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Kane regards me closely then shrugs, not catching me on my lie or if he does, not bothering to push. “I’ve been doing a little digging on my end,” he says. “So, you know how Summit was raided by Homicide the other day?”

“Y-yeah,” I stutter out. It’s dizzying how much has changed in the last seventy-two hours.

He nods. “Well, it looks like they couldn’t find any evidence that she died in there, which means The Snake lives to fight another day like they always do.”

“That’s—” I start.

“Lucky?” he says.

I nod once, but a voice stops me before I can say anything.

“Kimura!”

I look up to see Chief Anders approaching my desk. A few people look at me, then back at her curiously. She curls herfingers in a beckoning motion and my stomach falls. Her face is calm, but the slight furrow in her brow tells me this isn’t just a friendly chat. “Do you have a moment?” she says once she’s closer.

For a second I panic that she knows I’ve been carrying out an unauthorized investigation into Haze or worse, she knows about my meetings with Rowan.

But I stand anyway, following behind her and ignoring the other officers and detectives who whisper amongst themselves like I’m a student called in by the headmistress.

When we make it to her office in silence, she goes to take a seat behind her desk and nods at the door for me to shut it.

I do as I’m told before standing awkwardly in front of her. “Uh, is everything okay?”

“You tell me,” she says.

I try not to look nervous, but I know I look suspicious as hell right now. “I’m sorry, Chief, but I’m not sure what you’re referring to.”

Anders sighs loudly, flipping through a file on her desk before looking back up at me again. “Look, it’s no secret that you’ve been rather distracted in the last few weeks. A few people have mentioned it to me, and I’ll be honest, you look like you haven’t been getting much sleep, Alex.”

God, do I look that bad?

Anders holds up her hands. “I didn’t want to pry,” she says. “But I recently heard from a colleague in Homicide that they are looking into the Richard Arnold case again. He also told me they have a suspect, and her name is Halle Ellsworth. I believe she’s your sister, isn’t she?”

I open my mouth to say something, but she’s looking at me sympathetically. “I remember her from the Christmas party last year. Lovely girl,” Anders continues. “This must be difficult for both of you.”

The last thing I wanted was for anyone here to know about Halle’s case, but of course it would make it up to the chief.

“It’s nothing,” I lie, trying my best to look like I believe it. “She didn’t do it and I’m sure it will all be cleared up soon.”

“I’m sure it’s a misunderstanding,” she says, and my eyes refocus on her as she closes the file on the desk. “But it’s a distraction and I can’t have you in the line of fire if your head is not—”

“No,” I say too quickly and too loudly. I wince. “I mean I’m fine. I can handle it. My head is fully in the game. I promise.”

Liar.

She shakes her head. “Look, I didn’t want to say this, but someone on your team came to me. They think you aren’t doing your part and as much as I know you’re dedicated to this job; I don’t want to put any of your team members at risk.”

My heart is racing in my chest as I listen to her speak. A suspension is the last thing I need. “Am I getting suspended?”

Her eyes widen and she laughs. “Suspended? No! Alex, you’re one of my best. There’s no way I’d suspend you.”

I release a quiet breath, feeling my shoulders relax a little. A suspension would go on my record, and I don’t need my indiscretions to keep piling up. Although a suspension next to evidence tampering and working with The Snake wouldn’t look so bad.

“But,” she continues pointedly, “I think you might need a little break. When was the last time you took some time off?”

“I—”

“Exactly,” she says. “Why don’t you take two weeks out? Get some rest, get a massage. Take care of anything you’ve been putting off and support Halle through what must be a very difficult time for you both.”