“Thank you,” Nora said.
“For what?”
“For keeping your word. For closing the laptop. For choosing us over the case.” She moved closer on the couch. “Six months ago, you would have disappeared into that file for hours.”
“Six months ago, I didn’t understand what I had. What I stood to lose.” He pulled her into his lap. “Now I do. And nothing—no case, no investigation, no obsession—is worth losing you.”
“You’re not going to lose me,” she promised, running her fingers through his hair.
“Good. Because I’m not done with you yet. In fact—” He paused, his heart suddenly racing. “I’m planning to keep you around for a very long time.”
“How long are we talking?”
“Forever, if you’ll have me.”
Nora’s breath caught. “Carson—”
“I’m not proposing. Not yet. I know we agreed to take things slow. But I want you to know, that’swhere this is heading. That’s what I want. A future with you. Marriage. Everything.”
“I want that too.” She cupped his face. “And you’re right—not yet. But soon. When we’re both ready.”
“Soon,” he agreed.
They kissed, and the case file was forgotten for the rest of the evening. Because this—being together, being present, choosing each other—was what mattered. What would always matter.
***
The next morning, Carson brought the Eugene file to Captain Holloway’s office.
“What am I looking at?” Holloway asked, scanning the evidence log.
“More cases where Shaw destroyed evidence related to Eugene Whitmore. At least four other women reported him over five years. All reports went nowhere. All evidence disappeared.”
Captain’s expression darkened. “So Shaw was protecting Eugene specifically. Not just running a general operation.”
“Looks that way. Which means Eugene’s stalking pattern goes back at least eight years. Maybe longer. And Shaw enabled all of it.”
“This changes things. Eugene’s trial is next month. The DA needs to know about this. Needs to know Eugene had a longer history than we originally documented.” He picked up his phone. “I’m calling the DA now.” Carson turned to leave, but Captain’s voice stopped him. “Carson? Good catch, son. If we’d missed this, Eugene might have gotten a lighter sentence. You might have saved us from a prosecutorial mistake.”
“Just doing my job.”
“You’re doing it well. And within normal working hours, I notice. Left at five-thirty yesterday?”
“I did. Nora made dinner.”
“Good. That’s good.” Captain smiled. “You’ve come a long way in six months.”
“I’ve had help. Therapy. Nora. You.”
“You’ve done the work yourself. That’s what matters.” He stood. “Keep it up. And keep an eye out for more cases Shaw might have tampered with. If Eugene’s pattern goes back eight years, there might be even more victims we don’t know about.”
“I will.”
Carson left the office feeling satisfied. He’d found important information. Information that would help ensure Eugene got the sentence he deserved. Information that would help bring justice to multiple victims.
But he’d done it during work hours. While maintaining boundaries. While still having a life outside the job.
That was growth. Real, sustainable growth.
