Page 196 of Cross & Crown

“Which makes me wonder why you throw scissors half

the time.”

Kelly grinned impishly. “Depends on the punishment.

Sometimes I like to lose.”

Nick narrowed his eyes. “Next time I’m taking vacation

days and we’re never wearing pants.”

“Deal.”

196

“Help me out here,” Nick grumbled as he shrugged out

of his leather coat. Kelly took it and slung it over the railing.

Nick swung around the end of the bridge and edged

his way down the steep bank. The ground was mushy and

oversaturated; Nick’s boots made deep furrows in the mud,

and he reached up to grip the wooden boards of the bridge.

Kelly laid himself out and slipped his arm under the railing,

his hand hanging down so Nick could grab for it if he started

to slip further.

Nick held on to the bridge as he examined the wall of

rocks. Every couple minutes he would bend and wipe away

dirt or pull moss from one of the rocks, his movements

growing jerkier and more frustrated the longer he searched.

Finally he was low enough that the water was lapping at his

boots.

“See anything?” Kelly asked after a few moments.

Nick glared up at him, his eyes flashing. He gave a single

jerk of his head in answer. Kelly heard footsteps on the bridge, then felt them in his chest. He twisted to see JD and Julian

walking back toward them. JD was wet up to his chest.

“You can see the original pilings,” JD called down to Nick.

“You got to get wet, Detective.”

“I don’t get paid enough for this,” Nick griped. He grasped

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