“It’ll never be over as far as I’m concerned,” she gritted out.
I squeezed her hand and made sure she was looking at me when I said, “It’s over.Let it be over.”I needed it to be over.
She glared back at me and then slowly the anger slipped away.She was still stiff, but at least she wasn’t practically steaming at the head anymore.I didn’t need to worry about her going on the warpath through the police station.
She wouldn’t even make it past the officer who was standing behind the desk still watching us.He looked like he’d had to body slam a person or two in his lifetime and Janice would be nothing to him.
“Fine.But this conversation isn’t over.What kind of bullshit station is this?”
“One that barely has enough resources as it is for how fast the tri-towns are growing?”
“They still haven’t opened another station?”
I shook my head.“Whispers of talk, but heck, we still only have one high school too.”
Janice blew out air as she reached up and undid her ponytail before putting it back up, making sure all the escaped hair was captured once more.In an hour, the smaller strands would be loose again.
“Ladies, ready to come in?”Officer Brelly was standing in the doorway across from us.He was an older man with dark eyes and grey in his receding hairline.He was a kind man who genuinely seemed to care about everyone around him.“Good to see you again, Cadence.”
We followed him further into the building, walking down a hallway with multiple doors; some looked like conference rooms, others were offices, storage spaces.We came to an open area filled with desks only big enough to fit a computer and chair.We went to a medium-sized conference room.There was a glass wall that looked into the room with a long window on the other side with a view of the parking lot where the police cars were parked.
“We’ll be in here,” Officer Brelly said.“I’ll be right back, so get comfortable.”
Janice glanced around before finally sitting down.She dug in her pocket and passed me some bills.“Do you mind getting me a water?”
“Sure.”I grabbed it and headed back out.The vending machines were off to the right, near another hallway.
“Cadence?”someone called while I was getting a drink.
Davies approached as I straightened.He was a tall man, intimidating with his broad shoulders and dangerous, dark gaze.As a military veteran, he was honed to be dangerous and had proved it when he rescued me after I had been abducted.His main job as far as I knew was cooking at a restaurant he opened, but he also did freelance consulting work for the police when he was needed.
“What happened there?”I pointed at the white bandage that popped against his dark skin.He was wearing a black sweater, with the sleeves pushed up to his elbows, and it seemed he had some other scratches on his other arm too, though he didn’t have them covered.
“Nothing you need to worry about.What are you doing here?”he asked.“Is everything okay?”
“Yeah.”I pointed toward the conference room.“Keeping Janice company.”
“Oh, right.She came in now that Rick McCormack has been caught.”
I nodded.“Surprised me yesterday.Are you joining the meeting?”
He shook his head.“My part in that is all done.I’m here for something else.I just wrapped it up.”He tilted his head to the side.“Do you have a minute to talk?”
I glanced over at Janice.She was talking with Officer Brelly and I was only here for moral support.I lifted the water.“Let me deliver this to her first.”
Janice was thankful when I gave her the drink and smiled when I mentioned that I was going to talk to Davies.Then Officer Brelly pulled her back into their conversation.
Davies led the way to an empty lounge area and politely waited for me to sit before he took one of the plastic chairs.
“How are you doing?”he asked.
“In what capacity are you asking?”
His lip curled briefly before dropping.“In whichever capacity you need me to be asking.Either way, I want to know.A real answer.”
Oh.I pursed my lips, trying to forge an answer that was acceptable for him.Davies would never accept me shrugging it off and saying I was fine.He always wanted a real answer, never caring about the small talk.
“I’m seeing a therapist.She helps.”
