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She exchanged her signature for the flowers and read the note on her way to the kitchen. Damn, Yuki. Hiring you was the best thing I ever did in my life. Congratulations. Zac.
Yuki liberated the flowers from the wrapping and carried the vase to the console table behind the sofa. Then she returned to her laptop and opened her mailbox.
There was an e-mail from Chief Jacobi.
Yuki, thought you’d like to know that Inspector Brand is on suspension pending an investigation. I’ve got your young Arturo Mendez in protective custody until I can park him someplace safe. Sorry to tell you Li’l Tony Willis passed. As for you, young lady, hell of a job. Hell of a job.
Yuki’s eyes stung.
She palmed them and tried to hold back the tears. She thought about Li’l Tony, with tubes in his nose and his arms, asking her to get him moved to another prison. That was all he’d wanted. When she opened her eyes again, she had a new e-mail.
Yuki, we’re moving as soon as we can to a better place for our child. I am sorry Aaron-Rey never met you. He would have loved you like we do. We will never forget you.
Love, Bea Kordell
That was when Yuki really started to cry. She went to the bedroom, undressed, and got into bed. She was sleeping deeply when she was awoken by a kiss on the cheek.
Brady was sitting next to her, looking at her in a way he hadn’t looked at her since before she took the job at the Defense League. She backed up to the headboard and sat up.
“I’m a dumb dick,” he said.
“Uh-huh.”
“I’m dumb, I’ve been a dick, and I’m sorry.”
She was still mad. She reached for a tissue and blew her nose. She said, “It wasn’t anyone’s fault that we weren’t allowed to talk about our cases.”
“I could have made tea. We could have watched movies together. Had pillow fights. Something.”
“I’m not that mad at you,” she said.
“You are. You should be. You know why I couldn’t take your calls today? Because I was in nonstop meetings. Because you cracked this dirty-cop murder case that I’ve been working—me and the entire Southern Station—”
“I didn’t do all that.”
“You kicked the door down, darlin’. We’ve got a chance now of closing this whole nasty thing. Thanks to you.”
“I’m glad.” She liked his voice. That southern thang. She couldn’t take her eyes away from him, either.
Brady put his hand along her cheek, under her chin. She looked up at him.
“I was a dick,” he said, “but it was killing me. I’ve really missed you.”
“Me, too.” Her voice cracked.
Brady got up and closed the blinds. He took off his tie, then his jacket, threw them onto the chair, unstrapped his holster, kicked off his shoes, and opened his shirt. He went for the button at his waistband.
Yuki said, “Wait, Brady. I have to be somewhere.”
“Really?” he said.
Yuki laughed. “No.”
Brady stepped out of his pants and she gazed at him adoringly. He opened the envelope of blankets and sheets and got into bed. Yuki put her arms around his neck, fitted herself against him, and let him take it from there.
He always knew just what to do.
CHAPTER 90
