Page 40 of No Bones About It

Kimi looked at their friend. “Do you think there’s any chance we’ll hear more?”

Marcus shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve worked with Shanice multiple times now. She’s an excellent agent but she’s not the one in charge. I think Shirisha will consider your offer to help with the dogs but I have no way to know.”

Kimi nodded, shoulders still down. He’d bet the entire confrontationhad zapped her energy. She was a forthright person. Being called out for not going through official channels wouldn’t bother her as much as feeling like she’d let Marcus down. Being unable to help the dogs would be the worst.

He hoped like hell the agent let Kimi help with the dogs once they broke the ring. And he hoped it all happened soon.

Kimi’s nerves bounced around inside her like Popcorn danced around Onigis.

She hated being on the wrong side of good people. Garrett. Marcus. The FBI.

She’d caused tension between the two men. Between herself and Marcus as well. And the FBI agents were none too pleased with her either.

The annoying part was that if she had to do it again, she’d probably do it the same way. She was too stubborn for her own good. And her own peace of mind.

Garrett had walked Marcus out to his squad car so she put away her computer and checked on the bunnies.

“Terry Fox. Terry Fox.”

She managed a smile at Canuck’s choice. “The epitome of perseverance. You’re telling me to keep going forward? To stop wallowing about what’s done?”

In the eighties, Terry Fox had already lost a leg to cancer. Refusing to give into it, he started a cross-country run to raise awareness and money for research. He’d only made it halfway across the country when the cancer returned. Terry hadn’t lived to see the amazing progress researchers had made since then. He hadn’t lived to see that school kids around the world knew his story, and had annual runs to raise money in his name. He was a hero in all senses of the word.

Kimi walked over to Canuck and stroked his beak. The parrot bobbed his head and showed off his feathers for her. “You’re right, buddy. No wallowing. Moving forward to help as many as I can.”

“That’s the idea.” Garrett’s deep voice had her smiling over her shoulder. He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her temple.

For a few minutes they stood like that with the bird swaying along with them. Canuck always lightened the mood. “I’m sorry. Marcus is pissed at you because of me.”

Garrett kissed her hair. “It’s fine. We’re good.”

She hoped so. Tearing apart the friends would be horrible.

Garrett squeezed her and took her hand. “I’m serious, we’re good.”

She leaned in and wrapped her arms around him, absorbing his positive attitude and warmth. Physical warmth, sure, but also the warmth of the connection between them. Since GG had died, she’d had no one with her in her corner. No one close enough to carry the emotions with her.

She hoped she wasn’t imagining more than was really there. More connection. More emotion. More love?

Garrett kissed her hair again. “Don’t make plans for supper.”

She chuckled. “You have something in mind?”

“I do. I’ll see you in a couple of hours.”

And then he was gone, leaving her feeling bereft. With a deep breath, she went outside to check on the troops and returned to see that the bunnies were stirring. Full bellies and a safe space helped.

That’s what the dogs needed. A safe space. At least they wouldn’t be starved. The need to help itched at her conscience. Leaving them when she had the power to help was difficult but she’d promised, and she wouldn’t go back on that promise.

Feeling completely unsettled, she decided to follow one of GG’s traditions. Smudging was good for people and places. Her space didn’t need it but she did.

She gathered her sage, an eagle feather, and her supplies and headed to her back porch, the place she felt closest to her roots. GG always said smudging helped focus the brain and cleansed the heart and head.

Kimi placed a small amount of tobacco onto her smudging plate. She lit a bundle of sage and placed it on top, feeling GG’s approval, her calming presence.

When the smoke rose in a stream, Kimi cleansed her hands in thesmoke. Using her eagle feather, she drew the smoke over her head, then drew it into her body via her eyes, ears, and mouth.

She didn’t rush the process, and used the tradition to ground herself back in the present. When the fire was out and the area tidied, she sat and reminded herself to trust in herself, as well as others. She’d never been great at that part.

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