Page 95 of Golden Eagle

“That’s Nik’s line of thinking. Now we just have to find them.”

“Perhaps we could be of some assistance on that front.” He hid it well, but she could pick up on the thread of eagerness in his voice.

Guilt spiked again. “Trust me,” she said with real regret, “help would be really appreciated right now…”

“Ah.” He made a sound of comprehension. “I understand. Talk with your pack, first. I sense Nikita is very territorial.”

She snorted.

“Talk with them,” he said, “and call me back if they’re amenable to help. Much and I have a considerable amount of experience in this sort of thing.”

“I’m sure you do.” She really wanted to dislike him, but she thought that was mostly out of loyalty to Nik and the rest of the pack. Nik’s clannishness had rubbed off on all of them. But Will was not only charming, but sincere. Reassuring. There was a steadiness about him that none of the other immortals she knew possessed. He was centuries old, and that was a large part of it; but he also seemed totally at peace with his place in the world. With his pack. Their small group, by contrast, was a hot freaking mess. “Thanks, Will.”

“You’re quite welcome.”

She tucked her phone away, and sipped at her coffee, feeling slightly less rattled. It wasn’t until now that she realized she’d been drowning; Will was a lifeline, maybe one the others would refuse to reach for, but, still. It was good to know there was help out there, waiting to be called on.

Until he goes home, an oh-so-helpful voice chimed in at the back of her mind, and then it was worry all over again.

The garbage truck had long since gone, and the coroner’s van had arrived, techs in white jumpsuits going around to the rear doors, when Harvey walked up, wool pea coat buttoned up over her scrubs, scrolling furiously through something on her phone.

She glanced up just before she reached the door, spotted Trina, and startled hard, halting and gasping. She frowned. “Jesus Christ, you scared me to death.”

Trina lifted the bag. “I brought muffins and coffee.”

Harvey stared at her a long moment, still frowning. Then sighed and said, “You on the rocks with Lanny?”

“No,” Trina said, too-defensively.

“Uh-huh. Come on. I can take five minutes to eat.”

They went in to Harvey’s office, where a low couch made up with a rumpled blanket and pillow gave evidence to the nights she didn’t make it home from work. She flipped on lights and woke up her computer, and let Trina slide her a coffee and a double chocolate chip muffin on a napkin. She tore into it right away, with the air of someone used to scarfing down food in the hurried moments between autopsies.

“I wouldn’t say ‘rocks,’” Trina said, picking at her own muffin. “But things aren’t exactly good.”

“Not to be unsupportive, but I’ve got to point out that I’m not exactly brimming with helpful relationship advice. Kinda married to the dead, here.”

“No, I know.” Trina gave up and set her muffin down on the desk. “And I’m not trying to dump my stupid romance problems on you. On anyone. I mean – look at what’s going on. What kind of idiot would be worried aboutromanceright now?”

Harvey tilted her head. “You’re allowed to worry about it. It’s a huge part of your life. Or so other people tell me.” She flashed a tight, self-deprecating grin.

“Yeah. Yeah, I…” She pushed both hands back through her hair and knotted them together at the back of her neck. Groaned. “I don’t know if I’m cut out for this.”

“A relationship?”

“Being the only human in my pack.” When Harvey’s brows went up, she said, “Yeah, saying that aloud to regular people sounds super weird. I just…how is this my life?” She shook her head. “Ignore me. I’m feeling sorry for myself.”

“You know,” Harvey said after a moment. “I hear, just in general, that’s it’s normal to have doubts. Growing pains. I’d imagine growing with Lanny would be more painful than with most.”

Trina sent her an appreciative smile. “I think I thought, after Virginia, that things would go back to normal. Except for Lanny being a vampire. But I don’t actually have any idea what normal is. And I think being a vampire invites a kind of trouble most people never deal with.”

Harvey brushed the crumbs from her fingers and dropped her chin in a cupped hand, gaze going thoughtful. “Have you considered: it’s not your job to keep anybody out of trouble?”

Trina sent her a wry look, and tapped her nails against the badge on her belt.

“Yeah, but the badge comes off, and then what are you? Everybody’s mom?”

“Wow. Harsh.”

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