*
She woke up slowly, confused about where she was. The television and lights were still on, and it took a few moments before she recognized her own bedroom. Glancing at the clock, she was surprised to see it was two a.m. For a moment she was frightened. Had she just fallen asleep? It felt a lot like her other episodes. Blackouts, Carter had insisted. But those had just been a few minutes.
She got out of bed and went to the kitchen for a glass of water. Swallowing the water, she realized every time she thought about Mimi Quade’s pregnancy, she seemed to shut down, if not physically, then mentally.
Maybe it was time to confront Mimi to ask what had really gone down between her husband and the young woman. Was she even pregnant? Greg had insisted it was all a hoax perpetrated by Scott Quade, and it was true that since Greg’s death she’d heard nothing from either Mimi or Scott. Andi had pushed it all out of her mind. She’d had other things to think about.
But if Mimi is truly pregnant with Greg’s baby, how are you going to feel about that now?
Andi shook her head, headed back to the bedroom, and crawled back into bed. The idea made her feel like she was under a heavy weight. Firmly, she thrust her own grief to the back of her mind. If Greg truly were having a child, the Wrens needed to step up and acknowledge that fact. That was the bottom line. Even if it meant working things out with the odious Scott Quade and his sister, Greg’s ex-lover.
Chapter Eleven
Luke walked over to his coffeemaker and poured himself another cup. He kept a pot going all day when he was in the office and generally managed to make it to the bottom before quitting time, which tended to vary dramatically, depending how many cases he was working on. He also had a bottle of rum stored in a bottom desk drawer, but he was a beer man, so he only brought it out to share with the occasional client.
The coffeemaker had shut down hours before, so Luke placed his cup in the microwave and zapped it for two minutes. It came out hot as Hades. He carefully took a sip, trying to avoid burning off the top layer of his taste buds, but he couldn’t abide coffee unless it was blistering. Something about a one-time ex-girlfriend who’d poured him a cup and said, “Lukewarm. Made for you, sweet thing.” She, of course, was long gone. Anyone who called him sweet thing and/or made a play on words of his name would be long gone. Luke’s motto was get real or get out. He’d bent that rule with Iris to unwelcome results.
His cell phone rang. He checked the caller ID. Speak of the devil . . .
He almost didn’t answer the call, but that was the chicken’s way out. Hitting the Answer button, he said, “Hello, Iris.”
“Well, you don’t have to take that tone,” she replied. “I’m calling to give you some good news.”
“Yeah? What’s that?”
“Corkland isn’t pursuing Bolchoy any longer. Not enough evidence, and well, the Carrera brothers haven’t been screaming for your old partner’s head. Guess we’re all just getting along.”
“Kinda figured as much, after the hearing.”
“Just thought you’d like to know once and for all.”
“Thanks,” he said. Actually, it was a relief, though Bolchoy would still give his right arm to be back with the force.
“Want to catch a drink tonight for a belated celebration?” she asked lightly.
He’d been ducking her calls the past weeks. The last thing he wanted was to start something up again with her. When his thoughts turned to women, they went to Andi Wren. Their relationship was a nonstarter in the romance department, but she’d affected Luke more than any other woman in recent history. Whatever happened there—good, bad, or indifferent—he knew he wasn’t going to backslide with Iris just because it was convenient.
“I don’t think it would be a good idea,” he said.
“Now what does that mean?”
“I’ve got a lot to do, and I don’t know when I’ll be free.” Bock, bock, bock, you chicken. Just tell her! “Iris, I—”
“What the hell, Luke,” she cut him off angrily.
“I want us to be over.” There.
“I just asked for a drink. God.” She was fuming.
“Yeah, well. No. I’m out.”
“Fine. Be a bastard.”
The click in his ear sounded final and he hoped that was truly the case. With Iris, it was hard to say.