Page 137 of Solanum

"I'm here to stay." Anita smiled at Nora, her grayish eyes matching Nora's excitement as she tugged the edges of Nora's robe closed over her middle. "I'm happy to see you so chipper today."

"I'm very chipper." Nora simply beamed at her. "Samirah is here still. Do you know her?"

"I'm not sure." Anita's brow furrowed. "What's her last name?"

Nora looked up at me. "Do you know?"

"Yes." I laughed at her and smooched her cheek. "Flynn. She works sometimes at U.W. Medical."

"Oh." Anita shook her head. "Maybe in passing, but no one I can place."

"Makes sense." I flicked through the delivery app and pulled up Nora's favorite deli for her to order what she wanted. She accepted my phone and tapped away at the screen. "Neets, hungry?"

Anita nodded, tucking her hair behind her ear. Fatigue pressed in on her in a way I didn't expect.

"You look tense," I said, propping my elbow on the cushion. "What's up?"

"Busy day is all," she said. "Happy to be off for a bit."

"What are you doing up in Seattle?"

"A consult for Walsh, but I've told him to back off for a bit. Wilkinson, too. I need to settle in. Have you spoken to Sali and Maggie?"

"Not since yesterday. Why?" My brow furrowed.

"No particular reason…"

"She's lying." Nora pointed at Anita, her eyes still on the phone. "When her voice does that trailing off thing, she's withholding."

I laughed and cocked a brow at Anita. "Oh really? Tell the truth then, Doctor Oliver. Why'd you ask that?"

Anita flopped her hands in her lap and scowled at Nora. "I cannot disclose—"

"Oh, shut up already. Yes, you can." Nora shoved her shoulder and huffed. "Do you want roast beef or tuna? I know you'll pick one."

"Tuna." Anita frowned at her and shoved her right back. "And chips."

Nora grinned and returned to the order. "Answer her."

"So very pushy today," said Anita, her eyes falling on me. A small smile tugged the corner of her mouth and her gaze flickered to Nora.

I nodded, understanding her silent message. Nora was happy and chipper today, her old self in many ways, and it made me smile.

"I asked about Sali and Maggie professionally," she said.

"Okay. Why?" I asked.

"Because they're getting bombarded with requests from citizens asking them to look into cases privately. They've done a few, with Eugene and Ben's help, but it concerns me," she admitted. "Mainly missing persons and disappeared kids."

"Makes sense. Ben is going to work for Walsh again, isn't he?" I asked.

"He is. Keeping his Marshal status but after everything, he's seriously considering returning to full-time at the department. He feels he's ready."

"Do you think he is?" I asked her.

"I think so. He's done well. They all have."

"Agreed."

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