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“Go home,” the chief said, pushing off the doorframe. He grabbed his coat from the coatrack in the corner beside the philodendron. “Unless something new comes in over the weekend, I’ll see you Monday morning.”
He walked off, and I glanced at Nix. We’d been so focused on this case that we’d been doing overtime for weeks. The party the night before was the first time I’d seen Nix in a social setting since the murder. The chief knew we’d followed all the leads we’d had. He knew a case could sit cold for some time before there was a break. We were in that lull now. He knew it. Nix knew it. I knew it. The mayor didn’t believe in lulls, clearly. But there was no thread to follow, at least today. Neither of us needed to be told twice. We left the building and the Mills case behind.
5
EVE
As soon as I got in my car, I called Poppy to let her know my weekend was free.
“We can veg and watch movies,” she said, her voice high-pitched like a fifteen-year-old girl.
She immediately invited me to stay since the weather was supposed to be bad. Snow was already falling and covered the streets, making Cutthroat look like a picture postcard. I would usually ski with the new powder on the slopes, but I felt like being lazy. Snacks, sweats and movies with a friend sounded perfect.
I lived downtown in a little house built for a miner’s family back in the late 1800s. It was tiny, only a living room, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom—which had been added on as a little bump out since when it was originally built, there had only been an outhouse.
I loved the wood floors, the big windows. The cute fireplace. But if we were doing a girls’ weekend, my place was too small. My couch wasn’t big enough for someone to sleep comfortably, and I wasn’t sharing a bed with Poppy.
“I’m taking a nap,” I added, eager to indulge in that daytime treat.
“I can’t believe the mayor let you take a day off,” she said once I was well out of town. Her voice came through the dashboard speakers since my cell was synced with the car.
“He didn’t.” I told her about the meeting, how Nash had left in a huff.
“I want this case closed as much as you, but you deserve a break. I’m not trying to be mean or anything, but Erin’s not coming back. She’d want you to watch movies with me.”
That made me smile. “She would, huh?”
Poppy had known Erin Mills. They hadn’t been friends since Erin had been a few years younger, but they’d traveled in similar circles. The rich circles.
I took a turn onto one of the county roads that led to Poppy’s place. The wheels turned, but the car kept going straight, sliding on ice hidden beneath the fresh snow. I swore under my breath. I wasn’t going fast, but there was no chance of stopping. I knew the drill. I didn’t press the brakes and turned away from the turn. That helped a little, but I still slid off the road.
“Shit,” I muttered.
“What’s the matter?” she asked.
“I just slid off the road,” I said, relaxing my fingers around the steering wheel. I took a deep breath, let it out.
“Are you hurt?”
“No, I’m fine. But I slid about five feet into a ditch.”
I gently set my foot on the accelerator, turned the steering wheel up toward the road. The wheels spun, and I immediately stopped. Putting the car in reverse, I tried again, the other direction. The car moved two feet, but then the wheels began to spin again.
“Yeah, I’m stuck. I’ll need to be pulled out.”
“I don’t have a tow rope, and I don’t think my SUV is powerful enough to pull you out.”
I sighed. I could walk, but it was a few miles still to Poppy’s house. I was nowhere near town, and the backroads were not frequently traveled. My boots, coat and hat would be fine against the cold, but for only so long. Besides, since I’d slid off the road, someone else could easily slide and hit me if I were walking.
“I’ll call a tow truck,” I said, knowing I was safer staying in the car.
“I’ll call Shane,” Poppy offered at the exact same time.
My heart rate kicked up again, this time from the name alone, not a treacherous slide on ice.
“You don’t have to do that,” I said instantly. “I’m sure someone will drive by and be able to help.” Why had I ever thought I could have a fling with them? They’d offered, but I’d accepted. I’d consented to getting a sample. And wow, had they given me a sample.
I wanted more. If the orgasm they’d given me had been from oral sex, I could only imagine a dick-induced orgasm might make me pass out. And there were two of them. Two dicks would probably kill me. But what a way to go.
