5
Iwake up and instantly miss the twins. After we had sex, we took a shower and they got into bed with me, snuggling until I fell asleep. I feel so safe nestled between both of them. Yawning, I reach out and find my phone on the nightstand to turn off my alarm. I lay in bed for another few minutes, and then get up to get dressed for work.
I fell asleep on wet hair, and it dried all weird. Not that I style my hair for work, but I do make an effort to look neat and put together. I run my brush under water and try to fix the weird part I have going on. Giving up, I dampen my brush again, run it through my hair, and pull it all back in a tight French braid. I don’t understand how some women are good at doing their hair.
After washing my face and brushing my teeth, I put on black pants and a white blouse, slipping my belt through the loops as I go downstairs. The grimoire is out on the counter, with Jac’s notebook on top. I plug in my coffee maker and pick up the notebook, looking down at what he translated.
It’s the section on spirits. He has two pages written out, and I know there’s more.
“Thank you,” I whisper, looking at the basement door. He did this because he knows how much it means to me. Since I lay around in bed, I don’t have time to read the notes before heading into work. I put the grimoire away, double check that the runes that control where the guys turn to stone are safely out of sight, hidden beneath their stone feet, and lock up, taking the notebook with me, drinking my coffee on my drive to work.
“Morning,” I say to the receptionist as I pass by.
“Good morning, Detective,” she says back with a smile. I’m early, like usual, and the office is rather quiet. We get nice nights every now and then. They’re rare and almost weird, but always welcome.
I get to my desk, set my shit down, and open the notebook, eager to read what Jac wrote.
“Bisset,” the police captain says, stepping out of his office. I set the notebook down and look up. “What are you doing here?”
I raise an eyebrow. “Working?”
“You’re supposed to be taking the week off.”
“Why would I do that?”
His eyes close in a slow blink. “I don’t know, maybe because you were tied up and tortured by a serial killer?” Shaking his head, he waves me into his office. I close the notebook and put it in my desk drawer, locking it before I get up and go into the captain’s office.
“You’re one of the best detectives I have,” he starts, looking from me to his computer.
“But?”
“But HR emailed me this morning. You haven’t used your vacation days in two years.”
I push my shoulders back, a little embarrassed. I had no one to go on vacation with, and I have issues with the whole being alone with nothing to do thing.
“I like my job.”
“You’re dedicated, and I admire that. But you need to take a vacation so HR stops breathing down my neck. Take some time off for R and R after what just happened. And then take at least a week of your vacation.”
“A week?”
“At least. HR is all about numbers on this, and you’ve pulled a lot of overtime.”
“Starting today?”
“Yes.” He turns to me, expression warming. “You’re good, Bisset. But even the best cops need to step away for a bit. Clear your head. Let your wound heal.”
Speaking of healing, I wonder if anyone will notice my lack of injuries. The captain saw me after I rescued Gemma from that abandoned building. I’m wearing long sleeves and pants so it’s not as obvious, and makeup could be used to explain why the bruises on my face are gone.
“All right. I’ll go home and, uh, relax.”
“I don’t want to see you back here until Monday.”
* * *
I setthe jar of paint down and look around the master bedroom. Why did I think this was a good idea? Though the dark gold makes me feel a bit like I’m rooming in Gryffindor, it makes the room feel too dark and stuffy. I picked a light gray, which is “one of the hottest colors right now,” according to the guy at the store.
“I’ll do it later,” I say out loud, hoping it’ll keep me accountable. I’m never going to feel like painting this room, and putting it off is only delaying the inevitable. I already spent the money on paint and supplies.
