He only continues staring out at the woods around us. At some point, he’ll have to trust me, and I’m pretty sure after what happened, that point is now.
Plus I’m right.
“According to who.” It’s not a question, and disgust is clear on his face. “So I’m a fucking vigilante? How can I build a home around that? Dex deserves a better dad.”
“Fuck that shit.” I’m getting pissed now. “You’re the most law-abiding guy I know. What happened was unavoidable. It had to be done, and you know it as well as me. You’ll be the best fucking dad to that kid.”
“Vigilante justice is not what America is about. We have laws and ways of doing things.” He rubs the back of his neck. “I’m over here acting like the guys we fought against. What’s worse is I allowed some girl to prostitute herself for it. I stood by and let her take it.”
“Goddammit, stop fucking over-thinking it.” Tossing the cigar on the brick floor, I grind it out with my boot. “Toni did a job. Just like she did with me. It was all business for her. You want to make it personal. Well, it’s not personal. Sloan was a threat to Melissa and your son, and we handled it. Let it go.”
It feels quieter after my outburst, and Derek doesn’t reply. We’re back to looking out at the trees, not speaking. Only now the cicadas have started, so it’s not completely silent.
The door slides open, and we both turn at once. It’
s Melissa, looking ethereal in her thin white top. It’s loose to allow her body to grow, and her dark hair hangs in waves over her shoulders. She really does look like a fucking angel.
“Hey.” Her voice is soft. “I hate to break up the pow-wow, but I’m getting tired.”
Derek’s at her side like he’s about to carry her to the car if need be. I guess I shouldn’t judge him too hard, since I’m probably the same damn way about Elaine.
“I’ll pick you up in the morning.” I say as they head back inside. He gives me a small nod, and I look back out at the trees. I might be the younger partner, but tonight, I feel years older.
My partner’s mood hasn’t improved when I pick him up for the drive to Raleigh. He’s quiet and brooding, and I can’t help wondering if Melissa’s noticed the change.
She hadn’t seemed concerned when she told him goodbye this morning. The weather’s gotten warmer, and she’d followed him out wearing a smile and one of his dress shirts over her bikini.
“Elaine’s coming over later, right?” She’d asked me.
I’ve got to get Derek’s head back in the game. Melissa’s too cute with her baby belly just starting to extend for him to be so distracted. “Yeah, she was getting ready when I left.”
She nods and catches Derek’s arm. “You guys don’t be gone all day, okay?”
“We’ll be back by three.” I call to her before climbing in the car.
Derek pulls her close, and I start the engine. Once we’re on the road, and he’s scrolling on his phone, I test the waters.
“Good night?”
He only nods without looking up.
“Checking on the office?”
That at least makes him speak. “Mel and I’ve decided to split the weeks on Wednesday. We’ll head back to Princeton in a few days, then we’ll be back next week.”
“How long you plan to keep that up?”
He goes back to whatever he’s doing. “As long as we need to.”
I give him another glance then just say it. “I’ve been monitoring the police scanner. They found the body.”
Derek’s eyes cut to me. “I know.”
“I figured you were keeping tabs. Looks like it’s going just like we’d hoped. The media hasn’t been alerted. Company executives are sitting on it.”
My partner’s mouth forms a straight line. “For now. I’ll be curious to see if they can pull it off.”
“I bet they do. Reynolds Corp doesn’t want that juicy scandal getting out to their shareholders or their competitors.” My grip on the wheel flexes then relaxes. “You’re all good. The police know what he was doing there. That scene had hook-up gone wrong written all over it.”