“I’m glad you came. You deserved to see this. Shaw’s corruption indirectly enabled Eugene to operate for years. You’re one of his victims too.”
“I know. Thank you for letting me be here.”
Holloway studied her. “Carson told me you left. That you’re taking time to think about the relationship.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’m not going to tell you what to do. That’s between you and Carson. But I want you toknow—I’ve put him on mandatory leave for two weeks. Told him to go home. Figure out what he wants. Who he wants to be.” Holloway’s voice was gentle. “He loves you. I’ve never seen him like this over anyone. But he’s also a man who doesn’t know how to not be a detective. Doesn’t know how to turn off the need to save everyone.”
“I know. That’s the problem.”
“Give him these two weeks. Let him sit with the consequences of his choices. Let him miss you. Let him figure out if he’s capable of change.” Holloway paused. “And if he can’t change—if he comes back from this leave still unable to find balance—then you’ll have your answer.”
“Two weeks,” she said, mulling it over.
“Two weeks. And then you decide. Either way, I’ll respect your choice. And so will he.”
***
Carson saw Nora leave before he could talk to her.
He wanted to run after her. Wanted to beg her to come home. Wanted to promise he’d change, he’d be better, he’d choose her.
But he’d made those promises before. And broken them. More words wouldn’t fix this.
He needed to show her. Prove it through actions, not promises.
But first, he needed to figure out if he actually could change. Or if this was just who he was—adetective who sacrificed everything else for the job.
“Go home,” Finn said, appearing at his side. “Captain said you’re on leave. So leave. Get out of here.”
“I have paperwork—”
“I’ll handle it. You’re done for today. For two weeks, actually.” Finn gripped his shoulder. “Go home. Rest. Think. Figure out what you want your life to look like.”
Carson drove home in a daze. The apartment was exactly as he’d left it. Empty. Quiet. Full of Nora’s absence.
He stood in the middle of the living room, looking at the case files still spread across the dining table. Looking at the couch where she’d told him she was leaving. Looking at the bedroom door, knowing her side of the closet was emptier now.
For nineteen years, Carson had filled the emptiness of his life with work. With cases. With the pursuit of justice. It had been enough. It had been everything.
But now—now it felt hollow. Meaningless without someone to share it with.
Without Nora.
His phone buzzed. A text from Captain Holloway:Nora was at the press conference. She left before you could talk to her. I told her you’re on leave for two weeks. Told her to give you that time to figure things out. Don’t waste it.
Carson sank onto the couch and, for the first time since he was seventeen years old, let himself cry.
He cried for Lily, the sister he’d never found. For his father, who’d died too young. For all the years he’d spent running from grief by drowning in work.
And he cried for Nora. For what they’d had. For what he’d lost by being unable to change.
When the tears finally stopped, Carson felt emptied out. Exhausted. But somehow clearer.
He couldn’t keep doing this. Couldn’t keep sacrificing everything for the job. Couldn’t keep being the detective who saved everyone except himself.
Something had to change. He had to change.
