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“Yeah.” I unlock my phone again and move to the dial screen. “Your number?”
When she says nothing, I look up and raise a brow. “I gotta make the call, for the records.”
Nodding, she rattles off her number and heads across to the couch to get her coat. Once I dial, she hits accept, but she doesn’t bother bringing her phone to her ear.
“Suspected homicide in Hollow Knot.” I move to the couch and spin her when her posture is too hard. She’s too stiff. Too unbendable. If she doesn’t learn to bend, she’s going to break. “I need an M.E.” I fix her collar and button her shirt. “Can your office spare anyone, Doctor Mayet?”
Her eyes search mine. Slowly. Quietly. “I’m gonna take this one, Detective Malone.” Her voice is soft, sad. “I’d like to call in Doctor Emeri too. I’m at home right now,” she sighs, “but I’ll get my gear and head to the scene immediately.” Pulling her bottom lip between her teeth, she flips her phone over and kills the call. “Can you drive?”
“Yeah. I had half a beer and one tenth of a fuck session.” Leaning in, I press a kiss to the corner of her supple lips. “I’m completely sober and good to go. Come on.” I snag my coat and take her hand. “Do you have a hat or something to wear? It’s gonna be cold out there.”
Finally, as her sadness wears off and her emotions are pulled under control, she scoffs under her breath and snags her keys before opening the door. “Don’t try to take care of me, Malone. I don’t need to be coddled.”
“Just talking about a fuckin’ hat.” I turn back toward the kitchen a mere second before Minka steps over the threshold and into the hall. Then shoving my hand into my jeans, I peel the condom off my unsatisfied cock and drop it into her trash can. “Not washing my hands, either.” I move back in her direction and place my fingers near her face. “Tastes like you.”
“You’re despicable.” She smacks my hand away with a slap hard enough to make my lips twitch, then she pulls me into the hall and tugs the door closed. “Where’s your car?”
“Two blocks down. We’ll walk there, then I’ll drive you to the scene.” Skipping onto the stairs, I stay close enough so my elbows tap hers as we move. But I sure as fuck don’t reach out for her hand. I don’t attempt to make friends with the unattainable Doctor Minka. “How do you expect to do your job if you don’t have a car?”
“The lab has a fleet we can use while we’re working. That’s why I rented so close to the George Stanley building.”
“Saves you the time, expense, and bother of maintaining a ride. But close enough to use theirs. Smart move, Doc.”
We round the stairs and move onto the second floor. Then the first. As I expected we’d find, Steve stands by his door, his elephant-ish ears far too large not to hear us coming and going.
“I’ll have her home safe and sound in a few hours.”
Scowling—how dare I act like she needs protection and an escort?—Minka looks across at me, then back to Steve where her scowl transforms into a sweet smile. “Working, but I’ll be back later. You should go inside and stay warm.”
“I don’t need you to take care of me, young lady.”
I choke out a laugh as I realize, in the middle of a concrete and brick stairwell where a woman as beautiful as Minka stares down a man who might have tapped a hundred a decade ago, they’re more similar than anyone else I know. He might be old and wrinkled, and she might be the most annoyingly fucking beautiful person I’ve ever met, but their stubborn streaks are mirrors of one another.
Remembering Minka’s words in her apartment—physical looks don’t last—my lips wrinkle and my nose turns up in disgust when I realize, if we take away her beautiful face and supple body, I was just balls fucking deep inside Steve.
“Ew.” I push off the stairs and head to the glass door. “Let’s go, Mayet! Fuck!”
“What the hell?” Minka chases me into the dark outside and sniggers under her breath when she catches up and her elbows bang against mine while we walk. “What’s your problem?”
“You’re the same.” We pass Tim’s and continue on. “You and the floppy-eared Steve are the fucking same.”
“We are not!” White fog blows ahead of her lips as she skip-walks to keep up with my long strides. “We’re nothing alike. He’s stubborn, but he’s nice to people.” Smug, she looks up and flashes a simpering grin. “I’m not nice to people.”
“Ya think?”
I look ahead and keep going until we reach the parking garage of the police precinct. I could grab my truck, but that would be another block of walking and a waste of time, so I lead Minka through the steps and check out a cruiser, then fifteen minutes after buckling in, we pull up at the scene lit up like a house in the ‘burbs on Christmas Eve.
Cops spread out to keep the nosy neighbors away, and a pair of paramedics stand outside their bus, uniformed and kitted up, but with no one to help.
This is already deemed a homicide scene. There’s no one to save.
“Detective Archer Malone.” The moment an officer steps forward to bar our way, I flash my badge and grab the tape keeping people out. “She’s with me.”
“Uh, excuse me?” Minka stops on crunching grass and faces the cop with a gentle smile. “I’m Doctor Minka Mayet, chief medical examiner and assigned to this case.” She shows off her own badge and waits for the cop to scan it. “I’m notwithhim, nor do I require his permission to attend the scene. I’m here to do my job.”
“Yes, Doctor.” The uniform glances over her shoulder with a smirk. “Your colleagues are both here. Doctor Emeri and Detective Fletcher asked that I send you their way when you arrive.”
“Thanks.” Minka takes a step back, then ducking under the tape, she leaves me behind without a single glance back.
