Page 64 of Lost Kingdom

“It’s called rich-adjacent,” Minka taunts. “You,” she clarifies, “not him. He’s rich rich. You’re now rich adjacent. And the fact you wouldn’t shut the hell up about that earlier this year means I’m gonna rub it in your face till you want to explode. You can totally ask him for half a million and he wouldn’t bat an eye.”

“Soyoulend her the money.” I yank her office door open and step out to my desk to snatch up my cell. “You’re rich adjacent too, Mayet. Ask Archer for the cash. He’ll give it to you in exchange for an extra hour in bed and all attention on him.” I pick up the desk phone in my free hand, since Itechnicallyhave to work, and hit the broadcast button, so my voice rings out at every desk. “Rounds are commencing. Chief Mayet’s office, please.”

Then I drop the phone back in its cradle and unlock my cell instead. I don’t bother tapping a message out for the man who probably doesn’t even read texts—I’m not sure I’ve ever seen him do it in the past—so I hit dial instead, the idea of a rogue gang family cruising Copeland City and shooting people fresh in my mind.

I bring the device to my ear and wait for only a single ring for him to answer, his voice gruff and serious. “You’re locked away inside the George Stanley, safe and sound, so I’m not gonna ask if you’re okay. Instead, what’s wrong?”

“Are you stalking me? How do you know I haven’t left for a job?”

“I stalk you. A hundred percent, zero hesitation, seven days a week. What’s wrong?”

“I just heard about the Nathan Booth thing down at the bay. Someone shot a handful of his men last night, and you didn’t mention anything.”

He goes silent for a beat. Confused, perhaps. Or thinking up an adequate response. “What was there for me to mention? I didn’t know about it.”

“Booth is on the Malone radar. That’s no secret.”

“Felix’s radar. Not mine. I’m not Felix and I’m not interested in joining the family business. Why are you worried about the Booth situation?”

“Because I’m worried about the Malone situation!” Medical examiners slowly file past my desk and into Minka’s office. “I know Booth hurt Jada. Jada is Fletch’s ex-wife, and Fletch is Archer’s cop best friend. That means the entire Malone family has a vested interest in whatever Booth is doing. You may not be an active participant, but I expect you’re kept abreast of things happening in this city.”

“Aubree—”

“Did you know about the shooting or not?”

“I found out about twenty minutes ago. Felix called me, he said Archer called him. Archer’s not running the case, but news travels fast and he knows to come to the family to talk first. Why is this bothering you so much?”

“I already said! Things that bother your family, bother me. It had nothing to do with Felix?”

“No. But he caught wind that Booth was the primary target. Booth wasn’t at the bay, which means the hit was a failure. Whoever came here with the guns has probably already left. Maybe they’ll regroup. Maybe they won’t. Hard to know when we don’t even know who they are.”

“And where is Booth now?”

“Woman! I don’t know. I try to stay as far from all this as I can. Snooping around and inserting myself is the last thing I’m gonna do. If the bodies are yours now, I suggest you pass them on. Keep your hands clean now that you’re mine.”

“I can’t pass them on.” I turn on my heels and watch as techs fill Minka’s office. But they don’t start their meeting without me. Minka taps at her phone—perhaps she’s having a conversation not completely different to the one I’m having—and Raquel sips her coffee. “It’s a Monday morning and my slab is clear, which means I’ll be assigned at least one of the DBs. But I’m staying in house as far as I’m aware. Are you working today?”

“Yeah. And I’ll meet with a real estate agent too. Since we’re in the market for a house.”

“Oh, for god’s sake! We’re not buying a house.”

He chuckles, low on his breath and taunting in the way I remember that breath on my thighs last night.

“I’m gonna buy us a house. You wanna be up on the hill near Minka? I know you two are obsessed with each other, so…”

“Minka doesn’t live on the hill. She lives next door to the bar. And if you’re so set on buying real estate today, Doctor Raquel mentioned needing a backer to buy her apartment. Since you have so much cash to toss around, might I suggest you start there?”

“I have no interest in buying real estate for other women. Just you.”

“I’m hanging up. Don’t buy anything. I’ll see you at the bar after work.”

“I’ll make you a meal and show you the shortlist of properties I’ve selected. Do you want a big party or a small, intimate thing with just friends?”

“Like…” Confusion settles over my brain like fog on a cold Copeland morning. “A housewarming party for the house we’re not buying?”

“For the wedding, silly. Big and loud, or small and just us? Or we can do the boat like Archer and Minka, if you want.”

“I’ll marry you when you tell me what’s in the Cordoza envelope.”

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