Page 32 of Tough Justice

“Does your family live here in Colorado?”

“My dad and my sister’s family do. My mother died ten years ago.” Tori’s throat knotted. She still missed her mother as if she’d left them only yesterday. It had taken her family a long time to find their way out of the dark hole they’d fallen into after her funeral.

“I’m sorry,” he said, sounding as if he truly meant it. “Does your dad still work?”

“No. He’s retired.” To an extent, courtesy of the DEA. The knot in her throat tightened, this time with a hefty dose of guilt added to the sorrow. Not for the first time, she questioned the wisdom of helping Deck. It seemed like a betrayal of everything her family held dear. She set the photo back on the ledge.

Deck’s focus shifted to the dozen or so hanging terrariums by the sliding glass door to her little backyard. He went to the kitchen counter, set down his cup, then picked up the terrarium she was still working on. Cupped in his big hand, the tiny pyramidal glass looked so delicate. “My mom loves these things. But you’re taking them to a whole new level. You could sell these, they’re so good.”

“Thanks. It’s my stress reliever. I do a little bit every day after work.”

“How’d you get into making them?”

“I started with regular houseplants, but they always died because I’d forget to water them. Then I switched to cactus and other succulents that can survive long periods of drought, like aloe plants.” She pointed to the gray-green plants on her window sill with thick, fleshy leaves and spiny edges. “Did you know that aloe has a multitude of medical benefits? Some say it’s effective at treating burns and reducing scars.”

Tori looked away. She was babbling. Something about him being in her house made her nervous. His questions about her family brought back all the pain and grief she could never forget, yet there was no denying the growing attraction to him that she couldn’t push aside no matter how much she wanted to. When she looked back at him, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

“Sorry.” She gave a self-deprecating laugh. “Didn’t mean to lecture.”

His mouth lifted more. “I like it. You were saying something about how you got into terrariums.”

Right. Terrariums. “They’re my favorite way to garden. Semi-enclosed, they’re like mini ecosystems, so water doesn’t evaporate. During the day, moisture accumulates on the inside of the glass, then at night it drips down and waters the plants.”

“That really produces enough water to keep them alive?” He looked skeptical.

She nodded, picking up a green-and-pink Tillandsia. “I use air plants. They’re epiphytic, meaning that in nature they grow on top of other plants, even on tree branches. The water produced inside a terrarium is enough that I never have to water. That’s why I absolutely love them. Did you know that orchids are air plants?” He shook his head. “I love those, too. The colors are amazing. Do you have any hobbies?”

He laughed—the first time she’d heard him do it—and a jolt of awareness shot through her. “My job is my hobby. I pretty much do it 24/7.”

“Sounds lonely.” If anyone knew lonely, she did. Being a doctor made people think her life was perfect. It never occurred to them that she was still a woman with any woman’s problems. And fears. “No girlfriend?” she pried.

“Not really.” Not really? What did that mean? As if reading her mind, he added quickly, “I don’t really have time to socialize, let alone get involved.”

Odd. He had such a natural way with people and not just kids. Women must flock to him.

“Are you working tomorrow?” He picked up the Tillandsia, twirling it between his big thumb and forefinger.

She shook her head. “No. Why?”

“Once a month, Thor and I volunteer at a rehab center, the one I told Leslie Batista about. We talk to the kids, try to keep them on track so they’ll stay in the program.”

“And?” She narrowed her eyes, sensing there was a big ask coming.

“And I thought you could come with me, add your medical perspective.”

“I knew it!” She snapped her fingers. “That’s the real reason you brought me a white chocolate mocha. You were buttering me up so I’d give up my day off.”

He shrugged. “Did it work?”

It was for a worthy cause and yet another thing she’d never done before. Whatever it was about this guy, he was constantly taking her to new places. “Yeah. It did.”

They both laughed, the first true moment of joy she’d shared with him since the start of their odd little partnership.

Chapter Eleven

Deck pulled out of the King Soopers parking lot on Eagle Drive, several miles from where “Jack” the dealer set up shop as soon as it was dark out. For the last two nights, Deck and Thor had surveilled the area, confirming the information Leslie Batista had given him.

Both nights, after the sun went down, a pickup truck had pulled into the lot behind the bakery off Garfield Avenue, parking in the shadows just beyond the light posts. After that, the shop was open until three a.m., with vehicles pulling up and money exchanging hands for small baggies. The tag on the truck hadn’t come back to anyone named Jack or John, but everything else fit with Leslie’s intel.