Page 89 of Grave Beginnings

“Don’t make fun of me. Some guys hunt with guns. I use a machine claw.”

“Yeah, so plushie stash?”

“My closet is full, but I give a lot of them away. Grandpa has a ton. Some of the smaller ones become toys for Peanut Butter. I used to keep a handful of them at the station for any time a kid came in and needed comfort. I’ll have to dig through the bunch and see if Ivan wants any. Do teenage boys like plushies? My dad would have kicked my ass if I wanted them, but it seems unfair. Cute, squishy things can bring anyone joy, right?”

“Yes, Jude, I would love to hunt plushies with you.” Angel patted my thigh and I sort of wished he would keep his hand there, but he guided us through my parking garage and up to my car. “Did you upload all your notes?”

“Of course,” I said as I got out and unlocked my car to shove my bag in the back.

“Good. Let me guide you over to the community center. I’ll send the Sarge a note that we are out for the day unless a call comes in.”

“Is that okay?” I wondered.

“It will balance out. You’ll find, some days you’re at a scenefor over eighteen hours, others, in the office scouring notes and making connections. We aren’t on rotation for Tactical Field Work for another week, unless there’s a major callout. Those weeks are all running around, checking old locations, doing interviews, and sometimes tactical assault if a situation goes sour. TFW weeks are long. It’s why it’s a rotation. To prevent burnout.”

“Good to know.” I’d have to ensure Ivan had a ride and food if I was working that much. Grandpa too. At least I had another week to prepare. This week had started with a DB and a creepy, possessed kid. How wild would a TFW week be?

“Let me guide you over, then we can hang out at the community center for a bit until your brother is ready to leave.”

I glanced at my phone. He hadn’t messaged me back, which made me frown.

“He’s probably shifted. Can’t text without thumbs,” Angel said.

“That makes sense. Okay, lead the way,” I said as I got in my car and turned it on, cranking the music down because I wasn’t the same person right this minute that I had been the last time I was in the car. Knowing I had to drive across the Veil meant I needed to turn the radio down to think clearly.

30

My phone buzzeda few times with text messages as I followed Angel back across the Veil and pulled into the lot of the community center. None of them were from Ivan. The place was packed now, nearly every spot in the lot full. Angel took an open spot with another empty beside it at the back edge of the lot, and I pulled in next to him, took a minute to breathe, and got out.

Most of the messages were updates from our team, file additions for review, and one from Grandpa about some bingo game on Sunday. I added it to my calendar since Grandpa loved bingo—even won a few times, getting weird shit like a Coach handbag and a fancy mixer. I’d ended up with the mixer and sold the handbag for him. At least he was keeping social in his old age.

“Do you have workout clothes in your car?” Angel asked as he stood beside my door.

“Uh, yeah.” I popped the trunk. Years of habit ingrained as a homicide detective who needed to change clothes on the fly meant I had a handful of outfits in a small suitcase in the back, and a small duffle bag with everything from a full body suit to extra booties and gloves. “Are we working out?”

“I figured we could play a little before leaving.” His words made my face heat, and he snorted, then leaned in close. “They have private dressing rooms, but I was thinking we’d play in the climbing room first.”

“I’ve never been like this before,” I admitted.

“Like what?” He cocked his head, studying me.

“Turned on by everything someone says or does.”

His smile turned radiant. “Good.” He tugged me toward the door.

“Why is it good?”

“Because it’s just me that does it for you, right?”

“Yeah,” I agreed.

“Good.”

“What about you? Do you have workout clothes?” I asked, as he wasn’t carrying a bag.

“There are extras for everyone in here, but I thought I’d change. Give you some time with my cat, since you seem to like cats so much.”

I liked him too, but wondered what it would be like in some supernatural playroom of giant cat toys. Lots of boxes? Feathers hanging from the ceiling? Was the climbing room a giant cat tower or simply one of those rock walls?