Page 81 of Dancing in the Dark

“Mmhm. Thrilled to have your support, Chief. Any updates on Waltham’s autopsy?”

“Only what I’ve already reported. We’re still waiting for toxicology to come back. Can confirm she had sex shortly before her death.”

On the other side of the room, poor Steve’s eyes flare wide.

God forbid his little girl says sex.

“Consensual, or not?”

“Evidence errs toward consensual, even if it was a little on the rough side.”

“Did he, uh…” I brush a hand over my mouth. “Make a deposit inside her?”

“I’m going to my room.” Huffing, Steve stomps toward a doorway different to the one I stand by. “Where I come from, ladies don’t discuss these topics. And gentlemen,” he fires a filthy glare my way, “would never ask a lady such a thing.”

“No deposit,” Minka answers with a snicker. “But trace samples of the lube commonly found coating a condom. No unusual bruising around her thighs or vagina. No particular reason to suspect anything untoward happened. DNA found under her nails could tell us differently, but for now, I’m inclined to believe she grabbed onto her lover in the throes of passion. Not out of fear for her life.”

“Suppose we should figure out who her lover was then, huh?” I glance past her to Archer. “You intend to sit on your ass all day, or can we go?”

“You sure seem grumpy for a dude who finally has a girlfriend. Kinda. Even though we’re not allowed to talk about her.” Chuckling, he tips his mug back and finishes the last of his coffee. Plopping the mug onto the counter and Chloe on the floor, he pushes to his feet. “Move your behind, Minnnnka. We’ll follow you down the hill. Then we’ve gotta make tracks over to our vic’s office before they think we’ve forgotten her.”

Aubree bustles across the kitchen, coffee in hand. Archer stomps. Harrison guards. Cato observes. Mary simply cleans in silence. And if I listen especially carefully, I’m pretty sure Steve is still grumbling.

Climbing behind the wheel of our cruiser, I stab the key into the ignition and stare straight ahead as Harrison holds the SUV’s door open for Minka to climb in, and right after her, Aubree follows.

“You’re good with this, huh? Totally fine with it?”

Distracted, Archer fixes his seat belt and glances around. “Fine with what? Not driving?” He shrugs. “I don’t care. Pretty sure it’s your turn.”

“No. With them.” I tip my chin forward as Harrison climbs in the front and starts the engine. The SUV starts around the circular driveway without missing a beat, so I slip the cruiser into gear and follow. “He’s maintaining her schedule. Driving her around all day. If shit’s going down and she’s scared, it’s literally his job to wrap her up and carry her to safety. They seem pretty friendly, that’s all.”

He settles back as we exit Malone property and move onto the public access road. “If shit’s going down, I’d rather it was his chest catching a bullet, not hers. Him managing her schedule has had an immediate, positive effect on her mood, since she already has so much going on up there. If him carrying a little of that mental load means she doesn’t have to, then I’m cool with it. I knew moving her up here would mean she can’t walk to work anymore, and although I suppose I could become her chauffeur, she doesn’t seem to mind riding with him. She likes very few people, so the fact she tolerates him means I’m gonna do what I need to do to keep him around.”

“But aren’t you worried she might like him, like… too much? He’s not ugly, he’s age-appropriate, and he has a pair of eyes, which means he knows she’s pretty.”

He snorts. “I think Fifi is pretty. Everyone does. Doesn’t mean I wanna romance her. Minka’s about as attracted to Harrison as she is to you.”

“I’m sexy!”

“Uh huh. But she doesn’t wanna fuck you. I get that the shit you went through with Jada has left you with a bunch of cheater baggage, but I trust my wife, and…” He smirks, vindictive and feral. “I trust Harrison knows the punishment that would come if he crossed the line.” He goes back to watching the SUV glide smoothly down the hill ahead of us. “You don’t have to talk about Fifi for us to know there’s a Fletch and Fifi buzzing in the air. So,” He bumps my chest with the side of his fist. “We’re all happy for you. Don’t fuck it up.”

I roll my eyes and, at the vibration of my phone against my thigh, I dig a hand into my pocket and fish the device out. “Solid advice, Miagi. Thanks.”

He grins.

I need you to work on the 2nd. Get a sitter and expect a late night. I’ll send more info in a while.

Frowning, I lock my screen and set the device in the console between our seats.

“Who was that?” Arch’s stare warms the side of my face. “Fifi?”

“No, the uh…” Lie, dickhead. And be convincing. “It was the management folks for my new place. They’re sending maintenance in soon and wanted to make sure I was available to allow access.”

“Management?” Suspicious, he goes back to studying Harrison’s SUV. “Huh. Weird.”

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FLETCH