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“Okay. Thank you, Lieutenant.” Relief brought color back into Brooke’s face. “Would it be okay if I called Lia? I would like to apologize to her as well. Face to face.”

“Don’t ask me. My wife doesn’t need permission to see and talk to anyone she likes.”

“Yes, of course. I just don’t want you to worry.”

“I’m not worried in the least, Brooke,” Quinn assured her in a silky tone which only emphasized the seriousness of what she said next. “Just know that if you hurt her again, I will put you down. No questions asked.”

She spoke with lethal calm and the appropriate amount of threat. Brooke clearly registered the warning. In the next instant, it also drew an unexpected grin out of her, and her eyes flickered with a flash of humor. Quinn assumed this must be a glimpse of the old Brooke, a woman Lia told her was always bright and vivacious.

“I hear you loud and clear,” she confirmed.

“Are you still in love with her?” Quinn prompted.

“Well, it was my choice to end the relationship.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

“No… No, it’s not love anymore. But appreciation, yes.” Brooke reflected. “I’m older now, and I see things differently. It was not meant to be with Lia. I fully accept that. I just hope it’s not too late to maybe one day experience with someone else the kind of connection that you two seem to have.”

It was an honest answer, which made Quinn think of Janet. Her friend had been a little despondent at one point. Then she met Ellie and fell madly in love.

“You know, I hear it’s never too late,” she declared.

Again came that attractive and youthful smile just tinged with a touch of sadness.

“Thanks for saying that,” Brooke nodded. “Well…”

Quinn took the hand that she held out to her and shook. “Thanks for coming to talk. Take care of yourself.”

“Thank you, Lieutenant.”

“Quinn.”

“Thank you, Quinn.” Brooke smiled in sheer relief.

It was Friday afternoon, her schedule was clear, and Quinn did not linger long at work after this. When she arrived home, and told her wife of the visit, Lia suggested going for a walk on the beach to catch up.

“Might this involve a burger along the way?”

“If you like,” Lia approved. “Good idea.”

“Let’s do it, then. I’m starving.”

Annoyingly, Quinn’s work phone went off just as they were going out the door.

“Ah, sorry…”

“No, you go ahead,” Lia assured.

“It’s Ellie,” Quinn noted. “Yes, Detective.”

“Lieutenant.” Ellie sounded uncharacteristically stressed on the line, and the reason was immediately obvious as she went on. “I just received a panicked call from Kim Reed. She said she had another vision. It’s about Cody, and she can’t reach her on the phone.”

“Where is your partner?” Quinn asked immediately.

“On her way home, as far as I know. She let me take our unit to the garage for a check as we seem to have an oil leak. She was going to take the subway. Lieutenant, I’ve tried to call her too, but she’s not answering.”

Ellie sounded slightly out of breath, worried and frustrated. Shit,Quinn thought. She signaled to Lia to wait.