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He drops his hands. “Killjoy.”

I throw on a smile, letting it linger until I reach the ground floor. It’s not the first time — nor the last — they’ve labeled me the resident killjoy of the 18th Precinct, but I take my job seriously.

“Running late, aren’t you, Anna?”

I pause by the front desk to talk to Sally Gilmore, the best damn cop in Boston if you want my opinion. She rises from her chair as I walk up, favoring one leg as she saunters closer. It’s horrible what just one bullet can do to a promising career, but one piece of hot metal couldn’t stop Sally from serving the great city of Boston.

“A little, yeah,” I say. “But it’s all right. Vin will forgive me.”

“In that case, do you have any new pictures to show off?” she asks.

“Actually…” I pull out my phone. “She’s just discovered make-up.”

Sally grins. “Oh, god.”

“I don’t know how. I barely even wear the stuff, but…”

I swipe to a photo of my daughter with far too much blush and clown-red lipstick smeared on her face. My own mouth stretches with an instant smile as I turn the phone toward Sally.

Her jaw drops as she gasps. “Isn’t that precious?”

“The most precious thing that’s ever precious-ed,” I quip.

“She’s got your nose.”

“Yeah, poor kid.”

Sally playfully slaps my hand. “Shut up. You’re both gorgeous.” She pinches the screen and zooms. “I’ll never get used to those eyes. What’s that called again?”

I think for a second as I look at the close-up view of my daughter’s multicolored irises in the photo. Brown irises with spikes of bright blue shooting out from her pupils.

“Segmental heterochromia,” I answer. “Her doctor says it’s really rare, but harmless.”

Sally hands the phone back to me. “She’s beautiful.”

“And she knows it,” I mutter, smiling. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Sally.”

“Bye, Anna.”

“I’ll say hi to Vincent for you.”

She sighs. “If you must.”

I grin and snap my hood up before heading toward the stairs marked parking garage.

CHAPTER 2

MILO

“Order 42!”

I lay the paper tray down on the window and a man quickly reaches up to grab it. As he walks away, I take a second to breathe as the last of the evening rush wanders off. Finally. Daniel will be expecting his payout soon, but it’s just after six and I haven’t received a delivery yet.

A woman rushes up to the truck and stops just short of the window. The awning above her head blocks the rain but she’s already soaking with it from head to toe. She drops the hood on her jacket and shakes the water off before she realizes she’s being watched.

I lock eyes with her and nod. I’ve seen her around the park before. And she’s definitely seen me.

“Sorry,” she says. “Do you mind if I chill here for a minute?”