Drug cartels, prostitution rings, politically machinated mafia gangs – those she could handle. Tell her to slap on some fishnets and prowl the alleys for a snack, she would probably smack Green for use of the term “prowl” as if she were ACPD’s Catwoman-for-hire (which she wouldn’t deny but, still, screw Green), but she’d still do it and smudge some Seduce Scarlet on just for good measure. And, honestly, she was good at her job. So maybe she had a little detour into Makeout Alley while Ty fended off one of Ashcan City’s most prestigious crime bosses, but they still dismantled Greyhound Lando’s statewide money laundering scheme so, dammit, Erin took her job seriously. Undercover investigations were her specialty.

Undercover as a high school student?

“Nope. Not doing that.”

“Sis,” Tae sounded exasperated and good, she should be, considering she just asked Erin to pose as a senior at Ashcan City High School for the local murders case, and potential serial killer on the loose or no, Erin did not want to go through the hell that was high school all over again. In fact, serial killers aren’t even on the agenda for the Special Investigations Unit – especially with their specific task force. The FBI dealt with those, or even the defense department. There weren’t any crime rings to infiltrate undercover, no crime bosses to collect enough incriminating evidence of to prosecute – this was a cold cut homicide case. One which apparently required a young enough operative to go undercover as a high school student to which Special Ops Detective Erin Noh would professionally like to say no freaking thank you.

“I can’t even pass as a teenager anymore, come on Tae, I’m twenty-bloody-six, so you can take this case and shove it up your – “

“Three victims, Erin.”

She felt like she got punched.

“Another one?”

Tae nodded grimly. “Yesterday. Her body was found like the others – disposed in a ditch along IH – 93, same ligature marks, same MO. Same victimology – slender, female, honor roll student,” she paused, “it’s not a coincidence that they’re all from Ashcan City High. We need eyes, sis.”

Still doesn’t beat being a hooker for a day.

She opened her mouth to suggest – “No, Erin, I can’t do it.” – And she shut it. “I don’t have the combat training. Or the firearms training or the – “

“Yeah, yeah.” Christ. Why she agreed to work with her sister after clearly understanding and growing up with what a sarcastic know it all Tae is still keeps Erin up at night.

“And you can’t even argue against the fact you apparently stumbled upon a youth fountain and can turn 17 all over again if you just mess up your hair a little.” Erin shrugged. Perks of being Korean. Although one would think that running solely on caffeine and adrenaline in a high stress job would give her some indication of age.  “Also you’ll need my tech when I need to save your ass or, you know, when you need answers to a math test…”

The little shit. Okay, so maybe her younger sister was an evil genius who got into Beat University all on a full scholarship and maybe Erin’s limited dexterity with mathematics paled in comparison with Tae’s extensive knowledge of every theoretical Calculus problem in the world – but math effin’ sucked, okay.

Which is another reason why the whole re doing high school debacle made Erin want to bang her head against Tae’s desk.

Tae gave Erin a look and she knew she’d said that out loud.

“Teenage girls, sis.” And, dammit, Tae knew how to play her cards.

Maybe it came from being Tae’s older sister and simultaneously trying to fill the hole in their family throughout most of Tae’s own middle school and high school career, but Erin had an innate protective instinct for young girls and, damn it, teenage girls need to be protected.

Tae knew Erin would accept the case.

“Ole will be here in a sec to go over strategies. She volunteered you for the main role in the case, anyway.”

Erin kind of suspected that their ACPD task force manager already hated her – which, okay, there was one drunken incident at the Christmas party, but, honestly, peach schnapps was not good for lightweights like her and it couldn’t that hard to dry clean cashmere…

“Tyler and I are also going undercover,” said the blonde haired, cold stare devil herself as she strolled in and placed case files on Tae’s desk, her eyes softening when they fell on the younger Noh sister. And seriously? Erin huffed. Consider gaining the elder Noh’s approval before trying to bone her baby sister maybe. Not having that. Not. Having. That.

Ole eyed Erin as if she had said that last part aloud, and Erin panickedly looked at Tae to confirm if she had done so. Tae gave no indication of any embarrassing thoughts having been physically verbalized, instead smiled brightly at Ole and continued to explain how miffed Tyler was at having to wear a janitor’s uniform, deeming the attire “beastly and unflattering.”

Erin rolled her eyes. “And Ole is – what, the hot new English substitute that drops a chalkboard eraser and bends over in a pencil skirt?”

Tae did nothing to hide her blush while Ole looked as stoic as ever.

“I’m actually working in the office as an interim assistant principal, and I hope, Detective Noh, that with your known history in high school experience – “ Tae raised her eyebrows. Erin winced. It wasn’t that bad. A couple of brawls here and there. Maybe one incident of knocking a jackass’s teeth out.

“ – that I won’t be seeing you in the principal’s office, hm?”

Okay, now she’s actually trying to remember how the hell she graduated police academy with her personal record.

“I don’t honestly know, Erin, considering the mouth you’ve got on you.”

At least her mouth isn’t anywhere near Ole, which she can’t say the same for her baby sister because Tae is honestly balls at subtlety.

“You do know you said that out loud, right?”

—-

And that’s how Erin got what would probably be the worst case of her undercover.

Tyler wouldn’t stop laughing until she kicked him in the shin.