“To Homicide?”

  “Yup.”

  Grace’s stomach twisted. Could she work Homicide? She loved working Missing Persons, and working with all the troubled teens who ran away. It was her favorite part of her job. Pressing her lips tightly together, Grace gave him a short nod. “What if I don’t want to transfer?”

  “Then you don’t, but I think you’ve got the skills to be in Homicide, and I’d really like to work another case with you. You’re smart, Halling. Real smart.”

  Grace flushed. “Uh…thanks?”

  “Don’t mention it.” Link opened the door and got out. Grace followed suit. He said nothing else as they walked into the station and down the hall before going different directions to their respective units. All in all, her day had been far more productive than she’d anticipated.

  Alone

  Amya stomped around the kitchen, her feet heavy on the tiles. Grace watched her carefully from her spot at the kitchen table where she finished her breakfast. They hadn’t really spoken since their argument at the office the other day, but with the weekend coming up and Santa day tomorrow, they had to figure out some balance. The kids were starting to notice.

  The air around them had become so tense it was impossible for Grace to ignore it any longer. She had to do something, but she also knew that what Amya wanted her to do was impossible. She wouldn’t work for IAB, even though she’d been promised a position there if she ever wanted to transfer. Her entire life she’d been the pariah, the outcast, the awkward one who didn’t quite fit in, and it wasn’t until she joined the academy that she felt she belonged someplace. Grace wasn’t willing to give that up.

  “Amya,” Grace started, her voice calm and quiet. She hoped this wouldn’t turn into a yelling match like the office incident. Kit and Peter didn’t need to hear about it when they were already worried about what was going on between the two of them.

  Amya shot a glare over her shoulder before she went back to emptying the dishwasher Grace had forgotten to do the night. Tension built in Grace’s chest. She rose from the table and stepped up to the dishwasher, stilling Amya’s hands and taking over.

  “Amya, we need to talk.”

  “I have nothing to say to you.”

  “This is ridiculous.” Grace set the plate on the counter a little too hard.

  Amya cocked her head at Grace, the glare still very much alive and present.

  “Yesterday you were apologizing for the argument and today you’re mad again.”

  “I was still mad yesterday.”

  Grace sighed. Instead of continuing with the dishes, she tried to figure a way to break into this conversation. Deciding to just go for it, Grace grabbed Amya’s hand and squeezed her fingers. “You know I’m not doing anything with Paige, right? There is no funny business going on. I’m not dating her. I’m not cheating on you.”

  Amya stilled. Her gaze flicked over Grace’s shoulders, and Grace had to pray neither Kit nor Peter had walked in without her sensing it. When Amya’s crystalline eyes were locked on hers again, Grace held all the tension in her chest.

  “You need to transfer departments.”

  “I can’t right now.”

  “I don’t think this is going to be negotiable.” Amya’s shoulders were stiff, and she pulled her hand from Grace’s grasp. “You might be able to live like this, but I can’t. And I won’t. I won’t be second to your job.”

  Grace faltered. “You’re not second to my job.”

  Amya rolled her eyes, the glare back in place. “I am. We are. And I won’t stand for it anymore, Grace. I am more important than your job.”

  “You are. You absolutely are.”

  “Then why doesn’t it feel like it?”

  “I don’t fucking know!” Grace threw her hands up in the air.

  “Keep your voice down,” Amya hissed.

  Shame rattled through Grace. She’d wanted to keep this from Kit and Peter and there she was yelling and screaming. Clenching her jaw, Grace eyed Amya. “I’m in the middle of two cases, Amya. I can’t just up and quit.”

  “I’m not asking you to.”

  “Why do we keep going around in these damn circles?” So much for keeping her cool. Grace had already lost that bet with herself. “And why do you keep thinking you’re second to everything? You’re not. I swear to you, Amya. I would never do anything to put you second.”

  Amya stiffened, her glare morphing into something else, something unreadable. Grace stayed put, staring and waiting. Silence—Amya would laugh right now if the situation wasn’t so ridiculous because Grace was finally using it to her advantage against the woman who taught it to her.

  “I understand this job comes with odd hours, Grace. That’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about the fact that I don’t see you anymore. The kids don’t see you. Kit is graduating this year, and she needs us right now.”

  “Of course she does,” Grace countered. “This has nothing to do with you.”

  Amya’s lips parted in surprise. She shook her head. “This isn’t about me.”

  “Bullshit!” Grace’s voice boomed through the kitchen. “It’s always been about you, about us. Why the hell are you going back on that now?”

  Sighing, Amya stepped away from the dishwasher and folded her hands in front of her. “Who is it, Grace?”

  “Who is what?”

  “Is it going to be Paige or me?”

  “That’s not even a question and you know it.” Grace’s brow furrowed, confused again as to why they were on this train of thought.

  “Do I?” Amya raised a single eyebrow in Grace’s direction. “When is enough going to be enough?”

  Grace wanted to answer, wanted to have a good come back, but no words left her lips.

  “That’s nice, Grace. Real nice.” Amya slammed the dishwasher door shut and stalked away.

  Grace stood, stunned into silence. Slowly, she turned and opened the dishwasher, emptying one piece at a time like she was supposed to do the night before. Her entire appetite was gone. She couldn’t believe what Amya had accused her of. Did she really think she was second to Grace’s job? To Paige?

  As soon as she was done, Grace gathered up her breakfast and cleaned those dishes. She didn’t need Amya mad about something else. Grabbing her bag, she double-checked she had everything she needed in it. With her jacket on and her bag on her shoulder, Grace left the house without another word to Amya. They’d have to talk again, but hopefully it wouldn’t be as explosive the next time.

  The entire drive to the station, Grace’s stomach churned, the coffee adding to the acidity and making her stomach hurt. When she got to her desk, she dropped into the chair with the weight of the world on her shoulders. She wasn’t sure she’d be able to make it the entire day without talking to Amya and remedying what she’d fucked up.

  And there was no doubt about it. Grace was the one who had fucked up. It was always her. Amya was perfect compared to her. Dragging her files out for her two cases, Grace put baby Andrew’s to the side. She focused on her lawyer, a case she figured she might be able to solve over the weekend if she had the time to dig a bit deeper.

  Leon was her first priority of the day. She wanted to find out where he was. She ran his cards again, to find out if he’d used them even though she was pretty sure he hadn’t. While the reports were running, Grace pulled up the retreat center’s information. It was too early in the morning to call, but she searched through it to glean as much information as possible.

  It seemed to be the complete opposite of where Leon might want to go, but that might be why he was there. Grace rubbed her thumb over her lip as she stared at her computer screen. Relaxation, meditation, therapy—it all seemed very froufrou. Not anything she’d want to attend, ever.

  The retreat center was on the edge of Johnson County, on the far south side of it and as far away from Grace’s county as possible. It was going to be a pain to have to drive down there, but she would if she needed to. She’d hoped a simple phone call would be enough to at least get a definitive location on Leon before she made the trek.

  Blake would helpful no matter what, but Grace was also looking forward to spending some time with her friend again. They hadn’t seen each other in person since the past summer when Blake had come up for a barbecue at the house.

  Grace waited impatiently for the time to be little better. Leon’s financials came back, and sure enough, he hasn’t used any of his cards or his accounts, so there was nothing new there. Deciding not to wait any more, Grace picked up the phone on her desk and dialed the retreat center.

  It rang four times before someone answered. “Deep Breathings Retreat Center, this is Cindy.”

  “I’m Detective Grace Halling with the Sheriff’s Department. I was calling to see if you have a guest there by the name of Leon Gross.”

  “We cannot give out personal information on our guests.” Cindy’s voice was saccharine, and it grated on Grace’s nerves.

  Grace curled her hand into a fist, her nails digging into the flesh. “Ma’am, with all respect, I am with the Sheriff’s Department. I need to know if Leon Gross is there since we are looking for him in connection to one of our cases.”

  “We cannot give out personal information on our guests.”

  Groaning, Grace rolled her eyes. If this was going to be the canned line she got with every question she asked, it was going to be a long and frustrating phone conversation. “Cindy, I’m not looking to cause issues or even arrest Leon. He is a person of interest in one of my cases, and I need to know if he is there, nothing more.”

  “With all due respect, Detective, we cannot give out personal information on our guests.”

  Grace held back the curse she wanted to shout into the receiver. This was obnoxious. “Can you tell me if he is a guest there?”

  “I cannot confirm if anyone is a guest here. It is part of our policy to withhold information on anyone who may or may not be here to respect their privacy.”

  Grace narrowed her eyes at her computer. This was going nowhere fast. Nothing would go wrong if it was confirmed Leon was or wasn’t there, but the fact these people thought they could withhold such information might impede another investigation if there ever was one.

  “Look, Cindy, I just need to know if he is there or not.” Grace’s tact was certainly lacking, probably left over from her argument with Amya that seemed to be never ending lately. Her patience had vanished and her skill for precise wording was gone.

  “Ma’am, I can’t help you.” The line went dead.

  Grace stared at her phone in awe. It was rare anyone ever hung up on her, especially in her official capacity, but now she wanted more than ever to drive down to Johnson County and take Blake with her to see what the hell was up with that. Unfortunately, it was going to have to wait until Monday because she was stuck in town for the weekend. Her favorite day of the year was the next day, and she’d planned to make it perfect even if she and Amya were arguing. Kit and Peter had agreed to volunteer for Santa day, and it was going to be their first big family to-do.

  ###

  All day, Grace had spent on the phone doing interviews and going out with Link. When she got back to the station, she was ready to collapse. Her feet hurt, her body ached, and her mind was still stuck on the never-ending argument between her and Amya. Not to mention, they were no closer to finding baby Andrew than they had been the day prior.

  Every person they’d interviewed had been helpful but not full of useful information. She’d gotten a few more names to add to her list and crossed off even more. They still had more people they needed to find before she could feel as though they’d fully done their job, but that could wait until Monday.

  Dropping her down jacket onto the back of her chair, Grace sat down heavily and turned on her computer. She wanted to write up her report of the day and fill out her log before she headed home for the weekend and Santa day. She needed the time with the family. Amya was right, she had spent way too much time at the station lately, and maybe a sabbatical from the case and work would do her mind well and she’d be able to catch a break in Andrew’s case.

  She got an email from Link and smiled as she opened it up. He was always so prompt. She read it over, responded in kind, and then started on her notes. She’d type them up, exchange with Link and then fill out her reports fully. She was halfway through her own notes when Paige’s hand on her shoulder shocked her. Jumping a little, Grace turned around and stared up at Delwin.

  “Got a minute?” Paige asked.

  “I was finishing up my notes.”

  “Come on.” Paige didn’t give her an option as she headed for her office.

  Holding in her groan, Grace followed her inside. Paige shut the door, and Grace managed to hold back her shudder. “What’s up?”

  “I could ask you the same.” Paige sat on the edge of her desk, arms crossed, and faced Grace. “You’ve been in a mood all day.”

  Grace glanced at the clock on the far wall. “But the day is about over, so it doesn’t matter. I got the job done. I just need to finish up my notes, and I’ll be out of your hair.”

  Paige shook her head. “Not how it works in here, Halling.”

  Eyeing Paige, Grace tried to find a way to get out of the conversation. She didn’t want to be there, and she didn’t want to be having this conversation, not with anyone but Amya. Staunchly, she kept her mouth shut and decided to wait Paige out.

  “What’s going on today?”

  “I went out with Link and we did some interviews. I’d like to bump up my trip to Johnson County to Sunday if that’s all right, so I can do some interviews there and maybe find my missing lawyer.”

  Paige’s head moved side to side. Grace’s stomach dropped. Paige would never make this easy, would she? “That’s not what I meant.”

  Grace shrugged. “I’m close to solving the case for Leon Gross. I couldn’t get confirmation via phone that he’s at Deep Breathings Retreat Center, but the cagey attitude of Cindy makes me think he is. They would just deny him being there if he wasn’t there rather than trying to protect his information.”

  Paige’s green eyes locked on Grace’s. “I meant at home.”

  Sighing, Grace shoved her hands into her pockets. “Nothing is going on at home, other than I’m not there and I’d rather be there for dinner tonight instead of here.”

  “We have to talk about that in a minute.”

  Grace swallowed hard. The rock in the pit of her stomach doubled in size. “What do you mean?”

  “Tell me what’s going on at home.”

  “No.”

  “Halling.” The warning tone in Paige’s voice was there, but Grace ignored it.

  “No. Are you saying I have to stay late tonight?”

  Paige issued a sigh. “First, home. Then we’ll talk about tonight.”

  Grace’s heart raced.

  “You know you can talk to me, Grace.” Paige’s voice softened.

  Sure, Grace could talk to her, but it would come back to bite her in the ass just like it did every time, add in that Grace just didn’t want to talk to her about it. She wanted to keep this as professional as possible as much as she can—that was always what she wanted.

  “I know,” Grace replied. “About my case, if I can go to Johnson County on Sunday, then I can—”

  Paige shook her head. “You can’t go Sunday. You can go Monday.”

  “All right. Fine.” Grace crossed her arms and stared at the floor. “What did you need to tell me about tonight?”

  “I need you to work overtime on this case. Not just tonight, but tomorrow.”

  “I can’t work tomorrow.”

  “It’s not an option.”

  Grace’s lips parted. “No, I can’t work tomorrow. Paige, I volunteered at the mall tomorrow, to work the Santa arrival and photos. I can’t work tomorrow.”

  “It’s not an option.” Paige raised an eyebrow at Grace. “If you don’t solve this case by Monday, the FBI is going to take over it. It’s been too long without any progress.”

  “Too long?” Grace’s voice rose. She rubbed a hand over her forehead. This better not have to do anything with the phone call she’d made to Morgan the day before. Pacing back and forth in front of the door. “What did they say?”

  “They said they’re going to take over the case if you don’t bring someone in by Monday.”

  “Who said it?” Grace stopped short, waiting for Morgan’s name to be dropped.

  “The FBI.”

  “Who in the FBI?”

  “I don’t know, Grace. The orders came down from above me. I don’t know specifics. Just get the case solved.

  Grace’s heart raced. “No, tell me who!”

  “I don’t know, and you need to calm down, Halling. Get ahold of yourself. If you’re having issues at home, you need to find a way to deal with them, because they’re affecting your job. It’s got to stop.”

  Clenching her jaw, Grace glared. “Amya and I had a fight, all right. It’s fine, we’re fine, we’ll figure it out, but it is not affecting my job.”

  “It is,” Paige fired back.

  “It’s not.” Grace put her foot down, firmly. “I can’t work tomorrow, Paige. I’m serious. I’ve had this scheduled for a year now.”

  Paige shook her head. “Like I said before, this is not an option. You will be at work tomorrow or you will receive a disciplinary action.”

  Grace held her breath tightly in her chest. She didn’t want that to happen, and Paige would know it was a way to get her to come in. Saying nothing, Grace turned toward the door and wrenched it open to leave.

  “Halling, you need to finish your reports for tonight, and you need to stay at least three hours of overtime, preferably more until you have a solid lead on this case.”

  Tossing a glare over her shoulder, Grace slammed the door shut as she stomped toward her desk. She glared at anyone who dared to look at her. Speaking to no one, she sent Link an email to tell him she’d be working overtime and the weekend if he wanted to do any more interviews during that time.