“You think Junior could’ve sent the package to Olivo?” Londyn asked.
“He was alive at the time it was delivered. Who knows, whatever’s in the box could’ve been the thing that got him killed. I hope there are prints on the package too, but I’m guessing whoever sent it would’ve worn gloves.”
“Did you tell the LT that you were going to have Sierra print it?”
“No,” he answered. “Depending on what we find inside will depend on who I have do it. If the item makes me think we need to move fast, then I’ll have her process it. If not, we’ll drop it at the state lab.”
“You’ll go into a long queue at the lab. Would be good to avoid that if possible.”
“If we can prove Olivo ordered a hit on Junior, I’ll take the slow boat for sure so we don’t bring the evidence into question.”
“Sometimes slow’s not a bad thing.” Her tone had darkened.
He glanced at her. “Sounds like you’re speaking from experience.”
“The breakup I mentioned. I should’ve taken it slower with him. Then, I would’ve known a whole lot more about him before becoming so invested.”
“Not the guy you thought he was, huh?”
“Not at all.” She curled her hands into fists. “Turns out he could hide who he was for a little while, but then it all started coming out. His home life growing up wasn’t so great, and he carried a lot of baggage from that.”
“Maybe he could’ve changed,” Ian said.
She studied him. “After being in law enforcement as long as you have been, do you really think people change?”
“Not most of them, but I’ve seen it happen.” Was he just saying that because he was wishing if he discovered he was like his parents that he could change? “Do you think people survive dysfunctional childhoods and live normal lives?”
“Depends on the dysfunction,” she said, “but yeah, Idothink thathappens. The odds are against them, but none of us grow up in a perfect household.”
“I don’t know,” he said. “I’ve been spending some time with the Byrd family, and their childhood seems pretty sweet.”
“They’re family is great. At least that’s what my parents say. I still promise you each one of them has an issue or two that they’ve had to overcome. For one, there’s always sibling rivalry if you’re not an only child.”
“That’s me. An only.”
“Really?” Her eyes flashed open. “You don’t have that spoiled center-of-the-universe vibe that many onlys have.”
“Hey.” He grinned. “Onlys have good traits too.”
“Oh, I know. Maybe I’m just jealous. There were many days when I wished I was one.” She laughed, but suddenly sobered. “But then you lose a sibling, and you know you’re blessed to have each and every one of them.”
“I heard about your brother’s murder,” he said. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you.” She fell silent and looked out the window.
He’d killed the good mood, but then they were almost to the center anyway. He turned into the parking lot and chose a space as close as he could in the lot filled with cars. Londyn grabbed the warrant they would need to show Sierra to prove they had the legal right to open the box, and he picked up the box from the trunk.
He approached the front desk. “Detectives Blair and Steele to see Sierra Rice. She’s expecting us.”
“Let me call her.” The receptionist, a cute blonde with the name Lily on a tag pinned to her print blouse, smiled at him.
He listened to Lily make the call and looked at Londyn, who was glancing around the lobby with all the chairs and sofas filled with clients.
“Been here before?” he asked.
She nodded. “How about you?”
“First time was this week. Quite a setup.”
