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From the corner of my eye, I take in Ros’s black tactical uniform, and the silver grip of the gun that rides on his hip. He had started carrying it again the day the body was found, and I really don’t think it’s fair that my gun remains in lockup.
I shiver against the chill of the night and hug my arms for warmth.
A moment later, a lightweight jacket slips around my shoulders, the warmth from Ros’s body clinging to it.
I tug it closer. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He waves at a dark figure walking in the opposite direction across the street.
I rub my cheek against the jacket’s collar, inhaling Ros’s cologne. “Sorry for disrupting your patrol.”
He glances down at me. “It was the end of my shift, anyway.”
I nod, and silence falls between us until we reach the top of the driveway in front of our house.
“You shouldn’t be out here alone, you know.” The gentle admonishment breaks the silence. “There’s still a killer on the loose.”
My shoulders hunch. I had remembered that halfway to the clinic, but I was already committed to my breaking and entering at that point. “I know. It won’t happen again.”
His hum rings with disbelief. “Why were you trying to sneak into the coroner’s office?”
My lips purse. “I wanted to see how it compares to the one at the vampire clinic.”
I had gone with Ros to view the remains of a body he thought was his sister. It had turned out to be someone else, despite the similarity in age and childhood injuries. Bryant sure had killed and buried a lot of people.
Ros sighs, his breath fogging in the air in front of his face. “Please don’t lie to me.”
“I wanted to face my fears.” And hopefully lay new ones to rest.
Ros stops and turns to me, his gaze searching mine. “There are easier ways to face your fears. You don’t need to break into the clinic in the middle of the night.”
Not when no one will tell me what’s going on. But Haut refuses to listen when I tell him that not knowing makes things worse.
Before I can respond, a quiet creak comes from the porch. I startle with fear, but Ros just raises his hand to wave at Tris, who sits in one of the chairs near the front door. He wears the blue sweatpants that match mine and nothing else.
How long did he sit out here, waiting for me to come home? He must be freezing.
Guilt sweeps through me, and I half step behind Ros. “Hey, bestie, what are you doing out here at this time of night?”
He rises to walk to the steps and leans against the porch’s support beam. “I’ve been waiting for my little sneaky sneak to be escorted home.”
My eyes widen. “How did you know Ros would find me?”
Tris smirks, his sandy-blond hair catching the moonlight. “Who do you think ratted you out?”
My mouth drops open. “You traitor.”
“Says the thief who stole my keys.” He shakes his head. “What has the world come to, where you plan a heist without me?”
I walk up the steps to stop in front of him. “You were on the wrong side of the law this time.”
He tsks. “And now you’re the one who’s been caught. Not sure I can bail you out of this one, sparky.”
Ros steps up behind me, his hands settling on my waist. “Shall we continue our interrogation?”
A smile spreads over Tris’s lips. “Do you want to be the good cop or the bad cop?”
Ros releases my waist. “Oh, no, the suspect has slipped my grasp.”
