Page 8 of Dear Detective

Of course, Jay couldn’t resist buying one of Pepper’s litter mates and naming him Salty.

Spare Parts

I haven’t forgotten that you met someone. Stop changing the subject and tell me all about it.

Fuck my life. The gossip hotline in our building is goddamn relentless. And I know my twin is worse than a dog with a bone. The fucker will never give up.

Me

I’ll explain when I have the time.

Spare Parts

I’m never going to let it go.

Fuck. I already know that.

At three on the dot, I’m slipping on my jacket and mentally running through my date plans for tonight when my phone starts buzzing on the desk. My pulse jumps as I check the screen, praying it’s Poppy.

No such luck. Worthington Hills PD. Main line.

Fuck. I already know what this means. Patrol doesn’t call unless something’s gone sideways.

I swipe to answer before the second ring. “Vale.”

Dispatch barely waits for my greeting. “Hey, Detective, we have a possible homicide at The Double C Shop on Highway D.”

Goddamn it.

Of course, today would turn to shit. I clench my jaw so hard my back molars grind together, sending a jolt of pain straight to my temple. I snatch my keys off the desk, and the metal bites into my palm. I jab two fingers toward Kil in a sharp "follow me" gesture. The leather of my shoulder holster creaks as I stride toward the elevator, each step hammering my frustration into the dingy linoleum.

There goes my early out. There goes my fucking date with the only woman who’s ever made me feel like this.

While Kil navigates the SUV through afternoon traffic toward the dusty outskirts of town, I pull out my phone and type out a quick message to Poppy.

Me

It fucking kills me to cancel tonight, but I have a new case. Rain check on dinner? I’m sorry.

Three dots appear, then disappear, then reappear. It feels like hours while I wait for her to respond.

Kitten

No worries, Detective. Go solve a murder. We can reschedule. :)

Me

How about tomorrow night, same time?

Fuck. The thought of spending another twenty-four hours without seeing her causes my heart to literally ache, but I know I’ll be tied up until tomorrow at the earliest.

Kitten

Sounds like a plan to me.

Me

See you then.