I reached under the table and laid my hand over Skip's, giving him a little squeeze. "Don't buy trouble, baby. Believe it or not, paperwork snafus do happen."
I'd been in the service before joining the police force and then a police officer and SWAT member long enough to know they happened a lot more than people thought. It was a fact of life when more than one person was involved in handling the paperwork.
"We just have to wait until we have more information, and then we'll decide where to go from there. There is nothing we can do until then, so let's eat and then get some rest. Morning will be here soon enough."
Skip started for a moment before sighing and giving me a nod. "I can do that."
"I know you want all the answers now. I do, too, but we're not going to know anything until Joe gets here in the morning and the district attorney's office opens up."
"No, I get that. I just..."
"The waiting sucks," Lany said. "It always does."
Skip lifted his head and glanced across the table at him. "You've done this before?"
We all laughed.
"Tomorrow, we'll show you how we do things when one of us is in trouble," I said. "It's an interesting process. It starts with Lany choosing which room he wants to redecorate."
"I actually think I want to redecorate the dining room this time," Lany said as he looked around the room. "We've done Sal's office a couple of times and the living room. It's time to do the dining room."
"I'll have Brant get some of the guys to move the dining table out in the morning," Sal said.
"No, leave it," Lany said. "You'll need it. Besides, it's time for us to get a bigger table. We have too many people either dropping by or staying over. We need more space."
"Are you sure,caro?"
"I'm sure." Lany smiled at Sal before leaning into him. "Just stack the pictures and stuff in one of the spare rooms. I'll start looking for a bigger table tomorrow."
Skip was squinting when he glanced at me. "What am I missing?"
I chuckled at Skip's obvious confusion. "Years ago, Lany came up with idea of a storyboard where they could put all of their clues and link them together when new information came in. They started using the idea when they lived at the penthouse. Each time, Lany redecorates, paints the walls, gets a new rug, stuff like that."
"Oh." Skip didn't sound any less confused.
"It might not make a lot of sense now, but you'll see it work tomorrow, and then it will make sense."
"If you say so."
I chuckled again and then gestured to Skip's plate. "Eat up and then we'll go get some rest."
The thought of spending the night with Skip wrapped up in my arms was both exciting and terrifying. I couldn't remember the last time I'd spent an entire night with someone.
Well, yes, I could. It had been Julia, and it had been the night before we learned what a back-stabbing bitch she was. I hadn't been in love with her, but I'd liked her. If anything, my feelings for the doc were stronger, and that made it even scarier.
When Skip's eyes started to droop, I knew he was done. I stood up, grabbed our dishes, and then carried them into the kitchen. I quickly rinsed them and set them in the dish drainer. I didn't dare load the dishwasher. Mrs. Martinez would skin me alive. She had a certain way she liked things done in her kitchen, and no one was stupid enough to challenge her.
She'd stop cooking for them, and that was the worst punishment I could think of.
I walked back into the dining room and over to Skip, holding my hand out to him. "Come on, Doc. Let's get you into bed."
"You're just trying to get me naked," Skip said as he took my hand and stood.
I smiled. "I am not opposed to the idea."
Skip laughed and leaned into me. "I'm not opposed to the idea either."
Good to know.
