Red adjusted her leather jacket and strolled through the police station’s front doors, her best “I totally belong here” expression in place.

  She had done this before.

  Most cops didn’t pay much attention to a reporter unless they were giving a press statement, and even fewer knew her by face. She just had to blend in, act natural, and—

  “Uh… can I help you?”

  She turned, already smiling.

  Officer Peter Pan sat at the front desk, eyes wide, posture stiff as if he had just been given his first real assignment and wasn’t quite sure what to do with it.

  Bingo.

  Red leaned against the counter, tilting her head slightly. “That depends. You new here?”

  Peter’s ears turned pink. “I, uh—well, sort of. I mean, I’ve been here a few months, but—” He cleared his throat, straightening his shoulders. “Are you here to report something?”

  “Oh, I think you can help me with something much more important.”

  Peter swallowed. “O-okay.”

  Red bit back a smirk. Too easy.

  She rested her elbow on the counter, lowering her voice just enough to sound conspiratorial. “You see, I’m trying to do some research on an old case. I just need a quick peek at some files. Just a few. No big deal.”

  Peter blinked. “Uh… I don’t think I can do that.”

  She pouted. “Not even just for a second? I’d be so grateful.”

  Peter opened his mouth, then hesitated, his brow furrowing. He was starting to catch on, but the uncertainty in his expression told her he hadn’t quite decided what to do yet.

  Come on, kid. Just one little push.

  She leaned in a little closer. “I’ll make it worth your while,” she said, lowering her voice.

  Peter practically short-circuited. “Wh-what?”

  Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

  Before she could seal the deal, a sharp voice cut through the station.

  “Pan, if you let her in that records room, I swear to God—”

  Red sighed. Damn it.

  Detective James Hook emerged from his office, his glare locked onto her like a laser.

  Peter scrambled to stand at attention. “Sir, I—I wasn’t—”

  Hook stormed over and placed a firm hand on Peter’s shoulder. “You weren’t what, exactly? About to let a reporter waltz into sensitive police records?”

  Peter opened and closed his mouth like a fish. “I—uh—”

  Hook’s glare deepened.

  Peter deflated. “I… might’ve been.”

  Hook exhaled through his nose, rubbing his temple as if he were in physical pain. “Jesus Christ, kid.”

  Red crossed her arms. “You don’t have to be so hard on him.”

  Hook turned to her with an expression so dry it could have started a drought. “You seriously thought that was going to work?”

  She shrugged. “It almost did.”

  Peter let out a mortified squeak.

  Hook pinched the bridge of his nose. “Out.”

  Red scoffed. “Really? You’re kicking me out?”

  Hook pointed at the door. “Out.”

  Red rolled her eyes and made her way toward the exit.

  As she stepped outside, the cool night air met her skin, and she let out a long sigh. So much for that plan.

  She plopped onto the curb, staring out at the empty street.

  A few moments later, a familiar voice spoke behind her.

  “You really thought Pan was your best bet?”

  She glanced up. Jacob Hunter stood over her, hands in his pockets.

  Red smirked. “He seemed promising.”

  Jacob shook his head and sat down beside her. “I don’t know what’s worse—that you tried it or that it almost worked.”

  She nudged him playfully. “You’re just mad I didn’t try it on you.”

  He gave her a look. “You did try it on me. In high school. Remember?”

  Red grinned. “You were much harder to crack.”

  Jacob exhaled, leaning his arms on his knees. “So. What do you actually want?”

  Her smile faded. “I need the original Wolf case files.”

  Jacob’s jaw tightened. “Red—”

  “I’m missing something, Jacob. There’s a gap in the timeline. Something doesn’t fit.”

  He was quiet for a long moment, then finally sighed. “You know you can’t just walk in and take those.”

  “Hence my attempt at ‘covert operations.’”

  Jacob shook his head. “You want the files, file an FOI request like everyone else.”

  Red groaned. “You and I both know that’ll take weeks. I don’t have weeks.”

  Jacob gave her a pointed look. “Then you better file it tonight.”

  She groaned again, dramatically flopping backward onto the pavement.

  Jacob smirked. “What? You thought police work didn’t involve paperwork?”

  “I thought it involved solving murders, not sending emails into the void.”

  Jacob chuckled. “Go home, Red.”

  She sat up with a sigh. “Fine. But when I’m proven right—”

  “You’ll rub it in my face forever, yeah, I know.”

  Red shot him finger guns. “You know me so well.”

  Jacob shook his head, standing up and offering her a hand. She took it, letting him pull her up.

  “Go file your damn request,” he said, amusement lingering in his voice.

  Red huffed. “Ugh. Fine.”

  As she walked away, she shot a final glance back at the police station.

  This wasn’t over.

  Not even close.