Caribbean Rescue (Coastal Fury Book 16), Matt Lincoln [best book recommendations .txt] 📗

do you mean?” I asked as we approached the large, two-story building. It looked a little like a motel, with an exterior staircase that led up to a walkway on the second floor. The only thing that indicated it was a police station was a small banner pasted to the front that read “Kew Town Police Station” in bold red letters.

“I mean that I don’t have time for stupid formalities,” she huffed. “The quicker we touch base with the locals and establish that we’ve got this under control, the quicker we can get down to actually investigating.”

It was becoming alarmingly evident that Olivia very much fit with the stereotype of the territorial FBI agent that didn’t play well with others. Not that I didn’t see her point, though she could do a little better about not making it so obvious.

The interior of the station didn’t look much different from any of the other rural stations I’d visited during my travels. The main entrance opened to a modestly decorated lobby. A single police officer was manning the main desk. Just beyond him, I could see a corridor that led into the rest of the building. There weren’t any glass partitions or intense security measures in place that I could see. Kew Town must have been a relatively safe place.

“Hello,” Olivia greeted the man sitting at the front desk coolly. “I’m Agent Olivia Hastings with the FBI. These are Agents Holm and Marston with MBLIS. We’re here to speak with Captain Turner.”

She spoke quickly and clearly, in an authoritative voice that left no room for argument.

“Of course,” the man replied as he stood up. “I’ll take you back to his office.”

We followed him further into the police station, down a narrow hallway, and toward an elevator. We got off on the second floor, and he led us through a bullpen area similar to the one back home in our own office.

The officer knocked twice on a closed door at the end of the large room before heading inside.

“Agents here to see you, sir,” he said before stepping aside to let us in.

The man sitting behind the desk looked to be in his fifties, with a rich, deep skin tone and a smoothly shaved head. He had a wide, unsettling grin on his face, like the most exaggerated caricature of a customer service smile I could imagine. All fake.

His office, too, made me feel unsettled. Aside from a large wooden desk, a few chairs, and a row of filing cabinets against the back wall, there was no furniture in the room. Honestly, it seemed more like a prison cell than an office.

“Welcome to Turks and Caicos, agents.” He smiled at us before standing to shake each of our hands. “Though I wish you were here under more pleasant circumstances.”

“So do we,” Olivia replied curtly. “To get straight down to business, I assume you know why we’re here? I’m certain you received a briefing from my director prior to our arrival.”

“Of course,” he replied. “Please, rest assured that we are ready to do everything we can to assist you in your investigation. An officer will accompany you during your time here on the island.”

Olivia clenched her jaw. It was obvious that idea did not please her. Honestly, something about the guy seemed kind of off to me as well. He was a little too cheerful for my taste.

“That’s not to say that we don’t trust the FBI,” he continued, though that was definitely what it sounded like if the tone of his voice was anything to go by. “It’s just that as the crime occurred here in our country, it is only appropriate that a member of our law enforcement be involved as well.”

“Of course, we understand,” I replied quickly when it seemed like Olivia was about to snap.

“Excellent.” He smiled morosely. “Well, let’s not waste any more time then. I’ll go get Officer Keys now.”

He stood and left the office.

“We’ve already got two separate entities covering this case,” Olivia muttered. “Why not add one more?”

“Not like we have much choice,” Holm pointed out. “That’s the fun part of international criminal investigation, having to hash through every country’s laws and policies. As long as we’re here, we have to play by their rules, at least to some extent. We’re used to it.”

“I just hope they don’t stick us with some hot-headed jerk,” Olivia muttered grumpily.

Fortunately, she got her wish, as the officer that Captain Turner returned with was all smiles and relaxed posture.

“Hey, what’s up, guys?” He grinned at us. “My name is Walter Carson. I’ll be assisting you with your case, then.”

“Carson?” Olivia raised an eyebrow at him before turning to look at Captain Turner. “I thought you said--”

“Unfortunately, Officer Keys is on leave right now,” the captain grumbled.

“Yeah, if that’s what you want to call it,” Officer Carson snickered.

The captain shot him an angry look, but Carson seemed unfazed. He was tall, and his hair was braided into neat rows atop his head and gathered at the base of his neck in a small ponytail.

“Officer Carson will accompany you,” he muttered.

“Yeah, ‘cause don’t no one else want to do it,” Officer Carson interrupted him again.

“Carson!” the captain barked, one of the veins in his neck standing out so much that it looked painful.

“Yeah, yeah, alright,” Carson sighed almost disinterestedly. It was kind of amazing watching him just casually brush off his boss like that. “Come on then, let’s not waste any more time here. You agents ready to go or what?”

“You don’t have to ask me twice,” Olivia replied.

The police captain looked like he’d just bitten into a sour lemon. I was curious as to what had just happened for his demeanor to have changed so suddenly, and I tucked the thought aside as I followed Olivia out of the office.

“Thank you for your cooperation,” I heard Holm tell the captain behind me before following me out.

“He sure seemed friendly,” Olivia muttered once the door was closed, and we were out of