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What she needed to shake her out of her slump was a good callout on patrol today. She needed an incident that summoned her entire squad, sirens wailing. Something exciting—no, something worthwhile. She needed to do something that made her proud to be a cop.
Kelly gave herself a swift mental kick in the butt as she pushed into the women’s locker room. Was she fantasizing about rescuing another little boy? If I’m going to daydream, why not reach for the stars? Why not save the mayor of Dade County? Or the governor. The Dalai Lama.
The whole thing with Trey was just as much of a fantasy.
Lana, standing by her locker, looked up and grinned at Kelly, eyebrows raised.
“Kelly?”
Kelly raised her arm for a high five. “I’m baaack.”
“All right.” Lana slapped Kelly’s palm. “Welcome home, girl.”
Kelly slammed open her locker. Welcome home. That sounded right. This police station was her home, the only home she had ever wanted. Truly the only home she’d ever known.
She smashed her cap onto her head. What did she know about a family? She’d never actually been part of one. The make-believe with the Wentworths didn’t count.
The locker room door swung open. Grinning, Trice entered and said, “I heard a rumor.”
“Please,” Kelly said, holding up her hand. “I’ve had enough celebrity gossip to last a lifetime.”
“Rudy says you’re off suspension.”
“Damn straight,” Kelly said.
“Make it count,” Trice said.
“Make it count,” Lana repeated.
Kelly nodded. “Make it count,” she said again, the mantra the three of them had cooked up during training.
Make it count. She had saved a little boy. She pictured Jason in the park when he crashed into her that morning, and the tightness in her belly loosened just a little.
Okay, yeah, maybe he was spoiled and rich and would have eventually been rescued when the ransom payoff got straightened out. But what if he wasn’t? Her lieutenant was right. She should be proud of herself.
So why did she feel so empty inside?
* * *
AT HIS DESK, Trey looked up at a knock on his office door. He was expecting Brian, and that was who stood in the doorway looking as intense as ever, toting his massive brown leather briefcase.
“You’re late,” Trey said, smiling to soften his accusation.
“Sorry. The two o’clock ferry was full, and I had to wait,” Brian said. “Has the meeting started?”
Trey glanced at his computer screen, which showed a long empty conference table. A woman carrying a tray with a pitcher of water and glasses moved in front of the camera and disappeared. The sound was muted, but Trey knew she’d placed the water on a sideboard for use by directors during the upcoming emergency board meeting.
“Any minute now,” Trey said.
He sat back, rubbing his eyes. It had been a long day. A long week. Between plans for the tennis clinic and preparing himself for the CEO position at Wentworth Industries, he’d tried to keep too busy to think about Kelly. She’d texted that she was off suspension, which was of course excellent news. But he couldn’t help wonder if she blamed him for almost destroying her career.
And he couldn’t help wondering if she missed him.
“You need a secretary,” Brian said, glancing at the various stacks of paper on the desk. “And a file cabinet.”
Trey followed Brian’s gaze and winced. “I’ve got a temp coming tomorrow morning.”
“I think you’ll need more than a temp.” Brian settled himself so he could see the screen. “Are you certain this is the way you want to go with your father?”
Trey cut him a look. “You said there were no problems legally with the board’s decision.”
“Absolutely not,” Brian said, withdrawing a thick packet from his briefcase. “A majority vote is all that’s needed to make a change. But—” He hesitated. “The man is your father.”
“And I would have preferred to wait a few more months, give him a little more time to get used to the idea of stepping down. But the board is adamant. Senior’s recent decisions have been too costly.” Trey paused, then said, “I thought you agreed.”
