Page 12 of Devoted

"The antidote," I mutter to myself. "Fuck."

"What's that?" Clark asks. "Anantidote?"

"I can't say for sure. Those last few days—" I shook my head. "Everything is a terrible blur. All I can tell you is that Freestone was masterful at covering his tracks. And as for the people who worked for him, they all admired him. I'm sure he made certain they were taken care of. If not out of generosity, then out of self-preservation. I'm sure he sent them off with whatever they needed to fade nicely and comfortably intosociety."

"I guess when you're a genius you think of everything. Which reminds me—" Another pause. "I told Maddox he needs to keep out of anything to do with this case. He's way too close to it. I know he wants nothing more than to be tossed into an empty room with the guy, just the two of them and their fists. That's why he's been instructed to stay clear of it. And, of course, that goes for youtoo."

"Me? But you just told me I'm going to have to be debriefed on my assignment as soon as I'mbetter."

"Yes that, but after you're approved to go back to work. Then you can get back to clearing the streets of drug pushers and methcooks."

There's enough lightness in my head with everything he just said, I decide to get up and grab a banana. "Would you like something toeat?"

"Nope, I'm good. Had one of Mario's spaghetti and garlic bread plates forlunch."

"Hmm, that sounds good. Haven't had Mario's in ages." I sit back down with my now boring banana. "Just to get back to something you said a second ago. What do you mean by approved to go back to work? Do you mean when this whole detox thing is off thetable?"

"Yes that, of course." He rubs his hand on the faded fabric of the couch as if he's suddenly interested inupholstery.

"Captain?" Iprod.

His round shoulders lift and fall. "Certainly you know that you'll have to go through therapy after the debriefing. Dr. Hoffman is highly respected. She works with a lot of law enforcement professionals, people who have gone through something traumatic and lifechanging."

I stop peeling the banana and toss it on the coffeetable.

"Aren't you going to eatthat?"

"Not feeling it right now," I say. "Guess my mouth is still watering for Mario's garlicbread."

"I'll bring you some next time I come outhere."

"It's not really the garlic bread, Captain. It's the topic. I don't want to go through therapy. The debriefing will be plenty. Getting back to work will the best form oftherapy."

His phone buzzes and he glances at it. An eye roll follows. "I swear they can't even change a roll of toilet paper down at that precinct if I'm not there." He drops his phone into his coat pocket. "There isn't any point in arguing or laying out a defense on this, Angie. It's department policy. Besides, I don't think most of this has hit you yet. You've been dealing with the physical pain, but the real stuff, the bad stuff, that comeslater."

"Gosh, at least you didn't come here to push me into that heavy depression." I add my sarcastic wink in case he didn't hear it in mytone.

He stands up and it's enough to shift the small couch a bit. "Don't worry about any of it right now. Just work on getting better. And eat that damn banana. Even if I did send you back on the streets, you couldn't take down an angry butterfly rightnow."

I follow him to the door. "First of all, I wouldn't hurt a butterfly, angry or not, and you'd be surprised what these stick figure limbs can do when given theopportunity."

His booming laugh rolls around the room. He leans forward and kisses my forehead. "It's good to have you back, kiddo. Just wasn't the same around the precinct without our little spitfire. Don't forget the deadbolt when I walk out ofhere."

"Jeez, are you and Maddox comparingnotes?"

"Huh?" heasks.

"Nothing. Drive carefully and thank you again for the flowers." I take his hand before he leaves. "And forcaring."

8

Maddox

Iheadto the outside table with my burger. Silvana is sitting, staring at his phone, his food basicallyuntouched.

I climb over the stone bench. "Must be something interesting. You are usually halfway through your burger before I get to thetable."

He grins from ear to ear as he turns his phone toward me. A sweet brunette with blue eyes is smiling back at me. "Her name isShelia."

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