman to take out a guy?' Tannis questioned, raising her eyebrows.
'Well I don't know Archer' Wyatt winked at her suggestively 'Why don't we test it out. You wanna go a little one on one?'
Smiling seductively Tannis moved closer, her blonde hair tantalisingly brushing his cheek, as she pressed against him.
'You know what John?' she breathed into his ear.
'What Tannis?' he asked leaning into her, more than a little excited by their sudden close proximity.
'You're fighting way out of your league' she finished sweetly, as hooking her left leg around his, she swept her right leg through in a swift judo move that brought him crashing to the floor.
'See ya around boys' she called as McBride hooting with laughter, helped his partner to his feet.
'Well whaddaya know', she thought to herself with a smile, maybe the day wasn't gonna be such a bust after all.
'Sloan's certainly got his hands full with that one' McBride noted, appreciatively eyeing Tannis from behind as she walked down the corridor.
'Yeah' Wyatt agreed, also watching.
'Lucky son of a bitch' they finished together, exchanging grins.
'I love my job' Tannis sighed as she flicked through the files on the Professors for the umpteenth time. Sloan had the right idea. At least he was out catching some rays. She on the other hand was stuck in this humid office on what was turning out to be one of the hottest days of the year. Was the Chief too cheap to spring for decent air conditioning or what?
Looking back at Summers' file she had to admit there was nothing much to go on, apart from the swiftness of his rise to prominence. He had a fairly typical academic track record, culminating in his Doctoral thesis and teaching post at the University of Ohio. Apparently to those in the know, the thesis had been hot real stuff and it was this research that had projected Summers' into his current high profile position at UCLM, gaining a Professorship at 38 – a reasonably young age by all accounts.
From his personal details she knew that he was married. In fact his wife Natasha was also an archaeologist on staff at the University. Now she would definitely be worth pursuing Tannis decided. In her experience most killers were known by the victim – could Mrs. Summers have wanted rid of her husband? She and Steve had spoken to the woman at the scene and she had not proved particularly forthcoming – in shock apparently. Tannis wasn't so sure. She'd watched Natasha Summers closely and granted the woman had done a pretty good job of looking upset, but there was something about her that didn't feel right.
When she'd voiced her suspicions to Steve he'd laughed at her. She'd cringed as he'd made cracks about 'women's intuition' and even worse jealousy. Tannis couldn't really blame him, after all she had nothing to substantiate her theory beyond gut instinct. Plus Natasha Summers was an amazing looking woman. The perfect figure and glorious dark hair which fell in waves around her shoulders, combined with the exotic brown eyes and full red lips – yep there was no doubt Mrs. Summers was quite a package. Tannis feeling dowdy in her grey suit and slacks with her hair scraped back and minimal make-up, hadn't failed to notice the admiring glances Mrs. Summers had received from the male officers, Steve included.
She sighed – was she jealous? She didn't like to think of herself that way. And more to the point, why the hell should she care that Steve found Natasha Summers attractive? They were partners, that's all.
'Get a grip Tannis' she told herself sternly, abruptly pushing back her chair and heading for the water cooler in the outer corridor.
'Hey Archer, how's it going?'
Tannis sighed, as she came face to face with the two burly officers blocking her way. John Wyatt and Cal McBride were good cops, but their schoolboy humour could get a little wearing. She knew exactly how this conversation was gonna go down.
Tannis had been in the force long enough to know that gaining acceptance as a female officer didn't come easy. At best they didn't take you seriously, at worst they refused to be paired up with you, not trusting that a woman could hold her own in the field. She'd struck lucky being paired up with Steve Sloan – he was one of the few men on the force who didn't discriminate. She knew Steve trusted her, just as she trusted him. Sure he was as macho as the next guy, and he'd rather take the risks himself than put her in danger, but Tannis guessed he'd be like that with any partner. Steve might tease her once in a while, but their partnership was built on mutual respect. Unfortunately, not all the guys in the department were as enlightened as Steve – she still had to deal with the Neanderthals.
'Hey Wyatt, McBride' she nodded to the two detectives, hoping to make this brief and escape to the sanctity of her desk and files.
'I hear you and surfer boy 'ain't doing so great on the campus crawler case' Wyatt smirked, popping the gum he perpetually chewed.
'You know' he continued 'if Sloan's not up to it and you need a real man to help you out - me and McBride don't mind stepping in.'
He grinned at her lasciviously and Tannis rolled her eyes, refusing to rise 'Campus Crawler?' she replied 'That's cute guys, real cute.'
Taking a step to the side she attempted to pass them.
'We thought so' McBride grinned amiably at her, blocking her way with his bulk.
'You gotta admit' he pointed out, 'the small spaces this guy gets into, he's gotta be able to crawl'.
'How do you know it's a he?' Tannis challenged 'Could easily be a woman'.
'Yeah right' Wyatt scoffed 'Taking out two guys? You see the size of Summers? He might have been a professor but he was built like a quarterback'.
'You don't think it's possible for a woman to take out a guy?' Tannis questioned, raising her eyebrows.
'Well I don't know Archer' Wyatt winked at her suggestively 'Why don't we test it out. You wanna go a little one on one?'
Smiling seductively Tannis moved closer, her blonde hair tantalisingly brushing his cheek, as she pressed against him.
'You know what John?' she breathed into his ear.
'What Tannis?' he asked leaning into her, more than a little excited by their sudden close proximity.
'You're fighting way out of your league' she finished sweetly, as hooking her left leg around his, she swept her right leg through in a swift judo move that brought him crashing to the floor.
'See ya around boys' she called as McBride hooting with laughter, helped his partner to his feet.
'Well whaddaya know', she thought to herself with a smile, maybe the day wasn't gonna be such a bust after all.
'Sloan's certainly got his hands full with that one' McBride noted, appreciatively eyeing Tannis from behind as she walked down the corridor.
'Yeah' Wyatt agreed, also watching.
'Lucky son of a bitch' they finished together, exchanging grins.