Page 67 of Cold Case Murder Mystery

Brooke nodded.

“Go on back to Zeke’s, Chick. I’ll call you in the morning when they let me out. Promise.”

Brooke let out a long, slow breath. She was going to choose to believe that promise. That one, and one for the future. Of her brother back in her life.Family. The blood kind.

And all the ones she’d built out there.

She exited Royal’s room and Betty was still standing there.

Brooke just wanted to gohome. But so many people had come to help her. She felt like she had to reach out across that effort, because she’d cut it off.

“Thanks for patching him up, Betty.”

“Anytime.”

“So, do I get to see pictures of your little ones or do I have to beg?”

Betty didn’t hesitate. She pulled out her phone. Scrolled through picture after picture of two adorable toddlers and their handsome father doing all sorts of things—playing in the snow, messily eating spaghetti, just lying on the couch.

An odd ache settled in Brooke’s chest. It was lovely and she was so happy for Betty, who was no doubt an exceptional mother.

Every picture was just so homey. All things... well, things Brooke had never had. And now she wanted. She glanced at Zeke, who stood down the hall talking to Granger. They were both serious, but not worried. Not heavy with concern. Likely just going over any last details.

As if Betty could read her thoughts, she nodded toward the two. “You and Zeke again, huh?”

Brooke shouldn’t be making any decisions after such a day. She should get some sleep and just... get her head on straight before she dealt withher and Zeke. “I... I don’t know.”

“Yes, you do.” Betty patted her on the shoulder.

Zeke happened to look over, offered her a smile.

Well, she supposed she did.

Zeke’s house was full of North Star people. It had been late by the time they’d gotten done with questioning, and while it wasn’t five-star accommodations, it was better than some of their old missions. Besides, it was one night. Everyone would be off again in the morning, back to the lives they’d built.

When Zeke finally got bed assignments sorted, he returned to the kitchen to find Brooke doing dishes of all things. With that bandage on her face and dark circles under her eyes. Because it was late, and she’d been through hell.

“Well, I ran out of beds. You go on and take mine. I’ll finish here.”

She set the glass she’d been washing aside then looked at him with an expression he couldn’t quite read. “That’s a terrible pickup line.”

He laughed in spite of himself. “I’m going to sleep on thecouch, Brooke.”

She shook her head, walked over to him and wrapped her arms around him, resting her head on his chest. “No, you’re not.”

He ran a hand over her hair, gave himself a moment to revel in the fact that she was in his arms. “Sweetheart, you need to rest.”

“So do you.”

He let out a long breath. Yeah, it had been aday. He moved his arm around her waist, started leading her toward his bedroom. Everything they had to talk about could wait. There was no rush. Not really. They could sleep in his bed, keep their hands to themselves, and deal with everything tomorrow.

Except so much could have happened today. So muchbad, so much loss. If they hadn’t had help. If they hadn’t had each other.

So maybe wasting another second didn’t make any sense.

He stopped, turned her to face him in the dim light of his living room. In a house he’d started renovating, convincing himself it was a just-for-the-hell-of-it project.

But surely it had always been for her.

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