Page 52 of Sinful Deception

“We saw her in her new bed,” she explains, oh so innocently. “It’s so shiny and fancy, Uncle Arch. The man said we couldn’t open it, ‘cause she was already ready for the party. But he said I could leave a drawing on it if I wanted to.”

“That sounds awesome.” I bring my focus back to the TV. “Did he give you some paper to draw?”

She shakes her head and pulls forward so she can twist and look back up at me. “Even better. He gave me a marker, and I got to drawonthe shiny bed. Like, on the outside! It was easy to draw, ‘cause the wood was smooth. And the man said it’s totally allowed. Because usually you’re not allowed to draw on the furniture and stuff. But he said this time it was okay, because MommyandDaddy both said it was allowed.”

“Amazing.” I wrap her up extra close when she turns back to the television. “I think that’s really special that you got to do that. Not everyone gets to, so you must be really lucky, huh?”

“Yep.Andit’s snowing.” She points toward the window and the ugly sledging downpour outside. “I think snowing means it’s good, like Mommy is saying she likes my drawing and stuff. ‘Cause she made it snow to let me know.” She turns to search my eyes. “Do you think it’ll snow tomorrow at the party?”

Fuck, I hope not.

“Because I think that would be good. Like it’s her goodbye and stuff, and snowing would mean she’s there in Heaven.”

“You’re probably exactly right.” I smooth her hair down and press a kiss to her temple. “I think it’ll probably snow, so you know she’s saying goodbye. And if it doesn’t snow, that might mean she didn’t want to get your hair messy and frizzy, but then she’ll make it snow later to let you know everything is okay.”

She considers for a moment, thinking out my words and nodding as she ponders them. Then she clicks her tongue and turns back to the TV. “Ifinkso too. Is Aunty Minka at work?”

“She is.” I glance across when Fletch heads through the hall and emerges. He looks normal. Fed. Reasonably rested. He wears a ball cap spun backwards, because I guess he probably didn’t take it off since their walk for ice-cream in the snow. Jeans. A shirt. Boots I know he’s fond of, because more often than we’d prefer, work has us running in the streets to track some asshole down. His eyes are clear-ish. Still a little red, but better than they were yesterday. And yesterday was better than the day before.

But when I don’t stop staring, he rolls his eyes and starts toward the kitchen.

“You’re not very subtle with your wellness checks, Malone.” He snags a soda from the fridge, then a second when he realizes he should probably offer one to his guest. “It’s getting kinda old.”

“And yet,” I accept the can when he carries it over. “I won’t stop.” I look him up and down again as he comes around the couch and sits on the coffee table. “You look good.”

“Feeling decent.” He cracks the seal on his soda, but his broad form blocks Mia’s view of the television, so she climbs off my lap and scoots to the other end of the couch. “Delicious caught a case?”

“No.” But I guess we’re going for normalcy, so I open my drink and settle back for comfort. “But one of her team had an incident during night shift. HIV positive D.B. Doctor got cut by accident, so now they’re all dealing with the fallout of that.”

He grits his teeth that way people do when they sympathize whilealsoglad it’s not them. “That sucks.”

“Yeah. And Minka worries, so while she said she’d only be at the office for an hour or two, we’re going on five, and she’s still not done.”

“Is it gonna be an issue for…” He frowns. “Ya know.”

“Tomorrow? No. I imagine she’s dealing with a backlog of work that’s built up while she’s been away. Usually, she’d let her night shift manager pick up the slack, but the night shift manager needs support after last night, so it’s all hands in. She’ll finish up today and be home for dinner, and tomorrow, she’ll give her entire focus to what needs doing.”

“She doesn’t have to, though.” Fidgeting, he turns the can in his palms. “Life goes on, and work keeps people busy. She doesn’t have to not be at the office tomorrow when they so clearly need?—”

“She’ll be with us tomorrow,” I cut in. “She’s managing her time and knows there’s not much else for her to do right now. So she’s using the day productively. Tomorrow, her focus will be here, and her office will run just fine without her. But I’m here now.” I drop my legs open and feign relaxation. “What needs to be done? What can I help with?”

“My fucking tie.” He shoves up so fast, even Mia’s concentration on the TV breaks and her eyes swing to her dad. But he circles the couch and storms into the hall, only to emergea moment later with a black tie twisted and knotted in every direction except the one he needs. “I got my suit and shoes and all that stuff sorted. And Mia’s outfit is done.”

“Fifi took me shopping!” Thrilled, Mia abandons Bluey and jumps to her knees to explain. “We went out, Uncle Arch! And we had so much fun.”

“I bet you did.” I take the tie before Fletch can make the knot worse, and start work unraveling the silky material. “You missed Fifi, huh? And I know she missed you. And now you got to go shopping, which means everything is all better again.”

“We had dinner together, Uncle Arch. We snuck in and had noodles at a place down there.” She points at the floor, though I imagine she means down the street. “And I practiced using chopsticks. I wasn’t very good,” she giggles. “But Fifi was, and she taught me. I had meat in my noodles, and she doesn’t like meat, remember? But she wasn’t mad I got meat in mine.”

“Very kind of her.” I work one knot undone, only to discover another. “I don’t think she’s the type to make someone else eat something different just because she is.”

“Nope! And then she got me ice-cream.” She leans forward to whisper, “It was fried! So it was hot but cold.Both! At the same time. It was so yummy, I want another right now.” She pats her belly and licks her lips. “I asked Daddy to ask Fifi to come get me so we could go to the hot-cold ice-cream store. But he said she’s probably working, and I have to wait.”

“I mean…” Another knot down. More to go. “He’s probably right. She has to work during the day, because that’s how grown-ups can pay for their ice-cream. But I get the feeling she’ll take tomorrow off so she can spend time with you. Don’t you think?”

“If that scoundrel mayor lets her,” she grumbles seriously. “He’s mean, huh? He never lets her do anything she wants.”

I look at Fletch and bite my lips closed before I laugh. Because that scoundrel mayor has an enemy now, and I’m not sure he’s ready for the smoke Mia Fletcher will blow.

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