He laughed. “That bad, huh? Can I help speed things up?”
“Joanne just expedited the DNA results for me. I’ll let you know if anything else surfaces.”
“You’ve been fully absorbed in the case for the past couple of weeks, and I wanted to give you space to get the ball rolling.”
“Everything okay?”
“There’s a Special Agent spot opening up here in the next month or two.” He smiled. “I hope you’ll consider interviewing for it. I’d love to be able to offer you a permanent position on my team.”
“I appreciate that.”
He frowned. “You seem reserved.”
She nodded. “Like you said, I’ve been absorbed in this case. I’ll jump online and look for the position.”
“It hasn’t been posted yet. I’ll forward you the link as soon as it goes live.”
She rose. “Thanks for the vote of confidence.” As she headed back to her cubicle, she knew why she wasn’t fist pumping the air. Though Jim had just given her a reason to stay, she hadn’t reconciled her past actions with her principles.
She texted Sin. “Hey, babe, what’s the word?”
“Internal meeting. Done in an hour. Meet at home?”
“Yes,” she replied, dropping into her chair.
She’d been working twelve-hour days and frustration had tainted her attitude. In all the years she’d worked in law enforcement, putting together a basic profile had never been this difficult. She unlocked her screen and checked email. A new one from Kiki Washington waited to be read.
Yes! Thank you, Joanne.
One click and she was in. As she read Charlene’s DNA results, her brain stuttered to a stop.
“No way,” she murmured. “No effin’ way.”
LATER THAT EVENING, Evangeline got comfortable on the Luck family room floor while Sammy poured more imaginary tea into child-sized plastic teacups. The little girl plopped down beside her and grinned up at her. Despite her angst, Evangeline smiled back.
“I’m happy we get to have a tea party together,” Evangeline said. “Where is Miss Lady? Can she join us?”
Sammy jumped up, ran to the sofa and tenderly lifted the doll before carrying her over. “She likes tea parties, too.”
Sin and Dakota walked in from the kitchen where they’d spent the last thirty minutes talking quietly. Sin’s jaw was set in a hard line, a shadow had darkened his normally bright eyes. The anger he carried around with him had been unleashed yet again. When his gaze met hers, he didn’t smile. But she knew his rage wasn’t directed at her.
The second Dakota laid eyes on his daughter, he smiled, but she could see the pain on his face. Most of the color had drained from his cheeks. Was anger his go-to like Sin, or did he have another emotion he carried—loaded, cocked, and ready to fire?
When Dakota knelt by Sammy, Evangeline went to Sin.
“Samantha Lynn, you sure are one lucky girl,” Dakota said. “We had family dinner on a Friday night. What do you think about that?”
She grinned. “And I get to have a tea party with E-Leen! Can you and Uncle Lalla have a tea party, too?”
Dakota kissed the top of her head. “Uncle Lalla and I have to work for a little while. I’ll be home as soon as I can. Bedtime is normal tonight.”
“But Daaaadddddy, E-Leen is here.” She jumped up and looked him in the eyes. “I want to stay up late!”
Dakota sighed. “I can change my work plans and put you to bed right now, young lady.”
“Nooooooo!” Tears filled her eyes. “I want to have a tea party with E-Leen.”
“After your tea party, a bedtime story, and then off to bed you go.”
