Page 9 of Blade and Arrow Origins

It has to be something big. Maybe he’s finally decided to quit his job. Or maybe he’s relocating. Could he be moving to Virginia, and that’s why he wants to talk? I’d be happy to have him stay with me until he gets settled, or we could find a bigger apartment… Maybe we could even convince Nora to move here instead of staying at her mom’s—

“Looks like you’re finding fans again.”

Spinning around, I spot Cole leaning in the doorway, a shit-eating grin on his face. “Just like always,” he chuckles. “Everywhere you go, you’ve got women hitting on you.”

“It’s not like that.” Swinging my bag over my shoulder, I cross the room and give Cole a quick hug. Lifting my chin at him, I say, “Good to see you, man. But I thought you were coming in at six?”

“I’ve been having crazy good luck at airports lately. Second time I’ve been able to get on an earlier flight. And if that gives me more time to watch women throwing themselves at you…” He smirks. “It’s good entertainment.”

“She wasn’t throwing herself at me,” I retort. At his raised eyebrows, I amend, “Well. Not much. She knows I’m not interested in dating.”

He gives me a skeptical look. “You’re not?”

“Not like that.” My smile sobers. “I’m not looking for anything serious. Not now. I might go out sometimes, but that’s it. It’s just… not a good time.”

Cole nods, his expression sliding into something more serious. Concern darkens his gaze. “Are you—” He stops. “You know, this isn’t the time. But I’m dying for a beer. Some food, too. You think we could stop on the way to your place?”

“Sure. If you don’t mind me taking a quick shower first.”

“‘Course not. I’ve got a few phone calls to make. I can wait in the lobby if that works.”

“Sounds good.” I gesture for Cole to go ahead of me, and we head into the hallway. “Give me five and I’ll be right out.”

On the way to the restaurant, I press Cole for clues about his big secret, but he’s not giving anything up.

“Come on,” I wheedle, feeling like a kid before Christmas begging my parents to tell me what’s under the tree. “You’re here. Why not tell me now?”

“Because I want to show you something,” he replies. “And it’s a little hard for you to look while you’re driving.”

“You could justtellme. And we could look at whatever this thing is once we get to the restaurant.”

“Or you could be patient,” Cole retorts, smirking.

He’s lucky I’m driving or I’d show him what I think of his patience crap. “I am patient. Just not when my friend has been dropping hints for weeks and I know damn well you talked to Leo about it already.”

“As soon as we get to the restaurant and I get some food,” Cole promises. “Then I’ll tell you everything.”

I hold him to his word. As soon as the server leaves after dropping off our wings, I pin Cole with a glare. “Now. Before you start eating and claim you can’t show me whatever this is on your phone because your hands are all messy.”

“I’m going to show you.” Cole unlocks his phone and taps the screen a few times, then slides it across the table to me. “This is what I went to New York to see.”

As I look at the real estate listing for an office building in Sleepy Hollow, a small town I’ve heard of but never visited, my brow creases in confusion. “This place looks pretty rough, Cole. Why are you interested in it? Are you starting a business?”

“Well.” He drags out the word. “Iamlooking into starting a business, actually.”

I’ve known Cole isn’t happy with his job at the police department, but starting a business… “What kind?”

He leans forward, resting his arms on the table. With a solemn expression, he asks, “You know how I had that domestic violence case a couple of months ago, right?”

“Yeah. I know I said it before, but I’m really sorry about it.”

Frowning, his voice dips. “Me too.” There’s a long pause before he continues. “I was angry. Frustrated. It didn’t seem right. This woman needed help and we just—”

My jaw clenches as I think about it. “It’s fucked up.”

“It is. And I got thinking about all the ways it could have been different. If Dana had protection, better security at her apartment, surveillance… Her ex wouldn’t have been able to get to her. And if he tried, he’d be caught. Charged with violating the restraining order. Possibly breaking and entering, if it came to it. He’d go to jail and she’d still be alive.”

I can see the pain in Cole’s eyes, the guilt, the desperate wish that somehow he could go back and fix things.

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