Page 103 of Midnight

“Brought him home yesterday morning with a home health nurse to attend for a bit. He’s on the mend. Enough about me. What’s cooking?”

“The case is on your desk, tied up with a pretty bow and a deadline,” Watts said.

“Thank you, sir. Just how I like it,” Asher said, and headed for his desk.

* * *

Gunner’s arrival at work was an echo of what Asher experienced.

He walked into the homicide division to applause and big thumps on the back, and two wolf whistles from a couple of female detectives.

He was all smiles until their lieutenant, Moe Daily, walked in.

“Kingston, good to have you back in one piece. Clearly, you have wreaked your usual havoc to the point of embarrassing the Feds, which puts you back on my Christmas list. I hope your father is recovering nicely?”

“Yes, sir. He is,” Gunner said.

Moe Daily shifted into a more serious mode. “Although your work was done outside the division, a commendation will still be added to your file. You and your brothers are a force of nature, are they not?”

“Overcompensation for living down the woman who birthed us,” he said. “Are there any caramel Long Johns left?”

One of the female detectives who’d whistled at him was waving a little white flag from the back of the room. “I saved one for you. It’s on your desk. What do I get in return?”

“Never mind then. You eat it,” Gunner said.

She laughed, and the rest laughed with her. They already knew Gunner Kingston took no prisoners when it came to office teasing. He was off-limits on the job, and tight-lipped about what went on when he went home.

Moe Daily saw past the jokes to the shadows in Gunner’s eyes, and he had nothing but respect for men who sought justice for their father, and still honorable enough to get the goods on their own mother, and let it be known.

“At any rate, welcome back,” Daily said.

Gunner nodded. “Good to be back,” he said.

* * *

For Dylan, waking up at sunrise with Angie in his arms was a blessing and a relief. She was his heart, and all that home meant to him.

She mumbled something in her sleep, and he leaned over, whispering in her ear. “Shush, baby, sleep. You’ve held the fort so faithfully. You stay in bed.”

“Tired,” she mumbled.

He pulled the covers up over her shoulders and slipped into the bathroom to shower and shave. She was still asleep as he dressed for work, then moved into the kitchen. After a cup of coffee and a couple of pieces of toast, he made a to-go thermos of coffee, left her a note on the counter, and headed out the door.

A couple of hours later, Angie woke up to an empty bed and the faint scent of coffee, and smiled. Dylan’s homecoming had shortened their sleep time, but she was thoroughly caught up on all the loving she’d been missing.

She vaguely remembered him telling her to stay in bed, which she had. Now she wanted coffee. She got the coffee, and she got a note that made her laugh.

Morning, pretty girl,

You sure know how to put a smile on a man’s face.

Take the day off. See you this evening.

Love, love, love you.

D

* * *