Page 124 of Oddly Fine

The woman nodded, clearly more at ease—having believed the lie.

“Yes,” the young mother said, with a small smile.

“That’s wonderful! I’m Cassandra. It’s absolutely lovely to meet you both,” she said, laying it on thick.

“I’m Eloise and this is Dante,” she explained, bouncing the small child up and down.

“Well, hi there Dante! Well, listen—I don’t want to keep you. Just wanted to introduce myself and offer you a homemade cupcake!” she exclaimed warmly, presenting the Tupperware filled with different flavors of cupcakes they’d gotten ten minutes ago from the corner store.

Eloise grabbed one with a thankful smile and bid her new tenant Cassandra goodbye. Once the door was shut, Adeline headed down the hall to the next condo.

“Is it possible they’re rented to staff?” she asked, because clearly, Eloise hadn’t been a victim of human trafficking.

Beckett hated how likely that possibility sounded. Especially if those staff members weren’t Canadian citizens—

“Let’s stick to the plan for now,” Hayes said, having shot Beckett a look that said he was totally on board with that theory.

Adeline was knocking on the second door when someone knocked on the car window next to Beckett’s head.

All three occupants of the vehicle jumped in surprise.

Beckett looked up, certain he’d see Mario staring at him from the other side, gun in hand, ready to take them out execution style.

It wasn’t him, of course—but the face was familiar.

“Good afternoon, sir. I need to see your license and registration please,” the police officer requested as he stood next to the driver’s side door. He was staring down at the pad of paper in his hand, not yet realizing exactly who was in the driver’s seat.

Beckett rolled down his window, the frigid air filling the car, but even that couldn’t put a damper on his manic smile.

“It’s Officer Hunky!” he said without a second thought. Seeing this new arrival, Nickel jumped down from the dash and landed in Beckett’s lap. He barked at the officer. Yapping excessively, as if that was going to warn him off.

Officer Hunky, so named because Beckett didn’t remember the guy’s real name, managed to look both thoroughly pissed off and surprised as he scrutinized Beckett’s face and took in the attack dog in his lap. He didn’t realize who Beckett was until he spotted Hayes sitting in the passenger seat. He quickly adopted a professional demeanor, but was unable to hide the flush extending to the very tips of his perfect ears.

“Officer Lavigne,” Hayes greeted calmly, his smile warm and genuine, one which he rarely displayed in public.

“Agent Monroe,” he said, straightening to his full height and clearing his throat. “What—” he tried again. “Are you aware that your vehicle is parked in a no parking zone?” he asked, striving for a business-like tone even while that lovely blush deepened and spread towards the collar of his uniform.

Hayes looked out the window to his right before turning back to the officer.

“No, I’ll admit I wasn’t aware of that. I find the signs here a bit confusing—especially the French ones,” he stated candidly. While that might sound like a lame-assed excuse, anyone familiar with the City of Montreal would know it was valid.

Officer Lavigne’s cool mask of professionalism cracked as he chuckled like Hayes had just made a joke.

“I don’t blame you, Agent Monroe. Even I get confused at times.”

Beckett smiled, thinking that if they played their cards right, they’d get off with nothing more than a warning—maybe even something a bit better.

Officer Lavigne was truly an exceptionally rare specimen. Beckett had to admit that, at the very least. He’d been too sleep deprived and mentally shaken by his ordeal in the crypt when they’d initially interacted, not noticing much beyond his wide shoulders and baby blue eyes. But now that he had the time to check him out properly—he was spectacular. He resembled the actor who had played a young version of Superman in a made-for-teens television series his sister had loved. Curly black hair, sky blue eyes, chiseled jaw, and two gorgeous dimples that should be declared illegal.

“I’m confused—how’d you go from catching bank robbers to issuing parking tickets?” Beckett asked, blunt as ever.

Officer Lavigne briefly ducked his chin, then determinedly raised it again.

“I was—reprimanded for sticking up for your actions with the hostages,” he said hesitantly, choosing his words carefully.

“Shit! For how long? That’s not right!” Beckett was immediately incensed on the officer’s behalf, his mental gears already turning on exactly how to go about going over that goddamned Captain’s head and getting Lavigne reinstated.

“Two weeks,” he said, waving Beckett’s concern away quickly. “It isn’t all that bad, really. Haven’t slept that well in years,” he joked.