“Not yet.”
Two small words.
Two huge meanings.
Jude didn’t know which one would break him.
“What does that—”He didn’t get to finish.
The SUV doors opened. DCI Patel stepped out immaculate and sharp as ever, rain beading on her coat. Naomi unfolded from the passenger side, hands shoved deep in her pockets, her posture less formal but no less serious.
Jude swallowed hard.
Whatever came next, it wasn’t going to be easy.
He opened the car door and stepped out into the wet gravel, the air cold against his face.
“Mr Ellison,” Patel greeted, her heels clicking with brisk purpose. “Welcome home.”
Jude forced a nod, flowers trembling in his grip.
Home.
Right.
Except nothing felt like home right now. Not the cottage, not this driveway, and not his own damn skin.
Because the case was over.
And he had no idea if Warren stayed when the fight was over.
“What are you doing here?”
“Could we have a word?” Patel inclined her head towards the house. “Inside.”
Jude stepped up to the house, unlocked the door, and let Patel and Naomi in. He peered behind him to Warren in the car. He hadn’t got out. But he smiled. Nodded.
So he stepped inside. “Tea? Coffee?” he asked automatically, then winced. “Although I’ve no idea if I even have milk left.”
Naomi handed him a carrier bag. “You do now.”
Inside: milk, bread, tea, butter. Even a box of Heroes tucked beneath. Jude huffed a small laugh despite himself. “Thanks.”
He took the bag through to the kitchen. Let the quiet ritual of boiling the kettle, dropping teabags into mugs, and shovingthe flowers into a vase, calm his nerves. Every clink of spoon on porcelain bought him a little more time before whatever news Patel carried detonated.
When he brought the mugs through, he lowered himself into the armchair opposite, shoulders rigid. Patel and Naomi sat together on the sofa.
Patel set her untouched tea on the table. “I imagine the last few hours have felt isolating. Radio silence.”
Jude let out a breath. “You could say that.”
“There are reasons.” Patel tilted her neck, feigning sympathy she probably thought she owed. “But before anything else—the taskforce, SEROCU, everyone on Operation Ember—we owe you thanks.”
Jude frowned. “I don’t understand.”
Naomi’s mouth curved. “We got him. Radley. Well,yougot him.”
Jude blinked. “How?”
