Darius flipped the omelets. “That’s the first smile I’ve seen on your face since yesterday.”
Sasha decided to take a risk. “I don’t want us to say goodbye.”
“Who said anything about saying goodbye?”
They ate their breakfast, talking about personal things and not the case—where he’d learned to cook, his condo, how Denver compared to LA.
“When my colleagues in Denver complain about the traffic, I just laugh. Sometimes it took me two hours to drive eight miles.”
Sasha gaped at him. “How could you get anything done?”
His gaze met hers over the top of his coffee mug, a grin on his handsome face. “With a lot of cussing—and, if it’s really urgent, helicopters.”
While he cleaned up, she took a quick shower and worked on her statement, running it by Darius to make sure she didn’t give away anything she shouldn’t.
He nodded as he read it. “You can cut out all the tech details. The feds and I will handle that. But, yeah, this looks good otherwise.”
While he broke down the gear in her office and packed it into his truck, she put a week’s worth of toiletries and clothes into her carry-on and then dressed in something nice and put on a little makeup. Then she canceled the week’s appointments with Esri and texted Megs, Nicole, her parents, and her manager to tell them about the press conference and that she would be going away for a week’s rest.
Darius drove first to the Inn, where he packed the rest of his stuff, giving Sasha a chance to check out the locally famous Matchless Suite.
She glanced around, impressed. “This is beautiful. So elegant.”
“You should try the croissants.”
They went downstairs, where Darius checked out, thanking Bob and Kendra for their hospitality. “I will happily recommend this place.”
Bob shook his hand. “We appreciate that. Thanks for helping Sasha.”
“My pleasure.”
When they went outside, Sasha spotted Rose peering out her front window. “Here comes Rose.”
Rose hurried out the door, down her front steps, and across the street. “You’re leaving town already, Detective Silva? Hi, Sasha.”
Darius put his bag and other gear in the back of the vehicle. “My work on this case is done.”
Rose glanced over at Sasha. “You’re going with him?”
Sasha knew Rose was fishing for gossip. “I’m giving a statement at a press conference in Denver. He’s driving me.”
“Ah.” Seemingly at a loss for words, Rose stood there for a moment.
“He’s less than half your age, Rose!” Bob bellowed from the front door.
Rose glowered at Bob, raised her chin. “Nice to have met you, detective.”
Darius looked like he was fighting not to laugh. “Take care, Rose.”
Then they headed to the sheriff’s substation so that Darius could gather all the case files and other materials from his office there.
Sasha glanced around, took in the meticulous notes on the whiteboard, the neatly stacked files. “This is soyou.”
Darius was about to reply when Deputy Marcs appeared in the doorway.
“So, you’re leaving us and heading back to Denver.”
“There’s a press conference at one. Aren’t you going to be there?”
