Mayani blinked into focus and yawned, realizing she had been staring at the same sentence for quite some time. Her mind had drifted again to Kaylin. How long would she remain preoccupied with thoughts of the tall detective before Kaylin faded into just another memory?
A knock at the door followed, and she heard Ellie’s footsteps. Someone else spoke quietly, almost in whispers, their words unintelligible.
Then Ellie’s voice rang clear. “She should be in her room. It’s the door on the left.”
Mayani frowned. Visitors weren’t allowed except on weekends. Who could be here?
And then Kaylin appeared. “Hey, you,” the tall officer said, a smile lighting her face. “Get your stuff together. You’re coming with me.”
“Kaylin!” Mayani shouted, stunned and delighted. “Oh my God! I can’t believe you’re here!” She jumped up from the sofa, struggling to contain the urge to fling her arms around her.
“Yeah, well, I guess it’s your lucky day,” Kaylin replied as Ellie brushed past into the room.
“I told you things would work out, kiddo,” Ellie said.
Mayani’s eyes roamed over Kaylin, taking in her crisp uniform, perfectly done makeup, and dark hair shining vibrantly. “How’d you two manage to pull this off?”
“We have our ways,” Kaylin replied.
Ellie returned with a pair of scissors and cut off the bracelet with Mayani’s name on it. Mayani eagerly held out her wrist to Kaylin, who snapped on a new bracelet bearing her name. Mayani stared at it as if it were a precious charm.
“Ok, you’re officially mine again, Blondie. Let’s get moving,” Kaylin said.
Mayani powered down her laptop and gathered her things.
“Still writing and sweeping away?” Kaylin teased.
Mayani grinned. “I just won a DVD box set, two T-shirts, an Xbox, more perfume, a vinyl fashion doll, an electric guitar, a cowboy hat autographed by a famous country singer, and a department store certificate.”
“Wow, that’ll keep you busy for a while,” Kaylin said.
“True, though I’d still like to win a trip to some tropical paradise.”
Kaylin offered to carry Mayani’s laptop. “I can take this.”
“Thanks.” Mayani turned to Ellie. “Sorry I was in such a funk and not much of a guest.”
“Oh, it’s fine,” Ellie said kindly. “I understand.”
“Hope things work out with Les,” Mayani added.
“No chance there,” Ellie snorted.
“What’s wrong with you two? I thought you were close to engaged,” Kaylin asked.
“Conflicting interests. For one, he doesn’t want kids.”
“Whatever happened to Martin? Didn’t he want any?”
“So he said,” Mayani replied. “I never cared to find out after I caught him with that tramp from his old apartment complex.”
Mayani shook her head. “Sometimes I think the whole world’s full of nothing but self-serving, lying people.”
Kaylin and Ellie chuckled. Kaylin added, “I see you haven’t changed much, Mayani.”
Relieved to escape the noisy, stuffy apartment, Mayani felt a spark of joy. The sun beat down fiercely as they made their way to Kaylin’s SUV.
Once inside, Kaylin cranked up the AC. “I’m really hot.”
“Damn right,” Mayani replied with an impish grin.
“And I thought we’d stop at the grocery store first,” Kaylin continued.
“I could use a cold drink—and food for the next few days. I was almost out when I left, and I didn’t pack much except a few granola bars.”
“Yeah, all I have of yours are a few teabags. So, not too fond of Delaney, huh?”
“Ellie’s nice, but she was rarely around. When she was, it was always fights with Les. The building was noisy, and I just… missed you.”
Kaylin’s neutral expression never wavered, though Mayani sensed the sentiment was mutual. After all, why else would Kaylin have returned for her?
“How’ve you been?” Mayani asked cautiously.
“Quiet,” Kaylin shrugged. “Long hours at work. I need to stop by the department for some files first. Won’t take long, then we’ll hit the store.”
“Ok. So who missed me more, you or Poochie?”
“I don’t want you carrying on with that dog, Mayani. Not your job to entertain the spoiled thing.”
Mayani laughed. “I see you haven’t changed either.”
Inside the department, the cool air felt good as they followed Kaylin to a small office on an upper floor.
“Detective Bennet,” a middle-aged man greeted cheerfully from behind his cluttered desk.
“Hey there. How’s it going?” Kaylin smiled.
“All right. You?”
“Chugging away as usual. Got my file ready?”
“Sure do.” He handed over a tan folder.
“Thanks a lot. Gotta run.”
He nodded but glanced quickly at Mayani as they left.
“Any other stops before we head home?” Kaylin asked.
Mayani noted she said “home” instead of “my place.” “How about someplace nice—but not this murderously hot? Like California. Really, Kaylin, if it weren’t for you, I’d be sorry I moved here… though not sorry to leave Connecticut.”
They were five feet from the SUV when a loud pop rang out. Time seemed to slow.
Mayani’s right upper arm burned, an intense, stinging heat. People screamed. Kaylin whipped out her gun, firing at someone she couldn’t yet see. Wetness ran down Mayani’s arm as the bright day faded into darkness.
At the hospital, Kaylin wiped tears from her eyes as she gazed at Mayani, small and pale, barely breathing. Her golden hair lay dull and limp against the pillow.
Guilt tore through Kaylin—Mayani had taken the bullet meant for her.
Captain Mulligan arrived. “Detective,” he said, noting her reddened eyes.
Shakily, Kaylin rose. “How’s the prognosis?”
“She’ll make it. Lost a lot of blood, but no bones, arteries, or muscles were damaged. Her arm will be sore for six to eight weeks, though.”
“I see. You already gave a statement at the scene?”
“Yes. My girl was hit; I drew my gun and fired to prevent further harm.”
“Your girl?”
Kaylin’s face reddened. “Meaning the girl in my custody.”
“Did you know the shooter?”
“No, sir. I’d felt watched before, but I dismissed it. We make our share of enemies.”
“That we do, Bennet, that we do.”
The captain glanced at Mayani. “Good news before I go—her remaining sentence is suspended. If she gets in trouble over the next two weeks, she’ll finish it out… possibly more. But I doubt it. She should be fine.”
Kaylin smiled, the first since the shooting.
“Would you like me to contact her family for discharge arrangements?”
“No, sir. Her only family is her ailing grandmother. I already spoke with her and a friend. They want her to remain with me for now. I’ll confirm again, though.”
“And the girl—what do you think she’ll want?”
“I… I think she’d feel more comfortable at my place.”
“Yeah?”
Kaylin nodded.
“Would you mind?”
“No, not at all. I live in a nicer neighborhood, and well…”
A pause. “Ok, Bennet. Good luck to you both.”
“Thank you, sir.”
ns216.73.217.39da2
and then Add to home screen.