Page 27 of Island Homecoming

Gabby cackled. “Send pictures. It’s not real until I see that.”

“Not happening.”

“Damn.” Gabby feigned serious disappointment. “Any trouble on the special assignment?”

Jess’s hand touched her gun. “No. It’s all good.”

“Would I believe you if you said that to my face?”

“I’m confident you’d politely accept it as truth,” Jess said. She could picture Gabby shaking her head. “How are things in the Keys? And the Cove?”

“We’re all happy and content here,” Gabby reported. “Things are relatively quiet lately. Haven’t had much more than the usual trouble around the resort.”

“That’s good.” Jess tried not to be jealous. Things were relatively quiet here as well—when it came to the crime rate. Inside, on a personal level, she felt more scattered and unsettled. All thanks to Nash and his efforts to rekindle their friendship.

“Do you miss us yet?”

“Yeah, I actually do,” Jess admitted.

“So come back,” Gabby said. As if it would be that easy. “Want me to find a replacement for you on the warehouse detail?”

“No.”

“Ah.”

Jess didn’t care for all the sympathy and understanding in that one sound. “Gabby. I made a commitment.”

“And you’re nothing if not responsible. We love that about you,” she added. “How are you feeling about police work in general?”

Her hand slid over the rough texture of the nylon holster. “I’m still not convinced it’s the right thing for me anymore.”

“Well, take your time. You have plenty of options,” Gabby reminded her. “Police work isn’t the only career route for a person with your experience.”

Jess almost laughed. She’d gone to college for a criminal justice degree and then straight into the police academy. Being a cop was literally the primary end-goal of her choices.

Regardless, Gabby’s pep-talk lifted her mood. “Thank you,” Jess said. “You always know just what I need to hear.”

“So tell me something I need to hear,” Gabby said. “Do hot hunky guys run around without shirts on your island like they do here in the Keys?”

“In droves,” Jess deadpanned. “You can’t look anywhere without steaming up your eyeballs.”

“No wonder you’re not ready to come back.” Gabby laughed.

They talked for another few minutes and Jess’s heart felt lighter as she caught up on all the recent news of her friends in Key West. “I should get going.” She didn’t want to irritate anyone on the team by being slow to return from her breaks.

“Call me again when you can talk freely about your new boyfriend. Billings, right? He definitely causes a stir, in a shirt or not.”

“What?” Jess sputtered. Gabby had serious talent when it came to accessing video surveillance and she considered the legalities of tapping into those systems more of a suggestion than a rule, especially when helping friends.

But Jess didn’t need help. And she didn’t need to pass by every security camera wondering if her friend was spying on her. “I don’t even want to know what you think you’re talking about.” Laughing it off, Jess swiftly ended the call.

Turning back to the warehouse, she nearly plowed into Sergeant Burrell. He was monitoring the cameras tonight. According to Frasier, Burrell had joined the island police force three years ago during the mayor’s recent recruiting effort. He’d come from Milwaukee or Chicago. Maybe Detroit. Jess couldn’t recall right now.

“Whoops!” She stepped back. “Pardon me.”

“No worries.” His smile was friendly enough. “Everything okay?”

“Oh yeah.” Jess shoved held up her phone and then tucked it away in a side pocket of her pants. “I was catching up with a friend back—” She nearly said home. But that didn’t feel quite right either. Because of Nash or her parents, or the stroll through the town square? Probably a combination of all those factors and countless more. “Back in Key West.”

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