Page 50 of The Savior

Calhoun paced to the other side of her desk. “Have you checked in with Dr. Casper lately?”

The department shrink?“No.”

He frowned.

“Was I supposed to?”

“I understand there was recently an event for Julia.”

Chelsea’s eyebrows arched. “A bit ago.”

“It’s been a long year,” he said expectantly. When she didn’t respond, he continued, “How are you handling that?”

“Is that why you asked me about Dr. Casper?” They had protocol, and she’d followed it, which was to say, she didn’t do anything. If she’d shot someone, if her partner had been shot, or if she’d been shot, she would have gone to see Dr. Casper, but none of those events had occurred.

When she’d felt the need to discuss Julia, Chelsea turned to Linda and Frank, or a few close friends. And… most recently, Liam.

“It wouldn’t be mandatory,” he suggested vaguely.

“Sir, it’s been more than a year.”

Then Calhoun pinged her with a rapid slew of questions about her clarity and focus, all of which Chelsea answered with unease.

Calhoun paused. She apparently hadn’t said the right words to abate his concern. Though she hadn’t known hewasconcerned.What had Mac said?

Chelsea bit away a tart retort as Calhoun pursed his lips.

“Have you taken time off for yourself?” he finally asked. “A vacation? Time with family?”

“Last year, around the funeral.”

He pursed his lips again as though he had to think over her uncomplicated answer.

“And, honestly, I don’t need a vacation,” Chelsea added.

He hummed. “Maybe you should take the afternoon.”

Stunned, she blinked. “What? Why?”

He propped an elbow on a crossed arm and rested his chin in his hand, stroking it.

“Sir?” Chelsea pressed.

Calhoun turned, giving the office door a quick shove so that it clicked shut, and he stepped back to her desk.

“Have you been drinking today?”

Chelsea reeled. “What? No.”

“I smell alcohol.”

Her eyes bulged, and her mouth gaped. Dumbfounded, she could barely string thoughts together. “No, I haven’t been drinking.”

“Have you been,” Calhoun continued, “drinking more than normal?”

“No,” she said through clenched teeth.

He took a deep, long sniff. “I smell alcohol.”

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