Page 4 of Turkey Trouble

“This is why we work.” Patten bounces her foot. Too happy, considering the shit night she has ahead of her. “Spending the evening with your family, Chief?”

“See!” Aubree practically jumps onto the couch,Tom Cruise on Oprahstyle. “That’s what I’m saying! Thanksgiving is for family. Our wonderful Chief Mayet is choosing takeout and early to bed.”

“Oh?” Concerned, Patten brings her focus to me. “No invites, Chief? How rude of me to not even consider that you’re new to the city. My family is still celebrating if you’d like an introduct?—”

“For the love of meatball subs.” I poke my own eyes. “No. I don’t need more invitations. I have more than I can handle already, and enough emotional manipulation to last me a lifetime. I’m spending the evening with my husband. He’s my family, so we’re having a meal and choosingusfor a night. We so rarely get to do that. Tomorrow, we’ll be surrounded by family again. We’re overflowing with them, so everything is fine, nomore introductions necessary, and I swear to God, if the mayor thinks he can pout about this, I’m going to end up in prison.”

The phone rings on my desk, a trilling summons that sets my stomach on fire. So I reach out and tap the speaker button to answer. “Yeah?”

“Chief Mayet?” Callen announces. “Mayor Lawrence is on line three for you.”

“That’s my sign to leave.” Patten jumps from her seat, sniggering and bolting toward the door. “Happy Thanksgiving, Chief! I’ll do my job and save you all the best cases for tomorrow.”

I close my eyes and consider simply not accepting the call. I could have Callen tell him I’ve left the office already. She could even tell him I caught a diarrhea bug from my night shift, andtrust me, it’s best I stay home tonight instead of shattering the porcelain of his guest bathroom.

“Take the call,” Aubree giggles. “Or he’ll be at your front door within the hour.”

“For fuck’s sake.” I kill my connection with Callen and hit line three instead. “Mayor Lawrence.”

“You’re still at the office, Chief.” He tsks under his breath. “It’s a holiday, and it’s almost five.”

“Literally doing the job you pay me for. Is anyone dead in front of you right now?”

He hesitates, before answering, “No…”

“Great! So this conversation is over. Enjoy your family thing tonight while you still have a life to live. I’ll talk to you tomorrow sometime, at which point, we can continue our discussion on the crimes you’ve committed against this office. Your insistence on infiltrating my life and forcing this relationship will be your eventual undoing.”

“Have I ever told you how your kind words comfort my heart, Chief? So much affection,” he teases. “So much adoration. We’re serving up around seven. We’ll wait for you to arrive.”

“Don’t. You’ll be sorely disappointed when eight o’clock arrives and I’m still not there. I intend to be in bed by then, so I sincerely wish you a happy evening with the people who are related to you by blood or law. Those are the poor souls obligated to tolerate your incessant haranguing. Fortunately for me, I lack both ties. Thus, excusing me from family dinner.”

“Mayet…”

“I have plans! Goodnight, Justin.” I pick up my phone, then drop it back into the cradle to end our call. Then I look to a pale-faced Aubree and smile. “He’ll get over it. Now get up and grab your bag. The longer we stay, the more chances people will have to call and annoy me.”

“It’s the happiest time of the year. You’resupposedto want to spend time with people.”

“I’ve spent countless Thanksgivings alone.” I stride to the rack by the door and switch my white coat for the one I wear outside. The second is thin and ratty and not nearly warm enough for a Copeland winter. But it’s mine and I like it, so it’s the one I wear. “I’m a creature of habit, Doctor Emeri. Ienjoyquiet nights. Being out and with people and not getting home till late is draining to me. So if you care about my happiness at all, you’d believe me when I say I’m excited for my plans to be with Archer and no one else.”

She slips through my office door and snatches her purse from beneath her desk. “I can support your introverted endeavors, whilealsoinforming you that other people do things differently.”

“You sure can. But once you’ve informed me, it’s time to stop nagging about it.” I step through my door and let it swing shut behind me, and while Aubree collects her things and logs hercomputer out, I move to the elevator and slap the call button. “If you need a ride to your parents tonight, just take a George Stanley car.”

Stunned, she glances up and grins. “Really?”

“It’s way too cold to be waiting for busses. It would take you an hour on public transport, for what only takes fifteen minutes in a car. Screw that.”

“Thanks!” She snags a key from her desk and slides her finger through the key ring. Then she starts running when the elevator doors open at my back. “I appreciate you allowing this. I know they’re only for work use, but?—”

“I consider you freezing to death at a bus stop a valid reason for taking a car. If I have to come back here tomorrow and process a dozen DBs, I’d rather share the load with you.”

“You say those things—” She steps in after me and taps the G for ground floor, then the P for the parking garage. “But what you actually mean isI love you, Aubree. I value your input in my life. And something bad happening to you would devastate me.”

“Sure.” I hook my bag on the crook of my arm and smile as the doors close and the numbers take us down. “If that’s what you need to hear, write it on a card and I’ll sign it.”

“Grump.” She drops her chin and practically rests it on her chest. But I see her smile. “I love you, too.”

ARCHER

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