Isaac cut her off, knowing where she was going. “I said what I said. Bring me results, not excuses.”
Sayeh snapped her mouth shut as Isaac left the debriefing room. Making friends already. She appreciated Isaac’s blunt style but didn’t much care for being pushed into a partnership she hadn’t asked for.
Rising, she grabbed the file and stuffed it in her briefcase, saying to Levi, “Listen, I’m good with chasing this down on my own if you want to help Dakota and Shilah with your case.”
“Not a fan of authority, I see.”
She cut him a short look, ignoring his statement. “I work better alone.”
“Well, that’s not an option. Isaac wants us both on this case.”
Sayeh ground her teeth against the urge to say something inappropriate. Luna’s voice popped into her head—Don’t go making enemies on your first day—and she smothered the sharp quip on her tongue. “Right, I was just giving you the chance to work on the case you preferred.”
“I don’t have an emotional attachment to either case. I’m ready when you are.”
“Are you two always going to be sniping at each other?” Dakota asked, shouldering her bag. “Because that kind of energy is disruptive. We’re all on the same team, with the same goal.”
This was how it always started and what she wanted to change about herself. Sayeh had a reputation in the Bureau as a lone wolf because no one wanted to work with her for long.
Was she supposed to apologize for being passionate about stuff that mattered? She didn’t know the play here, but before Sayeh could respond, Dakota added, “But for what it’s worth, I think you’re right about this case. Too many people think Indigenous women are disposable, and they don’t care what happens to them. The only way to make it stop is to go after the people responsible.”
Exactly. Sayeh shot Dakota an appreciative smile for the support, even though the woman had called her out first.
Levi frowned, realizing he was putting himself on the wrong side of the argument. “Let me clarify—the case has merit,” he said. “I’m just trying to keep the bigger picture in mind.”
“So am I,” Sayeh said. “I think we’re just looking at different pictures.”
“Have fun with that,” Shilah quipped as she and Dakota left the debriefing room.
Okay, so change is hard. Maybe she’s not cut out to play nice. Focus on what matters. “Echo’s aunt Charlene still lives on the Macawi Reservation. I’m heading out there now.”
“We can ride together.”
Oh, goody, an awkward car ride. My favorite. “Suit yourself but I pick the music.”
“As long as it’s not country.”
“Country it is,” Sayeh affirmed, even though she hated country music. Some habits were hard to break. Eh, work in progress.
First impressions? The woman was a firecracker with a quick temper lurking behind those blue eyes. The turbulent energy roiling off her in waves was enough to knock a man over. “Quick question—are you always this adversarial or is this your reaction to something about me?” Levi asked, climbing into Sayeh’s car. “If I’ve offended you in some way, I’m sorry.”
Sayeh chuckled with dark humor, pulling her dirty blond hair into a low pony before starting the car. “Don’t flatter yourself. I’m always like this.”
“How’s that working out for you?”
“Depends on the metrics you’re using to determine success. If you’re asking if I have friends, not many. If you’re asking how many cases I’ve closed, quite a few. Look, I know I’m not easy to get along with but I have a good nose for cases. There’s something about Echo’s case that has my nose tingling. I guess I’m asking you to trust me but even if you don’t, I’m still going to go after what I know needs chasing.”
“How are you still alive?” Levi asked. “You worked in the most dangerous division in the Bureau and somehow you weren’t killed by your reckless attitude? Your guardian angels must’ve been working overtime.”
“You’re not the first person to say that. My sister might’ve said it a time or two, actually.”
“You have a sister?”
“Two.”
“Are they like you?”
“Not really. I’m a limited edition.” She cast a curious glance his way. “You got any family?”
“An older brother, works the ranch where I grew up.”
“You said you grew up near the Blackfeet Reservation?”
“Yeah.”
“Ranching life wasn’t for you?”
Levi hesitated. Thinking about growing up on the ranch brought some of his best memories, but they were tangled with moments that stung to remember. “My path went in a different direction,” he finally answered.
“Each to their own. I’ve always walked to the beat of my own drum. I like it that way.”
“I’m starting to see that about you. You don’t find that can get a little lonely?” he asked.
“Too busy to be focused on anyone else,” she answered.
“So, not married?”
She cast a short look his way. “Are you hitting on me?”
