Page 76 of Between Regrets and Promises (Between Us Trilogy #2)

“Where’re we going?” Greg was smart enough to grab a sample kit and a camera, which is already saving me time. Maybe having an intern with me won’t be so bad after all.

“I think something was missed in this investigation, so we’re gonna check it out to make sure.”

Greg’s eyes widen. “What did they miss?”

“I think a fingerprint.”

He furrows his brows and makes a face. “How the hell was that overlooked?”

I unlock my truck, and he climbs into the passenger side as I climb into the driver’s seat.

“You’ll see when we get there. It’s in the corner of a room, and a piece of furniture is somewhat blocking it.

I saw it in a photo that was taken at a weird angle.

It might be nothing, but my gut tells me otherwise, and it’s usually not wrong. ”

He nods and grins. “Nice.”

We drive across town and park at the main office for the apartment complex.

Once I go inside and show my badge to the apartment manager, I let her know we’re back to take another look so I need her to unlock the door for me.

Greg carries the gear and listens to the woman explain they’ll be cleaning out the apartment tomorrow, so it sounds like we made it just in time.

Yellow tape is still crossed over the door, but she unlocks it for us and gives us a bored look.

“Make sure it’s locked before you leave,” she says.

“Will do. Thank you so much,” I tell her before she walks away.

Bending down under the tape, I walk in and cross the room toward the corner and see the faint smudge of blood on the wall. Greg’s brows pinch together. “How the hell did you see that in a picture?”

“It stuck out like a sore thumb, but there used to be a chair and a lamp here. It wasn’t in any of the other photographs, only that one. The accident happened at night, and the lighting wasn’t the best in here when they were called in to process the scene.”

I can tell by the way his mouth falls open that he’s impressed. Moving closer to the wall, he’s mere inches from the small smear. “It’s definitely a partial fingerprint. There’s no doubt about it.”

I stand over him. “I wonder if it’s enough for the system to scan in.” We don’t always need a full print to get a match with our technology, but only when it’s the right part of the print. There have been many times it hasn’t been enough, and the whole case fell apart.

Smiling, he opens the kit and pulls out his brush and powder. Jerad was right. Greg knows what the hell he’s doing and takes his time, not rushing. Now, I’m the one who’s impressed.

“Good work,” I tell him after he gets it onto his tape sample.

“So what happened here?” he asks after putting his supplies back in his kit.

“Lover’s quarrel, they suspect. Her boyfriend has an alibi and was conveniently with friends out of town, but he has a record of abuse, so he could easily be lying.

There’s no proof it was him, but the girl’s roommate said he had a temper.

” Talking about it makes me think of Sophie and everything she went through with Weston.

This could’ve been her fate if he hadn’t been stopped. My jaw clenches thinking about it.

“So they let him go after questioning because there wasn’t enough evidence to keep him?” Greg asks, but I have a feeling he already knows the answer to that.

“Absolutely. And from what I’ve learned, men like that do it again and again until they’re caught.” Or brought down, but I’m not going to open that can of worms with him today.

We lock the door as the manager instructed, and we continue our conversation as we walk toward the truck. “How much longer do you have until you’re finished with school?”

“A year left of grad school.” He groans.

I’ve been there. I lived that life.

“It’ll fly by,” I tell him as we drive to the office.

Once we’re back, Greg and I give the fingerprint tape to one of the forensic scientists in the lab, Monica, who agrees to process it as soon as she can.

She’s swamped with a million other things, but we give each other shit regularly and always do favors for each other.

I let Jerad know we’ve returned and move on to my next case, though I can’t seem to stop thinking about this poor young woman.

I go back to her files, read the witness statements, and look at all the evidence collected.

Perhaps I’m jaded, but I think it’s more than obvious the boyfriend is lying.

“Innocent until proven guilty, my ass,” I whisper under my breath, hoping this fingerprint comes through, and we can find out who’s responsible for this girl’s death.

Sophie comes to mind again, so I text her.

Mason

Thinking about you! Hope you’re having a good day.

Sophie

Weird, I was just thinking about you too, but only because your underwear were mixed in with my clothes.

She sends over a pic of my boxer briefs lying next to her sexy little panties. Mmm. Hot as hell. Is she trying to kill me?

Mason

Stealing my underwear now? My T-shirts weren’t enough?

I’m messing with her, which she knows. She takes my shirts, and I pretend it doesn’t feel like a knife to my heart that I can’t be the one wrapped up in her.

Sophie

You know it! Better keep an eye on your jeans. They’re next.

Mason

I’ll keep that in mind.

Sophie

So I thought I’d plan a get-together at our favorite bar tonight for your promotion. We haven’t celebrated, and you deserve it.

A smile touches my lips.

Mason

I’d love that. What time?

Sophie

When are you leaving work? What about after?

Mason

Six works for me.

Sophie

Alright! Consider it done. See you then

I love it when she’s easygoing and playful like this.

Those are the times I used to take for granted but not anymore.

It warms my heart to hear she wants to plan this because honestly, I wasn’t making a big deal out of it.

This proves how caring she is because lately, we’ve been staying home.

It’s her safe space, so it’s a big step for her to want to go out with our friends.

I meticulously sort through the cases Jerad gave me for the rest of my shift.

The guy who had this position before me retired, which means I’ve had to pick up right where he left off.

While everyone knew he’d be leaving, there wasn’t a handoff period, so I’ve been playing catch-up since the moment I accepted the position, but I can’t complain.

Before I head over to the Coliseum, I get a text from Serena asking to hang out since she’s in the area. I explain where I’m going and invite her to come out with us to celebrate my promotion. It’ll be like old times.

It doesn’t take me long to get there, and when I walk inside and see everyone sitting together, I smile. I didn’t realize how much I’ve missed this until now.

When I get closer, I hear Sophie and Lennon laughing about something. Sophie instantly stops talking when her eyes meet mine, and she gets up and gives me an unexpected hug. She wraps her arms around me, and I do the same, inhaling the scent of her sweet shampoo before she pulls away.

“Congratulations, officially !” she squeals, and they all chime in after her.

“About damn time! They should’ve given you that position forever ago.” Liam lifts his beer, then chugs it. “Tab is on you tonight since you’re rich now.”

Maddie snorts, and I roll my eyes as I sit across from Sophie. Before I can say anything, Serena’s voice echoes behind me. She tells everyone hello and sits in the chair next to me.

Serena leans over and gives me a hug. “Look at you, dressed all nice, looking professional.” She tugs on the collar of my shirt, making a show of it, and I shake my head at her mocking tone.

“You need to come around more often if you think this is out of the ordinary.” I laugh, smoothing my hands down my shirt.

Hunter goes to the bar and orders a round of drinks for all of us except for Lennon, who is stuck with water and lemon. “Sometimes being pregnant sucks.” She groans with a frown after we all get our glasses.

Maddie sips on her soda. “Sometimes being twenty sucks! But I mean, if any of you wanna buy me a drink, I won’t tell. It can be our little secret.”

Sophie gives her a pointed look, and we all crack up.

“You’re gonna be a handful when you turn twenty-one,” I tell her.

“ Gonna be a handful? As in she’s not already?” Lennon gives Maddie a wink.

We order food, and while we wait for our food, Serena leans in close to prevent the entire table from overhearing and asks, “You been doing okay? You haven’t been answering my calls. I need to talk to you about something. Something important .”

“Yeah, everything’s as fine as it can be,” I say honestly. “Just been working a lot.”

“So that merits ignoring me?” she teases.

“Sorry, Mom. You gonna spank me for being bad?” I mock her mothering behavior.

I hear Sophie inhale a sharp breath and realize she’s heard that last bit and probably not the first part of our conversation, and I’m not sure how she’s interpreted it.

When I look at her, she quickly shifts toward Maddie who’s talking Liam’s ear off.

Not sure what to think of her reaction, I finish my drink, then use it as my opportunity to speak to her.

“Soph, you want another one?” I ask, trying to grab her attention.

She glances and shakes her head. “No, thanks.”

I purse my lips and don’t respond. Once I’m at the bar, Hunter joins me, standing next to me with a cocked brow.

“What did you do to Sophie?” he asks.

My mouth falls open, and I roll my eyes at his accusation. “Nothing. I didn’t do anything at all, but I’m glad to know I’m not imagining shit. Things seemed fine, and then all of a sudden, something changed. Hell if I know.”

He shrugs. “Women. Probably hormones.”

I chuckle, ordering us both a shot of whiskey and a beer for me. “If only that were it.”

“I’m sure it is,” he tells me as we clank our shot glasses together, and we shoot them down.

When I’m back at the table, Serena flashes a mischievous smile. “Thanks for bringing me back a beer. What a gentleman…”