Page 3

Quaid

I gnoring Jordyn’s inquisitive silence, I pulled my shit together and crossed the bullpen toward the distraught man and forgotten child. Since the father kept his face buried and didn’t notice our approach, I squatted in front of the girl first, bringing myself to her level.

Wide blue eyes blinked with a mixture of fear and hope as they studied my face in the curious way children did when meeting strangers.

“Hi. My name’s Quaid. I’m a detective with the police department.” I showed her my badge to ensure she understood I was a safe person in her upended life. “What’s your name?”

“Sparrow.”

I grinned. “Like a bird?”

She nodded and held out her chocolate milk container. “This is gone.”

“Do you want something else to drink?”

She shook her head and gnawed her lip.

“Are you hungry? ”

She nodded without hesitation. “My tummy is grumbling. Mommy forgot to give me breakfast, and Daddy is too sad and didn’t want to make me toast. Clementine is gone.”

Considering it was nearing six in the evening, I assumed the girl hadn’t eaten all day. “Well, that’s no good. We better fix your grumpy tummy. Let’s see what we can find.”

The recognizable weight of sorrow emanating from beside me drew my attention. I glanced at the father, who had emerged from his slump and stared with swollen, red-rimmed eyes between his daughter and me.

I straightened and offered my hand to shake. “Detective Quaid Valor.”

The man got to his feet and clung to the offering like a lifeline.

“Nixon Davis.” His voice cracked. “My son is gone.” Chin wobbling, he motioned to the evidence bag in Jordyn’s hand.

“Someone took him. Please… Please, help me.” Nixon dissolved into sobs, knees vibrating until he collapsed into the chair again, burying his face as he came apart.

Sparrow watched it happen, worry and fear the predominant emotions on her fragile face.

I spoke quietly to my partner. “Calm him down so we can talk. I’m taking Sparrow to find food. She doesn’t need to see this.”

“But…”

“I won’t be long. He needs to pull himself together, or we won’t get anywhere. We need information.”

Jordyn gave a clipped nod while I bent to Sparrow’s level again and offered her my hand. “Do you want to find something to eat?”

She glanced at her father before peering uncertainly at my outstretched palm .

Locating my credentials again, I held them out to remind her I was a safe adult. “You can carry them while we walk. Does that help?”

Hesitantly, she took the card and studied my face in the still image. “This is you?”

“Yep.”

“You’re a policeman?”

“I am.” I offered her a hand again. That time, she took it.

Not only were her fingers small and delicate but they were freezing. Considering it was June, I assumed it had more to do with nerves and exhaustion than cold.

Twice on our way to the staff lounge, Sparrow checked over her shoulder. “My daddy is sad because Crow is gone.”

“Is Crow your brother?”

“Yeah. He’s bigger. I’m the little sister.”

“Your brother is a bird, too.”

I earned a shy smile and nod. “We can’t fly. Grandpa Davis says our names are silly, and he looks for my wings when he visits. I don’t have none.”

“Does Crow have wings?”

“Nope. He’s just a regular boy and not a real crow.”

“How old is your brother?”

“He’s eight. I’m five.” She tucked my credentials under her chin for a moment to show me four fingers and one thumb. “See? This many.”

“A whole hand. Wow, that’s a lot.”

“I’m gonna be six on my birthday.”

“When’s your birthday?”

“At near wintertime. Movember.”

“Mine’s in November, too. We’re almost twins. ”

Her pale blue eyes grew wide with disbelief, and more of her unease bled away. “Mommy said sparrows are winter birds like me. I’m a winter girl.”

In the staff lounge, I released her hand and found a folded fleece blanket on the couch, tossing it over my shoulder.

Scrounging the fridge, I located a yogurt cup, a cheese string, and an orange.

They belonged to colleagues, but I scribbled an explanatory note on a stray piece of paper and pinned it under a magnet.

“Come on. I want you to meet a friend of mine.”

Sparrow took my hand more willingly than the first time, and we headed toward homicide. I found Aslan, feet kicked up on his desk and scrolling on his phone. The surface was free of clutter and paperwork, evidence of our upcoming leave.

Torin’s half was stacked with folders and desk detritus.

Like Jordyn, he was getting a temporary partner for the following six months while Aslan and I welcomed our baby into the family.

We’d decided to split the allotted parental leave between us and take it simultaneously so we could both be at home during those crucial months of our child’s life.

Aslan glanced up from whatever ridiculous phone game he’d downloaded. His welcoming smile turned questioning as he eyed my company. “Well, hello. Who do we have here?”

“This is my new friend Sparrow, and she needs a place to eat a snack while Jordyn and I chat with her daddy.” I crouched and pointed at Aslan. “This is my friend. His name is Aslan, and he’s a police officer, too.”

Aslan produced his credentials and showed her. Sparrow held our cards side-by-side and studied them together.

“Aslan is also a great big goofball.” Sparrow snickered when Aslan made a goofball face. “See? I also know he keeps super-secret treats in his desk that he doesn’t want me to know about, and I bet he might share them with a hungry bird.”

Sparrow’s eyes brightened as she glanced between us. “I’m a hungry bird.”

Aslan feigned shock. “No way. I don’t have secret snacks.” He moved his hand to cover the drawer where his stash lived. “They aren’t in here. Nope. No way. Never ever.”

“Go check.” I urged Sparrow forward, and she giggled as she easily peeled Aslan’s fingers off the drawer and peeked inside.

“Oreos! I love Oreos. They’re my favorite.”

Aslan exaggerated shock again, gasping and covering his mouth. “How did they get there?”

Removing the bag and hugging it to her chest, Sparrow asked, “Can I have one?”

“You sure can. In fact, you can have…” Aslan tapped his chin. “Hmm… five.”

“Az! That’s—”

“Three?” he conceded.

“Five!” Sparrow shouted with glee and jumped up and down.

I sighed, scowling at my husband. “Five is a lot of cookies. You don’t want a tummy ache.”

“I won’t have a tummy ache. I promise. I’m starving.”

“All right. You win. Do you want to hang out with Aslan and have some Oreos? You can eat these other snacks too. They’re healthier.

Aslan can also take you to a vending machine for a drink if you get thirsty again.

I’ll be down that hallway, chatting with your daddy, and we’ll come find you in a little bit. Is that okay?”

Sparrow seemed to consider, glancing between Aslan and me as though measuring her options. The Oreos won, and she clutched the bag tighter as though fearing someone might take them away. “I’ll stay here.”

“ Psst ,” Aslan said from behind his hand as though imparting a secret I couldn’t hear. “I have these too.” From another drawer, he produced a package of sour gummy bears he’d been snacking on. “Do you like gummies?”

Sparrow glowed with happiness and nodded. Any uncertainty about her decision vanished.

Aslan lifted her to sit on the edge of the desk and gave her the gummy bears while he helped open the cookies. While she was occupied, examining the colors or flavors on the inside of the package, he gave me a knowing look, asking without asking if everything was okay.

I handed him the blanket. “I don’t know anything yet. I’ll try to make it quick. I’m going to contact Travolta to see if he can take over, then Jordyn will be fine. She shouldn’t work this alone, so putting another team on it would be better.”

“No rush.” He glanced at Sparrow. “And this one?”

“Exhaustion. Maybe mild shock. I doubt she’s slept, and I know she hasn’t eaten properly in days. She might crash after she gets food in her.”

“I’ve got this. Go do your thing.” He tapped his chest over his heart and gave me a wink.

“Love you too.” I glanced at Sparrow, whose cheeks were stuffed with gummies.

“Don’t feed her a meal of junk. She needs proper nutrition at this point.

She’s… gotten lost in the flow. I don’t think anyone’s…

She needs…” I pressed my lips together, unable to go on, the past intruding against my will.

Aslan read the look on my face and understood all I couldn’t say. “I’ve got this, Quaid. Trust me. ”

“I do.” Aslan had always been great with kids, and he would make a fantastic father. It was why I’d brought Sparrow to him. Sparrow, who shoved two Oreos into her mouth alongside the gummies. Sparrow, who couldn’t seem to eat fast enough because she’d been brushed aside in a time of crisis.

Aslan snagged my hand and squeezed. “Go, hot stuff. We’re good.”

I went but called over my shoulder, “I’m making a mental note to acquire a better dentist for our child. Your junk food habits concern me.”

Aslan’s laughter filled my chest and heart as I fled to MPU.