Page 142 of Out Of A Fix

“I love these children, but I had big plans for this bed tonight.”

I lifted my phone and showed him the alert from the school district.

“I’m sorry, does that say an outbreak of stomach flu has closed school through Wednesday?”

I nodded.

At that moment, John and Viola carried in the long end piece from the sectional in the living room.

“Thank you,” Tatum said, carrying in blankets and then darting out.

“What’s happening?” Luke asked his parents.

“She didn’t want to be left out,” Viola replied.

“Nope,” I said, putting the kibosh on that, pointing outside. “Not gonna happen. Take that right back out.”

Luke seemed to think that whoever was sick at the moment, that was the end of it, but I knew better. I’d seen an entire platoon struck down, taking turns puking. It was not happening on my watch. This was why school was canceled, after all.

Tatum and her grandparents retreated to the living room, and Luke and I stayed with the boys in the bedroom. I was in the chair to the right of Darwin, and Luke sat between his sons on the bed, helping them eat crackers and wash it down with flat, room temperature Sprite. I realized I’d never in my life watched movies with a family, and now I had my own.

When a cracker hit me, I looked for the culprit and found Luke, staring at me, evidently concerned. I stood up and leaned over an already sleeping Darwin to reach him. “I’m just happy,” I murmured, smiling at him.

He reached out, cupping my cheek, to ease me close for a kiss. It was quick, but I felt it light me up, and before I could straighten, he whispered, “I never thought I would find a partner, someone who wanted me and my kids and loved us all so hard. You’re a gift, and I will never take you for granted.” He closed his eyes for a moment, and when he reopened them, they were glistening with unshed tears. “So you know, I’m all in, all yours. I’m stupid in love already.”

“That’s good, because I love you too, Luke Duchesne.”

His sigh was long, as though he’d been waiting on the words. “That’s so very, very good to hear.”

I kissed him again, then got back to my spot in my new favorite chair. When my phone rang a few minutes later, I got up and walked out into the hall.

“Hey,” Owen greeted me.

“Are you on your plane?”

“Oh yeah, it’s my plane now too, huh?”

“Stop. Where are you?”

“We’re on our way to spend Thanksgiving with Dante and Darius and their families.”

“And you’re callin’ me why?”

“To give you an update. The crime-scene people found blood and tissue and even a tooth down there in the basement. From what the SAC told Jared, it was only surface-cleaned. He was certain Wilson meant to return and give the place a serious scrubbing, but he never got the chance. I mean, Newcastle PD took over that Sunday when you went and got Griffin, and have been there since.”

“Yeah.”

“DNA will take a few days—this is the FBI, after all, they work fast—but Newcastle PD has already issued a warrant for Wilson’s arrest. All his officers have already been picked up, and they’re holding Firmin on suspicion of being an accomplice to murder.”

“Damn.”

“I know, right?” Owen agreed. “I knew it would be fast, but that’s crazy.”

It certainly was.

“Without the key, we would have never been able to get them to go out and look. Too bad Mullane was a criminal. Seems like he was a smart guy.”

“I feel bad for his family,” I said, imagining how hard it would hit, especially right before the holidays. “Mostly his parents.”