“Yeah. Actually, I do.”
“Why are you so cranky?”
“I’m not cranky.”
“You’ve been cranky since the moment you saw me in your kitchen.”
“Yeah, well, you showing up unannounced was a shock. I’ll admit that.”
She tilted her head. “Is this about Bob sending me? Or is this about something else?”
I said nothing.
“Kayden.”
“Leave it, Sapphire.”
“Is it because I’m a cop?”
I laughed, short and sharp. “Frank always said never trust a cop. Turns out he was right about at least one thing.”
“And Bob?” She kept her voice even. “Is that what this is about? You don’t trust him, so you don’t trust me?”
“Should I?”
She held my gaze but didn’t answer.
“There you go,” I said.
“I’m not Bob,” she said.
“No. You just work for him. You take his orders. He sent you out here, and you came here believing we’re all guilty of something. So, forgive me if I’m not rolling out the welcome mat.”
She absorbed that without flinching. That was new. The Sapphire I’d known would’ve fired back twice as hard. Instead, she just stood there with her notepad in her hand.
“So, it’s about Bob,” she said. “And Frank. And cops in general.” She paused. “Is any of it about me?”
The question was like a loaded gun.
“Ancient history,” I said.
“Is it?” She looked at me steadily. “Because you don’t seem to be over it.”
“I am.”
“Sure.” She almost smiled. “It was a long time ago.” She shook her head slowly, and her expression shifted. Not quite hurt. Not quite nostalgic. Something in between. “What happened to you? I thought you were joining the army.”
The question hit like Comet’s double-barreled kick this morning.
“Didn’t work out,” I said flatly.
“Why not?”
“My application was rejected.”
She frowned. “Rejected? But you were—” She stopped herself. Shook her head. “I’m sorry. That must’ve gutted you. I know how much you wanted that.”
“I survived.”
