Page 23 of Mai Tais and Murder

Mel reached across the table, covering Helen’s hand with her own. “Hey,” she said softly. “We don’t have to talk about this now. We can just have a nice drink and forget about it.”

Helen managed a small smile. “Can we? With everything that’s happened?”

“We can try.” Mel squeezed her hand. “Tell me about your call with Jenny earlier. How are her grad school applications going?”

The attempt at normalcy was touching, but Helen could see the wheels still turning behind Mel’s eyes. Still, she appreciated the effort. They talked about Jenny’s plans, about Diane’s kids, about anything except their neighbor’s disappearance. As they finished their drinks, a cool breeze picked up off the ocean, making Helen shiver slightly. Mel immediately shrugged off her light jacket and draped it over Helen’s shoulders. The gesture, so automatic and caring, made Helen’s heart ache with love for this woman who could be both tough detective and tender partner.

“Should we go down to the surf and walk on the beach?” Mel suggested as they left the restaurant. “The moon’s almost full.”

Helen nodded, slipping her arm through Mel’s as they made their way down to the shore. The sand was still warm from the day’s sun, and the moonlight created a silver path across the water. They walked in comfortable silence for a while, each lost in their own thoughts. “I’m scared, Mel,” Helen finally admitted, her voice barely audible above the waves. “Not just about what happened to James, but about what might happen if we keep investigating.”

Mel stopped walking, turning to face her. In the moonlight, her expression was serious. “We can stop,” she said. “Right now. No one would blame us.”

Helen reached up to touch Mel’s cheek. “I know I keep asking this, but could you really do that? Knowing what we saw?”

“If you asked me to, yes,” Mel said without hesitation. “You matter more to me than any investigation.”

The simple declaration brought tears to Helen’s eyes. “And that’s exactly why we have to keep going,” she said. “Because you’re the kind of person who would give up finding the truth to protect someone you love. But I also know you care about justice more than anyone I’ve ever known.”

Mel pulled her close, and Helen buried her face in her partner’s shoulder, breathing in her familiar scent. They stood like that for a long moment, holding each other as the waves lapped at the shore behind them. “We should head back,” Mel finally said, pressing a kiss to Helen’s temple. “Get some rest before tomorrow morning.” As they returned to their apartment, Helen felt a strange mix of fear and determination. Whatever they found in that drawer tomorrow, whatever dangers lay ahead, they would face them together. And somehow, that made even the scariest possibilities seem manageable.

* * *

Back in their apartment,Mel stood at the sliding glass door, watching the moonlight play across the courtyard. The glare of the desk lamp still lit Abramson’s apartment, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that they were missing something important. “You’re brooding,” Helen said softly behind her. Mel turned to find her partner had changed into her favorite silk nightgown. The pale blue one that she liked so much.

“Just thinking,” Mel replied, though they both knew it was more than that. She watched as Helen moved to the small kitchen to pour them each a glass of water. Even such a simple action carried grace that never failed to catch Mel’s attention.

“Share them with me?” Helen asked, bringing the glasses over and settling onto their small couch. She patted the space beside her.

Mel joined her, accepting the cool glass. “I keep going over everything we know,” she admitted. “Brigette’s behavior, the pale man, Felicity... it’s like having all the pieces of a puzzle but not being able to see the picture they make.”

Helen’s hand found hers their fingers intertwining naturally. “Maybe we’re trying too hard to force them together,” she suggested. “Sometimes patterns emerge more clearly when you step back.”

Mel smiled, feeling some of her tension ease at Helen’s touch. “When did you get so wise about detective work?”

“I’ve had a good teacher,” Helen replied, her eyes twinkling. “Though I suspect I still have a lot to learn about proper investigation techniques.”

“You’re doing just fine,” Mel said, bringing their joined hands to her lips. “Better than fine, actually. I don’t think I could do this without you.” The moment stretched between them, filled with unspoken understanding. Helen’s presence beside her was both grounding and electrifying, a contradiction that had fascinated Mel since they first met.

“You know what I love about you?” Helen asked, setting her water aside.

“What’s that?”

“How you can be so fierce about justice, so determined to solve mysteries, and yet so gentle with the people you care about.” Helen’s free hand came up to trace Mel’s jawline. “It’s quite remarkable, really.”

Mel felt warmth spread through her chest that had nothing to do with the tropical night. “I’m not always gentle,” she said.

“No,” Helen agreed with a soft laugh. “But you are with me. Even when you’re frustrated about a case or worried about what we might find tomorrow.”

The mention of tomorrow’s plans sent a pull of anxiety through Mel’s stomach, but Helen’s touch anchored her to the present moment. She turned her head slightly to press a kiss to Helen’s palm. “I meant what I said on the beach,” Mel said quietly. “If you want to stop investigating, we can. Your safety matters more to me than solving this mystery.”

Helen shifted closer, her knee brushing against Mel’s thigh. “And I meant what I said too. We’re in this together.” Her voice dropped lower. “Though perhaps we could take a break from thinking about it for a little while?”

The suggestion in Helen’s tone made Mel’s breath catch. Even after six months together, Helen could still make her heart race.

“A break sounds good,” Mel managed, her voice rougher than usual. She reached up to tuck a strand of hair behind Helen’s ear, letting her fingers trail down her neck. “What did you have in mind?”

Helen’s smile was both tender and mischievous. “Oh, I’m sure we can think of something,” she murmured, leaning in to capture Mel’s lips in a gentle kiss. After a beat, the kiss deepened naturally, filled with both familiar comfort and electric anticipation. When they finally parted, Helen’s eyes were dark with desire. “Perhaps we should move this somewhere more comfortable?” she suggested, glancing toward their bedroom.

---