“Can I help you?” a woman at the front desk asked in an already-impatient tone. She was destined to have a shitty rest of the day with that attitude.
“Is Detective Winter in?”
“He’s always in. Who’s asking?” She picked up the desk phone and stared expectantly.
“Uh, Snow. Sebastian Snow.”
“Hold on.” She dialed an extension, waited a beat, then said, “Sebastian Snow at the front desk. Fine, sure.” She hung up and motioned down the hall. “Elevator.”
I looked over there. “To where?”
She waved impatiently at a billboard beside the elevator.
“Appreciate the help,” I muttered, walking away.
I scanned the list of names and departments, finding “Winter, Calvin, Homicide” on the third floor. I stepped into the elevator and was joined by several other men in suits before the doors closed. I kept my head ducked, staring at the dying flowers in the bag.
“Mr. Snow?”
I knew that voice. That was Calvin’s partner. I looked up, then down. “Good morning, Detective Lancaster.”
She gave me a grin. “This is a pleasant surprise.”
“For me or you?”
Lancaster chuckled quietly, like the idea that I was happy to see her in particular really just teased her funny bone. “Smooth.”
I glanced at the other men in the elevator. None of them were smiling.
“Can’t say I expected to see you step into a police precinct,” Lancaster continued.
“Er—me neither.” I gripped the bag tighter.
“You’re going up to see Calvin, I presume?” she asked.
I caught one of the other guys look at us. He gave me a once-over and sneered while looking away. Huh. That was probably not good. Did Lancaster know Calvin was gay? Did these other detectives?
“Desperate times call for desperate measures,” I told her.
When the elevator doors slid open on the third floor, Lancaster walked out with me and pointed across an open area at several desks with detectives seated at them. “Across the room, down that hall. It’s the first office on the left.”
“Do you… share an office?”
“Yeah.” She gave me a sort of friendly slap on the shoulder, but Lancaster was stronger than she looked and it shoved me forward. “Not my destination, though. You’re safe.”
“Uh.”
“Speak of the devil.” Lancaster motioned across the room at a figure who exited a door and stood in the hallway. It couldn’t be anyone but Calvin.
Oh boy.
I said good-bye to Lancaster and took a breath before walking across the room. I watched Calvin slowly come into focus as I approached. He was leaning against the wall, strong arms crossed firmly over his chest. He wore a tie but no suit coat, and I was able to get a good look at the shoulder holster he wore.
Man, he was probably going to shoot me for coming here.
“Hi,” I said quietly as I reached the hallway.
Calvin didn’t say anything. He straightened and took a step back, motioning me into a room.
