Page 181 of A Matter of Time

“Stop eating. We’re on a stakeout.”

“Shut up. Give me your location.”

“By the little dance floor with the black lights.”

Her voice was muffled since she was eating and talking. “I’ll be right there. Don’t move anymore, you won’t be able to walk by tomorrow.”

“Fine. Hurry up,” I said before I hung up and replaced the phone in my coat.

“Who was that?”

I had hoped he’d taken the hint, but he was still there.

“I asked you a question.”

“My girl, Dylan,” I snapped at him.

“Who?”

“Bye, Detective.” I dismissed him, raising the binoculars, smiling wide as Kai and Nick sat down on a bench on the pier, facing each other.

“You know you should show me more respect.”

I grunted and moved away from him. I was about to adjust the binoculars when he stepped in front of me.

“Maybe I should just take you home.”

“You have Maggie to take home,” I blurted out with more vehemence than I wanted.

“What?”

I shook my head. “Just never mind. Could you please leave me alone?” But he didn’t move. “What do you want?” I asked him, sounding exhausted.

“You’re hurt, lemme help you.”

“No,” I snapped irritably, shifting around him, looking for the lovebirds. “I don’t need your help.”

“Clearly you do.”

I groaned loudly.

“Jory, you⁠—”

“There you are.” Dylan sniffled as she walked up beside me. She lifted my arm and leaned into my side. “Lean on me,” she ordered gently. “I don’t want your ankle to implode.”

I draped my arm around her neck and kissed her temple. Her contented sigh made me smile.

“So how’s it going? Are you off the hook or what?”

I passed her the binoculars I had borrowed from her husband earlier in the night, and pointed down the pier. “Look toward the arcade.”

She put them up to her eyes and smiled wide. “Oh yeah, you’re safe. Good job, love god.”

I glanced over at Sam. “Thank you.”

His scowl could not have been any darker.

“Hi.” Dylan smiled at him suddenly. “You’re the detective, right? I met you Friday night.”