Page 14 of A River of Crows

“For five minutes.” Sloan huffed. “Long enough for Mom to start throwing rocks at windows and climbing on other people’s roofs.”

Noah made a steeple with his fingers. “I think most understood the grief changed her. I don't think anybody could blame her.”

“Everybody blamed her!” Sloan's eyes filled with tears. “Everyone except for your family. And because of your proximity to us, you all became outcasts too.”

“Oh, come on.”

“It's true.” Sloan's nails dug into her palms as she clenched her hands. “That's why your dad never made chief.”

Noah drew in a frustrated breath. “The only thing that kept Dad from being chief is the color of our skin. Don't put that on your family.”

Sloan unclenched her fists. “It was probably both. But hopefully, you'll get the chance your dad never did. You're young and an accomplished detective already. Things are different now, after all.”

“Things are different, but not that different,” Noah said.

“Oh. I just thought Obama winning the primary was a positive sign.”

Noah smirked. “This ain’t the White House. This is Texas.”

Sloan nodded. “I see.”

Noah met her eyes. “Look, Sloan. I’ve loved you since we were kids. I always figured you'd move after graduation. That you'd go off to college and leave me behind. But I never imagined you'd do it in the middle of the night without so much as a note.”

Sloan swallowed. “I left a note.”

“Not for me.”

“I mentioned you,” Sloan said. “And I called.”

“Two weeks later.” Noah scrubbed his hands over his face. “Sorry. You came to apologize, and I'm dragging it all back out.”

“It's okay.” Sloan knew she deserved worse. “I was a coward. I didn't know how to say goodbye.” Her eyes retraced their path to the picture on his desk. “Things worked out better for you, anyway. You've got a nice family, and I'm a nice train wreck.”

“Stop, Sloan. I always hated that about you. Your self-deprecation.”

“And I hated your blunt honesty.” Sloan allowed herself to grin. “I still kinda do, actually.”

Noah returned the smile. “It's good to see you, Sloan. I'm glad you're back. If there's anything else I can do—”

“I saw her,” Sloan interrupted.

“Saw who?”

“Felicity.” Bile rose and stung Sloan's throat. “Yesterday in Tyler—getting groceries. I saw her.”

Noah pulled at his collar. “Damn. Did she recognize you? Did y’all speak?”

“Yeah, she did, and yes, she tried, but I ran,” Sloan said.

“Imagine that.”

Sloan cocked an eyebrow. “Come on; you can't blame me for that one.”

“How did you even recognize her? It’s been so long.”

Sloan looked away. “That People magazine article,” she said, leaving out the night she had gotten drunk and stalked Felicity’s Myspace. Not one of her finer moments.

“Oh yeah. I was hoping you missed that one.”

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