The Detective
Norcross Security #7
Anna Hackett
The Detective
Published by Anna Hackett
Copyright 2022 by Anna Hackett
Cover by Lana Pecherczyk
Cover image by Wander Aguiar
Edits by Tanya Saari
ISBN (ebook): 978-1-922414-46-5
ISBN (paperback): 978-1-922414-47-2
This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, events or places is coincidental. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form.
Contents
What readers are saying about Anna’s romances
Anna Hackett Box Set
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Preview: Stealing from Mr. Rich
Preview: Team 52 and THS
Also by Anna Hackett
About the Author
What readers are saying about Anna’s romances
Heart of Eon - Romantic Book of the Year (Ruby) winner 2020
Cyborg - PRISM Award Winner 2019
Edge of Eon and Mission: Her Protection - Romantic Book of the Year (Ruby) finalists 2019
Unfathomed and Unmapped - Romantic Book of the Year (Ruby) finalists 2018
Unexplored – Romantic Book of the Year (Ruby) Novella Winner 2017
Return to Dark Earth – One of Library Journal's Best E-Original Books for 2015 and two-time SFR Galaxy Awards winner
At Star’s End – One of Library Journal's Best E-Original Romances for 2014
The Phoenix Adventures – SFR Galaxy Award Winner for Most Fun New Series and “Why Isn’t This a Movie?” Series
Hell Squad – SFR Galaxy Award for best Post-Apocalypse for Readers who don’t like Post-Apocalypse
"Like Indiana Jones meets Star Wars. A treasure hunt with a steamy romance." – SFF Dragon, review of Among Galactic Ruins
"Strap in, enjoy the heat of romance and the daring of this group of space travellers!" – Di, Top 500 Amazon Reviewer, review of At Star’s End
“Action, danger, aliens, romance – yup, it’s another great book from Anna Hackett!” – Book Gannet Reviews, review of Hell Squad: Marcus
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Chapter One
The thump of the music vibrated through the wall.
Detective Hunter Morgan scowled and watched the coffee in his mug ripple in time with the sound waves.
He set the mug down on his coffee table with a sigh. It was late. He’d had a long day at the station, juggling close to a dozen cases. Once he’d gotten home, he’d stripped off his jacket, tie, and holster, and changed into comfortable clothes. All he wanted now was some peace and quiet.
But his new neighbor of the past few weeks wasn’t letting that happen.
With a low growl, he stalked out of his living room and down the stairs. He’d bought the three-story townhouse at Hunters Point a year ago. After the U.S. Navy had cleaned up the old Naval shipyard, it had been redeveloped. Now it was filled with new townhouses, amenities, and parks, all with a view of San Francisco Bay.
Hunt loved sitting in his open plan kitchen and living area and watching the ships go by. His top floor bedroom also had a view of the city to the north. Best of all, it was only a ten-minute drive to the Public Safety Building that housed the San Francisco police station where he worked.
Now, his new neighbor was disturbing his sanctuary. She had music thumping at all hours of the night, and through their shared wall, he often heard her making clunking noises as she moved things around.
He’d knocked on her door before, but she’d never answered.
He’d looked into her. Savannah Cole was a graphic designer and was squeaky clean.
Too clean.
Hunt didn’t trust clean. His time in the military, and then with the SFPD, had taught him that no one was black or white, good or bad. People were shades of gray, usually shot through with some wild color every now and then.
Anyway, he’d had enough.
He opened his front door. Despite being summer, the night was cool, especially with the breeze coming in off the water. He’d changed into jeans and a T-shirt, and he hadn’t even bothered with shoes. He was going to talk to Ms. Cole if he had to ram her door down to get to her.
He crossed to her front door. Their townhouses shared a wall, and like his, the façade of hers was made up of a combination of cream stucco and wood siding. He thumped his fist on the door and waited.
No response.
He thumped again, a little harder, and kept going. He wasn’t even sure she could hear him over the music. His anger was on a low simmer. There were families in the complex, kids who’d be sleeping, so her inconsiderate music was affecting more than just him.
He rapped again. If she didn’t—
The door opened.
And Hunt found himself staring into a pair of blue eyes so light, they looked gray.
He was six foot three, so she seemed small, but he knew from his background check that she was five foot five.
Her slim body was dwarfed by a huge, white men’s shirt, that was currently splattered with paint, and he noticed the hem of tiny, denim shorts peeking from beneath. The shorts showed off her bare legs that ended with toenails painted a bright yellow.
He jerked his gaze back up. The pale-blonde hair had some curl to it, and it was piled on top of her head in a messy knot.
She eyed him with those gray eyes, sharp and filled with annoyance.
“Detective,” she said, in a voice that made him think of late-nights and silk sheets. “You planning to hammer a hole in my door?”
“If you’d answered the first time, I wouldn’t have had to.” He tilted his head. “You know who I am?”