Page 202 of Solanum

"Crime scene photos." She turned in her chair to face me. "Your unsub is devolving terribly."

"I know…"

"I think he goes back and visits the crime scenes. Did you leave it preserved?"

"Blocked off with undercover surveillance. What makes you think he revisits?" I tucked her hair behind her ear, and she leaned into my touch.

"These bloody shoe prints here." She turned her computer to show where she pointed. "They're fresher than the others. They weren't made in wet blood. They walked in sticky blood. Whether they belong to the unsub, I can't determine, but this is what crime scene sent me. The prints don't belong to any law enforcement officer on scene."

"Do they match the original prints there?"

"In size, yes. They're different shoes otherwise."

"Hmm." I smirked while I gazed down at her. "You still got it. Don't you?"

"For this." She motioned to the screen. "Maybe. Yeah."

"Are you tired, baby?" I nodded to the coffee cups that I could now see sat empty.

"Yes." She stroked my leg in smooth circles with her palm. "What time is it?"

"Almost seven. We should probably retire for the day."

"All right." She closed her laptop before standing. In seeing her tonight, I agreed with Roderick's statement that she was quieter and less spontaneous today. Had she been this way since her return to work? I couldn't tell.

I watched as she packed up her bag, then came to stand in front of me. Her expression, much more drawn than this morning, spoke of her fatigue. I slipped my hands around her waist and she draped her arms over my shoulders.

"You okay?"

She nodded and nuzzled her lips over my forehead. "Really tired."

"I can tell. C'mon. Let's head back to Sali's." I wrapped my arms around her and patted her firm rear in her tight slacks.

"'Kay." She smiled against my cheek and I noted she made to lift her legs when I stood but decided against it.

"Would be a little obvious if I toted you out of here, huh?"

"I know, but I want you to." She pouted and I poked her bottom lip. "Everyone will stare."

"They will. How about we walk to the elevator then I'll carry you to the car?" I patted her rear again then held my hand to her.

"Deal."

Nora fell asleep as soon as my SUV made it on the highway. She wrapped herself in both her jacket and mine while holding on to the seatbelt. I stroked her hair a few times as worry slid back into my heart.

The lull of the highway must've kept her asleep because the moment the car slowed down when I pulled off the exit, she peeked up at me, her eyes glazed over with fatigue.

"What time is it?"

"A little after nine. Are you hungry, honey?"

She shook her head and rested her chin on her hand.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah."

"Okay." With that, my worry solidified itself by the time I parked in Sali's driveway.

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