“Book boyfriends”—we all have fantasized about them at one time. Haven’t you thought about what it would be like to corner them for just a few minutes and have your wicked way with them? (Of course, I’m referring to all those questions you have burning inside to ask!!) Recently, I did exactly that with Inspector Randolph Mansfield, the dark, tall and handsome (did I say mysterious) member of Scotland yard’s elite criminal investigations unit.

Imagine if you will, a quiet English pub at the edge of town. The rich scent of leather and ale permeates the air, the small polished wood tables tucked discreetly in the shadowy interior, gleam under the glow of candles lit recently to diminish the dank, rainy day. The bartender smiles as I enter and nods towards a table in the back. There sits my interview, his tweed jacket flopped hastily over one of the chairs. His long legs, stretched out in front of him, ankles crossed as he studies a newspaper left behind, gives the impression that he is a man without a care in the world. He peers over the paper and pushes to his feet.

Inspector Randolph; thank you for meeting me here. It’s quite lovely, though a little difficult to find. Shall I call you Inspector Randolph, or Mr. Mansfield?

“Inspector Mansfield, will do.” He folds the paper and lays it aside, his dark brown eyes steady on me.

I clear my throat. “Inspector, I understand that you’re investigating a potential serial killer on the loose in London?”

He sighs and rakes a hand through his dark, wavy hair. “ I cannot confirm or deny that rumor and to date, it is no more than that.”

“But I just spoke to Miss Goodwin the other day and she said—“

“Miss Goodwin would do well to keep her thoughts on the matter to herself.” He responded glancing out the window before turning his attention back to me. “Please keep that betwixt us.”

“Indeed, can you tell me if Miss Goodwin is working with you on this case?”

He directs a tolerant look at me. “Scotland Yard and the CID are handling all cases pertaining to London, madam.”

“Well, perhaps we should speak on another less sensitive topic.”

He never blinked. Those mysterious, obsidian eyes held secrets I suspected far deeper than what I could gain from this interview. “How long have you been with the Yard, sir?”

He thought for a moment. “All of my life, it seems. I began as an errand boy of sorts. Worked my way up through the ranks.”

“You seem very dedicated to your work.”

“I am. And before you ask why that is, I will tell you it stems from a deep sense of justice for those who violate the law.”

“That is to say you have a strong belief in what is right and wrong, then?”

The corner of his mouth quirked. “What is legal is not to be confused with morality. The two may meet now and again, but morality is primarily based on judgment. My job is to uphold the law.”

“That’s a mysterious answer, Inspector. Almost as though you are alluding to some type of admission. Is there a secret part of you that the public is not aware of?”

He took a sip of what I garner was brandy in his glass. “I’m sorry, I didn’t ask if you’d like something to take the chill off.” He glanced at me.

Even my rudimentary reporting skills tell me that his side-step of my question affirms that there is much more to the Inspector than he leads on.

“You’re a very interesting man, sir. I suspicion there is much more to you than meets the eye.”

He chuckles. “Perhaps you are right. Don’t we all carry a little secret side of ourselves?”

“I suspect. Does Miss Goodwin know of this “secret side” of you, Inspector?”

He stood suddenly and shrugged into his jacket. “Miss Goodwin and I have an understanding. She aspires to delve into investigative reporting and I must say, she has the stubborn tenacity to do so. However, I intend to prove to her that she may be not be as well versed in her investigation skills as she might think.”

My curiosity grows, but I know I have little time left with the Inspector. Something I’ve said and I daresay it pertains to Miss Goodwin has clearly touched a nerve in the Inspector. “Can you tell me sir, how you plan to do this—prove something to Miss Goodwin, I mean.”

“Let’s just say that I will use whatever connections I have to protect the public, and that includes the beautiful, thought stubbornly willful Miss Goodwin. Now, I must excuse myself, there is work to do.”

“Like finding a serial killer?”  I ask.

The comment stopped him in his tracks. “Amongst other things. I must ask, madam, are all American women as tenacious?”

“You’re comparing me to Miss Goodwin in that respect?” I smiled. “Only when we’re after something we truly want.”

That tempting mouth, enhanced by the shadowy scruff of a day old beard gifted me with an even smile though it did not reach his gorgeous eyes. “Strange, that is exactly what Miss Goodwin said when I asked her to leave this investigation to me.”

I quirked my brow.

“Which means I will need to be even more firm in my resolve.”

I thought a moment about the two of them going head to head against one another. “Inspector, if you pardon the observation. It would seem that the stubbornness is quite evenly matched between you two. That, coupled with driven tenacity, is an explosive combination. One that can either kill a man, or bring him to his knees.”

He returns to me, leaning down to look at me directly, the air around us stagnates. “I can be very persuasive, madam.”

And so the interview ended and I watched him cross the street and with a purposeful stride make haste around the corner. I didn’t know whether to feel sorry or be jealous of Miss Goodwin’s fate.

~*~ 

About The Author: 

Amanda McIntyre grew up the daughter of a father who was a distributor for a New York magazine publishing firm, and usually had her nose stuck in the latest issue of Vampirella magazine or a Hitchcock Mystery paperback. She has been called  “a true artist in the writing realm’ and her zest for life inspires her “character-driven” stories. Her passion is to take ordinary people and place them in extraordinary situations. She is a best-selling, multi-genre hybrid author and has received numerous awards and nominations for her work. Amanda is published internationally, in audio, e-book and in print. She currently writes sizzling contemporary cowboy romance and is about to release her first historical erotic thriller.