“The same way we tell every parent the horrible news. The same way I told your father the horrible news when we thought you died in that car crash.” Griffin slid a palm over her shoulder blade. “With all the care and dignity we carry within ourselves.”
“Ariella Triton is going to become a cold case, isn’t she?” Bel released the words into the world as if they were cursed, meeting the sheriff’s gaze before he pulled her into the safety of his embrace.
“Yes,” he whispered, completing the curse. “Yes, I think she will.”
TWO MONTHS LATER
“No, no, no!”Deputy Yates yelled across the sand. “Just because he’s your boyfriend doesn’t mean you automatically get him on your team.”
“I think that’s exactly what that means,” Bel shouted back.
“Not so fast, Emerson,” Griffin chimed in. “Adding Mr. Stone to your team will give you an unfair advantage.”
“What?” Bel shifted the volleyball to her hip. “Afraid you can’t handle a tall opponent?”
“Tall?” Yates scoffed. “Yeah, sure, that’s it.” He gave the bathing-suit-clad Eamon an exaggerated once-over, not that he needed to. The sheen of sweat reflecting the sunlight highlightedevery curved muscle of his powerful frame, making it painfully obvious that he was the opponent to beat.
“Well, I’m still team captain, and it’s my turn to pick,” Bel said.
“Yes, a cop pick,” Griffin argued. “This is the Police Department Fourth of July party. No civilians until all officers have been assigned.”
“Why, so you can steal him?”
“How about he decides for himself?” Eamon surged forward to grab Bel’s waist, wrestling the volleyball from her before jogging to the opposite side of the net, Cerberus chasing hard on his heels. “Let’s make it interesting and put money down on the game. Me against the entire police department.”
“Now that’s a bet I can get behind.” Yates smirked, the other deputies chiming in with their agreement.
“I wouldn’t take that bet. It’s not the sure win you think it is,” Griffin whispered so that only Bel heard.
“Come on, it’ll be fun.” Eamon spiked the ball, pretending his hearing hadn’t picked up the sheriff’s muttered sentiments, and Bel almost wiped out trying to catch it before her pitbull did.
“Stop teasing the dog with this.” She ducked under the net to return it to her boyfriend. “He’ll ruin it if he catches it.”
“So let him pop it.” Eamon caught her waist and tugged her mostly bare body against his. “I brought extras just for that reason.” He launched the volleyball across the sand, sending it flying down the lake’s beach for Cerberus to chase before kissing Bel until her coworkers whistled suggestively.
“All right, all right, you guys can have him.” She turned pink as she returned to her team. “He’ll probably throw the game so I win anyway.”
“He wouldn’t dare.” Griffin thumped Eamon’s back in triumph. “You would hate winning by default.”
“You’re right.” Bel aimed her pointer and index fingers at her eyes before flipping them on Eamon. “Don’t insult me by letting me win. When I beat you, I want everyone to know it’s because I’m that good.”
“You are that good, Detective.” Eamon winked as the officers took their positions. “Too bad it’s not enough to beat me.”
“Sorry, Emerson!” Griffin shouted. “But you are going down.”
“Maybe not.” Olivia appeared beside her, and Bel’s heart stumbled at her partner’s voluntary closeness. It had been over six months since their falling out over Eamon and Ewan’s truths, but the hostility brewing between them seemed to have defrosted with the winter snows. Or maybe it was just the atmosphere of Independence Day at the lake. With all the deaths of the past year, and with the Ariella Triton case growing cold, Griffin decided that the Bajka Police Department needed an afternoon of pure fun. The rookies had drawn the short straw and were manning the station, but the rest of the exhausted officers had gathered on the packed lake’s shore to barbecue, swim, play overly competitive games, and chase Cerberus away from the burgers.
“Bel, as team captain, you can pick one more player.” Olivia nodded to the sand’s outskirts, where a mountain of a rugged man stood watching with Violet.
“Ewan?” Bel gawked at her partner. They’d graduated from enemies to work acquaintances, but she’d yet to forgive her ex-boyfriend for his lies. By all accounts, she hated him.
“Don’t read into it,” Olivia whispered. “I just want to win, and we all know Eamon will murder us.”
“He’s not stupid,” Bel said. “He’ll make sure his team wins, but he won’t draw attention to himself… well, more than he has being six foot five and carved out of pure muscle.”
“Get a room.” Olivia rolled her eyes. “Still, I want a fighting chance. The bear against… whatever he is.”
Bel raised her eyebrows.
