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“Or a cousin,” I sigh, “that he wants to shield, he can? And if any of us wanna push him on it, we risk our jobs.”
“It’s not fair,” Fletch murmurs. “It’s probably the reason the dude who offed Dowel did what he did. The law couldn’t—or wouldn’t—hold the bastard responsible. Like with Garry, everyone knows who killed that little girl. Now, the mayor continues to fuck with us, so we get nowhere.”
“Makes for dangerous times,” I add quietly. “When the media gets wind that the mayor is blocking us, we might end up with more street killings. More heroes who want a taste of fame.”
“Which is precisely why having a fuckingvigilanteisn’t gonna continue in this city,” Archer growls. He brings his eyes around to me. “Having the first is bad enough. Some asshole thinks he gets to choose who lives and dies? Sure, he did us a favor with Dowel. But that wasn’t for him to decide. And now, the more the media hypes that shit up, the more regular folks are gonna take to the streets and do the same. Before we know it, the hits will be personal and have nothing to do with removing predators from the streets.”
“I guess you boys will be busy today trying to get that warrant then.” I glance to Fletcher. “Work fast, because we’re already on day three. That baby needs to be put to rest, and her killer needs to be removed from the family home.” I look to Aubree. “There are two more little girls in that house. They’re not safe as long as he’s free.”
Archer’s phone trills in his pocket, loud enough to make me jump. But then Fletcher’s phone rings too.
My stomach drops when Archer’s eyes meet mine. My heart aches, and my hands begin to shake.
Intuition plays into the things I do every single day, not just science, and not just the law. Sometimes, the only thing I have to work with is a gut feeling. And right in this moment, I don’t like what mine is telling me.
Swiping to answer the call, Archer brings his phone closer to his ear but doesn’t press it against, which means I can hear.
“Detective Archer Malone.”
“Dispatch to Detective Malone. Suspected homicide at the Thoma residence. One-zero-zero-zero Ridge Way, Hollow Knot. Uniforms on scene have indicated a possible link to your current caseload. Do you copy?”
“Yeah.” Drawing a deep breath, Archer’s eyes search mine. “I copy. Detective Fletcher is with me. We’re on the way, ETA twenty minutes.”
“Copy.”
The line cuts out and the air in my office diminishes until it’s almost impossible to breathe. Maybe it’s just me that feels that way. Or maybe we’re all thinking the same thing.
“You may as well follow us,” Archer sighs. “The Thoma case is yours too.”
Pushing up to stand, Archer snags my coat and holds it tight until our eyes meet. Behind him, Aubree dashes for the coat rack for her own jacket, and near the door, Fletcher waits.
“Are you feeling okay?” Archer murmurs quiet enough I know I’m the only one who can hear. “Minka?”
“I’m fine. This doesn’t…” I shake my head. “That stuff at home… it’s not part of this stuff at work. They’re separate.”
Considering my words for a moment, Archer finally nods and releases my coat so I can take it. “I’ll be watching you.”
“You should be paying attention to your work. Solve this crime so we can put it behind us.”
“I’ll do both.” Leaning in and destroying that wholehome is home, work is workthing, Archer presses a gentle kiss to the very corner of my lips. “I’m watching you, Mayet. If I think you look shaky, I’m gonna drop what I’m doing and come to you.”
“Terrible motto for a homicide detective.”
But his determination to take care of me helps soothe the fraying in my stomach.
Stepping around him and slipping my arms into my coat, I stop when I find Aubree and Fletcher standing by the door, their eyes on us, their brows sitting high on their foreheads.
“Shut it.” I cross my office toward them and snag my bag when Aubree offers it. “Home is home. Work is work. There will be no crossover discussion.”
“Detective Malone kissed you,” Aubree whispers. “In public.”
I shove the door open and head toward the elevator. “I said shut it.”
“I mean, everyone knows you’re banging. Less than a week in town, and you’re already banging. But kissing at work…” Aubree’s soft whistle follows me as I stop at the elevator and hit the call button. “That’s some serious relationship-y stuff, Minka.”
“Still too soon to call me Minka.”
The moment the doors open, Aubree and I step into the elevator, but as the guys follow us in, I move aside to let Fletch and Arch stand in back. I hit the button for the underground parking level, only to grit my teeth when Archer’s hand touches the back of my neck.
