“We should.”

  Greg led the way. When he opened the door, he stopped. “Colin? Colin Ryner?”

  “Greg Kane. Long time no see. What are you doing here?”

  “Ericka Stone is a detective on my team.” He would have said more but it didn’t currently seem appropriate.

  “Explains why she’s so good.”

  Greg smiled then grew serious. “How’s your daughter?”

  “She’s getting better.”

  “How’s Megan?”

  His features grew sad. “She passed away last year from cancer.”

  “Oh, Colin, I’m sorry, man.”

  Ericka squeezed his hand.

  “Yeah, it’s just Roxy and myself and the occasional nanny now. Apparently, I’m going to be hunting another.”

  “Look I hate to do this, but—”

  “But you need to ask me some questions.”

  “Yeah, we do.”

  Ericka started. “Roxy mentioned Uncle Jerry took her.”

  Greg narrowed his eyes. “Megan’s brother? That’s who I’ve got in custody.”

  “Look, Kane, it’s not what you think.”

  “I sure hope not. Whatever it is, it’s causing me and mine a lot of trouble, so you better start talking.”

  Colin explained a family squabble that got out of hand. Greg wasn’t sure if he was buying it or not.

  “So, you’re saying Jerry got out of prison, wanted to visit his niece, you said no, so he tried to kidnap her?”

  “Yeah, that’s what I’m saying.”

  “You know I’m going to check all this out.”

  “I do.”

  Greg talked a little longer before leading Ericka out of the room and into the hallway. One good thing about the story being true was it meant they were going home faster.

  “What do you think?” Greg asked as they stepped out of the room back into the hallway.

  “I think when life gives you lemons you make lemonade.”

  “What about when life sends you a curveball you swing the bat?”

  “Oh, that’s corny and too close to home right now.”

  “You think so?”

  “Oh, I know so.”

  He wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Now, I need some lemonade.”

  “I think I saw some in the cafeteria.”

  “Then let’s go get some, darling. We’ve got all the time in the world to figure this out.”

  He knew the words weren’t true, but they felt good to say.

  He never wanted to lose the feeling that they had forever together. The perfect mate only came along once in a lifetime, and he’d finally found his. He planned to never let go.

  Excerpt: Unresolved, Ericka Stone Case #012

  “I’d like to offer the award of valor to Detective Ericka Stone for her swift actions in rescuing my daughter, Roxy Ryner. Come up on the stage, Detective Stone.”

  Lights blinded Ericka’s vision, and clapping filled her hearing as she made her way around a sea of full tables to the stage. Colin Ryner placed the medal around her neck instead of pinning it in place. Normally, Director Manis would have awarded the medal, but Colin had flown to New York and insisted he do the placement.

  Ericka didn’t step to the podium but walked back into the crowded room and took a seat. Maggie and Tristan, Quinn and Fanny, all smiled back at her. Greg’s seat was empty. He’d just been called to the front to accept his own award for apprehending Jerry Hardson.

  The man was now back in prison for trying to take his niece. Ericka had tried often to put the case behind her, but something didn’t feel right. She just couldn’t figure it out.

  Greg appeared beside her at the table. “Still worried?”

  “More than ever.”

  Everyone was on their feet clapping. Greg stood and forced her to do a half bow with him.

  When the applause and speeches ended, Ericka and Greg moved across the dance floor. Halfway through, Tito cut in. Greg let him, which was the real surprise.

  “Good to see you.”

  “You too. Are you glad to be back?”

  Tito dipped her, twirled her, then pulled her close. “So, I can do that, absolutely.” Then he laughed.

  She would have punched his arm in different company. “No, seriously. How was the Wild West?”

  “Wild.”

  “That’s all you got to say?”

  “It is. We brought back a case that may need all our skills to complete.”

  “I guess it’s good we made it back then.”

  “Yup. It’s good. Although I heard Greg put in a request to transfer to Clifton permanently.”

  “What?” Her heart skipped a beat.

  “You didn’t know?”

  No, she hadn’t known. There was only one reason he would do that without telling her.

  Or maybe two reasons.

  His mother or Nikki Post.

  Neither sat well.

  Not well at all.

 

 

  Felicia Rogers, Curveball, Ericka Stone Case #011

 

 

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