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“Detective Malone?”
“Do you have a cause of death yet, Mayet? Because we kinda need it over here.”
“Well, good day to you too. And no.” I hear her walking on tile. Doors opening. Life going on inside the building that houses death. “Her heart is fine. Her brain is fine. I double-checked, and didn’t find a single bleed that might’ve contributed to this. It’s like her body just…” She exhales. “Stopped. But I can’t find which organ started the chain reaction. Also, Aubree and I had a fight, and I feel like a jerk. Additionally, Boyd’s blood and stomach contents are with the lab, but they’re backed up and Raquel won’t bump us, even though I’m the chief. She says it’s unethical to play favorites and make someone else wait. At this point, we just have to be patient and see what they come back with.”
“Hold up.” Frowning, I backtrack in my mind and try to piece together where the hell we went off-track. “You and Aubree had a fight?”
At that, Fletch glances across.
“Yeah.” Sighing, Minka rubs a hand across her temple to ease the pressure in her mind; I don’t see it, but I hear her. I feel it. “Mia asked if I was gonna marry you, I didn’t say no, so Aubree took that and ran, started freaking out and asking questions.”
“So you went ice queen and told her to butt the fuck out?” Sitting back in my chair, I look out at the city as we drive. “Now you feel bad, because you’re a little mean when you’re ice?”
“She was asking questions really loudly, Archer! Like,reallyloudly.”
“And everyone who knows you knows you’re a little insecure about commitment.”
“Ugh!” Footsteps on tile start again. “She said that too. She said I’minsecure. I’m not insecure!”
“You’re insecure about this,” I counter with a grin. “You’re terrified to love, and just when you start to be okay with that, you realize you’re terrified of other people finding out you love. It’s a nasty cycle that keeps going ‘round, because you’re insecure.”
“Have you told Fletcher you love me?”
I look across at him and smirk. “I have.”
“Have you told him you asked me to marry you?” she spits out. “That you intend to legally tie yourself to another person,knowingthe other person annoys you more often than not?”
“I have not.”
“Because you’re insecure?”
“Because I knew you’d freak out,” I chuckle. “I wanted to give you a minute to adapt and freak out in private. But if you want me to squeal—”
“I don’t!”
“Fletch?” I reach across and tap his shoulder. “I asked Mayet to marry me.”
“Archer!”
“No shit?” Wide-eyed and somewhat panicked, he schools his words so all Minka hears is a relaxed, “Mazel tov! Dibs on being best man.”
“Oh my god, Archer.” Whimpering, Minka groans and cries in one. “Why’d you do that?”
“To prove you’re insecure. Aubree is like Fletch, okay? They’re like gremlins; no bright lights, don’t get ‘em wet, don’t feed them after midnight. Andnevertell them your private, insecure business and expect them to be quiet about it. They’re incapable.”
“Hey,” Fletch grumbles. “I’m chill.”
“I’m not ready for the world to know,” Minka whimpers. “It makes this a million times scarier.”
“But why is it scary? You haven’t even said yes to me yet. Now apologize to Aubs for being a little unkind. That doesn’t mean you have to tell her all your shit. But you do have to take responsibility for your part in snapping at her about something you knew she’d be loud about. Just like with gremlins, it’s not her fault that you spilled the gossip on something you knew she’d be excited about. Oh, and while I’ve got you… Melissa Boyd?”
“Be patient! I don’t have cause of death yet.” Angry, she kills our call so the beeps echo in my ear.
Amused, I pull the phone away and hold it in my fist while we drive for a minute more.
Silence hangs.
Tension grows.
