Page 61 of Sinful Sorrow

“So don’t tell him. She’s allowed to take a day and work through her feelings. She called early and spoke to night shift, all to avoid talking to me. That means she wants to be left alone. I’ll give her the day. Tomorrow, she has this big to-do with the mayor, and we both know she’d rather eat manure than disappoint that man. So she’ll be back, poised, and ready to get on with things once more. In a few days, when Fletch and Fifi have both had time to calm down, he can apologize, she can tell him she can’t stand the sight of him, and life goes back to normal.”

“But for today,” I grit out, “you’re breaking the law, impersonating a cop, tampering with evidence, taking other cases with random cops, and now you’ve got a body that washed up in the bay after an execution. Which smells an awful lot like mafia to me. That’s what you’re telling me we’re doing with this day?”

“Plus fourteen sales of the hunting knife. Which, in reality, isn’t that many. I’ll photocopy the list today, seal it up, and send it over to the station. You receive it as an anonymous tip, and then your evidence remains admissible in court. If the list proves useful, we’re winning. And if it was a waste of time, then that’s cool too. We’ll chalk it up to a learning exercise for me.”

“Stop breaking the fucking law! And hand that case off to someone else. It stinks of the mob, and I don’t know if you know, but that’s a little close to home for us to deal with right now. It’s not Felix, which means it’s Booth or the dude Booth reports to. Those same people are half the reason for Fletch’s stress today, and they’re entirely the reason Jada ended up in hospital yesterday.”

“I’m just the M.E. In fact, Aubree’s taking the lead. So…”

“Aubree’s practically betrothed to Timothy II’s heir! She doesn’t admit to it, but she’s even closer to the mob right now than you are. So get her off that crime scene and back inside the George Stanley. If Tim finds out what’s going on, he’s gonna fuck your case up whether you like it or not. Do us all a favor and hand it off.”

“You’re being entirely too controlling right now, Archer. Jesus.”

“Hand the case off and give the badge back!” I draw eyes as students cross Copeland U’s campus, with their shoulders hunched under the weight of book bags and their eyes alighting as something more interesting than another day spent learning catches their attention. “I’ve run the same search as you.” I lower my voice and talk directly into the phone’s mouthpiece. “I’ve been a cop a long time, Mayet, which means I got a warrant and contacted hunting supplies stores, too. Unfortunately for those of us following the order of evidence, I have to wait a little longer to receive my reports. You didn’t think of anything I didn’t already think of.”

“Okay, sure. But I got the answers faster, no? Not waiting for legitimate warrants might be the difference between solving a case sooner, or not solving it at all.”

“Swear to god. You’re pissing me right off, woman. Stop doing my job. Stop putting yourself in danger. And for the love of everything decent, get Aubree off that crime scene before Tim starts a fresh war. No one who has a connection to me or my family should run a case that involves the mob. It’s like painting a neon target on your forehead and dancing on a fucking stage, waiting to be gunned down. Felix is looking into things for me, but until he comes back with names, you’re too exposed.”

“I’ll pull her off and reassign Doctor Flynn.” Grumbling, she opens the car door again so wind whips through our call. “But I know I helped you with that list, Detective Malone. Take a breath and look at the situation objectively.”

“Looking at it objectively? I see a different, third, mafia family providing you with assets, also known as favors. This person is obviously powerful, and when the day comes that she asks for payment, your ass is gonna be in a sling, obligated to do as she wants. And since your ass is my ass, I’m the one who is gonna be indebted to this chick I hardly know and don’t trust.”

“I don’t think it’s like that. Aubree,” she speaks low, controlled, “get up. Pack up. We’re handing this off to Flynn.” Then she moves somewhere else. “Officer. My office is going to have to send you a new M.E. Hold the scene for another twenty minutes until the new tech has arrived.”

“Yes, Chief.” He doesn’t ask questions. He doesn’t deny seniority when on the job. Minka Mayet is the youngest chief medical examiner in the city’s history. But age doesn’t mean shit when she flashes her actual badge and commands a scene.

“Good. Thank you.” She turns on her heels, the click-clack of rocks under her feet telegraphing her moves. “We’re heading to the car now. Don’t speak until we’re inside,” she tells Aubree. Then back at me, “I see Timothy the Third, Archer. He’s already here.”

“Yeah. Color me surprised. Get in the car and leave. He’ll follow. I’ll deal with our case without your help, and you’ll never call Sophia Solomon ever again. She freaks me out.”

“She seems nice. I mean…” Squeaking car doors echo through our call again. “Nice, in the, don’t have to talk to her unless it suits me, and definitely never have to make small talk, kind of way. She doesn’t waste words or pretend to be nice. So I kinda like that about her.”

“Kinda reminds me of someone I already know,” I growl. “Close your doors and drive away. Send Flynn. Don’t touch that case again.”

“Your controlling nature is noted, Detective. And so soon on the back of our nuptials. Is this going to become an issue for us?”

“Only when you’re running cases that put your life at risk. And since we’re on the subject, jail time is something else I choose not to accept. I married one portion of you where I’m forced to accept risk. I didn’t agree to adding to it. So stop being friends with Solomon, and never again try to do my job. Got it?”

“Got it. I guess I’ll throw the list away, then. And you can wait for a judge to sign off on yours.”

“Send me the damn list. I’ll talk to you later.”

She snorts. But she swallows the sound down and pretends to be serious. “It was fun working with you, Detective Malone. Be safe.”

“Yeah.” I drag the phone from my ear and scowl when I find Fletch’s eyes dancing with mirth. “Stop being entertained by this shit.”

“I’d rather watch your marriage than obsess over mine. You think she’ll stop talking to Solomon?”

“No.” I drop my hands, and phone, into my pocket. “I think she’s found a twin flame in Soph. They don’t realize it yet, because they’re both socially inept and object to making true friendships. But I know what Solomon stands for, and that just so happens to align with what Mayet stands for. I know they’ve both crossed that line to protect the innocent, and I know, without a single shred of doubt, they’ll cross it again, even at risk to their own safety. Solomon has certain other skills Minka doesn’t?—”

“Like the listening to conversations and hacking people’s computers stuff.”

“Right. Which is not Minka’s forte. But then again, she can exhume, autopsy, and do all sorts of medical shit Solomon can’t. Different strengths. Equally powerful.”

“Put them together: earth, fire, water…” Chuckling, he looks down at his shoes. “You get it? Captain Planet. Different kinds of pollution, but my point stands.”

“I don’t see Minka cutting that connection off. Not even if I shout about it.”

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