“You look terrible. Did you sleep at all?”
“No.”
“Is Nora okay? With everything that happened yesterday?”
“She left.” The words came out flat. Emotionless. Because if Carson let himself feel it, he’d fall apart. “She’s staying with her friend Lila. Says she needs space to think about whether we can work.”
Finn’s expression shifted to genuine concern. “Shit, man. I’m sorry.”
“My fault. I kept choosing the job. Kept promising to change and then not changing.” Carson stared at his computer screen without seeing it. “She finally had enough.”
“Can you fix it?”
“I don’t know. I want to. But I don’t know if I can actually be what she needs.”
“Then you need to figure that out. Because losing someone like Nora—” Finn shook his head. “Don’t let the job cost you everything, Carson. It’s not worth it.”
Before Carson could respond, Captain Holloway appeared. “My office. Now.”
Carson followed, bracing himself for another lecture about boundaries and balance and everything he’d failed to do.
But the captain surprised him.
“Close the door. Sit.”
Carson obeyed.
“I’m taking you off active duty,” he said. “Effective immediately. Two weeks mandatory leave. No exceptions.”
“What? Why? The Shaw case is solved—”
“Because you’re burned out. Because you haven’t had a real break in years. Because you just lost your girlfriend and you’re clearly not in a state to be working.” Captain leaned forward. “This isn’t a punishment. It’s me forcing you to do what you should have done months ago—take care of yourself.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not. You look like hell. You haven’t slept. And you’re about to stand in front of cameras and reporters representing this department. I need you rested and focused. Not whatever this is.” He gestured at Carson. “So you’re taking two weeks.Starting after the press conference today. Use it to figure out what you want. To decide if the job is worth losing everything else.”
“I can’t just not work for two weeks.”
“Yes, you can. The department will survive without you. Cases will get solved. Justice will be served. And maybe—maybe—you’ll realize the world doesn’t end just because you’re not here.” Captain’s voice gentled. “You’re a great detective, Carson. One of the best I’ve ever worked with. But you’re also a man who deserves a life outside this job. Deserves happiness. Deserves love. And you’re never going to have those things if you keep sacrificing everything for the badge.”
Carson stared at the floor and nodded slowly. “Nora said basically the same thing. Before she left.”
“Smart woman.” Captain stood. “Press conference is in an hour. Get cleaned up. Look presentable. And after that, you’re going home. Taking two weeks. And figuring out what really matters to you.”
***
Nora decided to go to the press conference.
Not for Carson. For herself. For closure on the Eugene case. For the satisfaction of knowing that Shaw—who’d enabled so much harm—was finally facing consequences.
Lila drove her to the station. “You want me to come in with you?”
“No. I need to do this alone.” Nora took a breath. “But thank you. For letting me stay. For not judging me.”
“Always. That’s what best friends are for.” Lila squeezed her hand. “Call me when it’s over. We’ll get ice cream and trash talk men.”
Nora smiled. “Sounds perfect.”
