tempting.
The piercing whir of sirens sliced through his thoughts. Jonas glanced in the rearview mirror and caught sight of the flashing lights as an ambulance turned into a parking lot behind him. He blew out a slow breath of air, intent to calm the sharp flood of adrenaline. Triggers had lessened the past year and a half, and mandatory counseling had put a safety plan in place to ensure he knew how to cope with flashbacks. But nothing could erase the memories of a fugitive apprehension gone wrong.
Or the immeasurable loss that had followed.
Forcing the memories aside, he pulled into the last parking spot outside the building, grabbed the flowers he’d bought earlier, then headed toward the entrance. Two minutes later, a smiling Glenda Michaels was ushering him into a third-floor condo.
“Welcome back to Seattle, Jonas.”
“Thank you.” He smiled back and handed her the flowers. “If I remember correctly, carnations used to be your favorite.”
“They still are, and these are beautiful. Thank you so much.” She shut the door behind them. “Carl will be out in a minute. You’d think he could go into work late without getting calls.”
“Unfortunately the job never ends.” Chief Deputy Carl Michaels strode into the room, then pulled Jonas into a hug. “It’s good to see you, especially knowing you’re here for good this time.”
“It’s good to see you as well. It’s been too long,” Jonas said.
“Agreed.”
“Everything okay on the phone?” his wife asked, looking between the two men.
“It will be. Just a last-minute issue on a prisoner transport, but we’re not going to talk about work right now. Jonas doesn’t officially start until tomorrow.” Michaels patted him on the back. “How are you?”
“Slowly settling in. Glad I’m here.”
“So no regrets on moving up here?” Glenda asked.
“Are you kidding? Yesterday, I spent the day hiking Rattlesnake Ledge and breathing in the mountain air. Moving here was definitely the right decision.”
Michaels’s smile widened. “I knew the day you left you’d be back.”
“Looks like you were right,” Jonas said.
Michaels might have been the man who’d hired him, but he was also a longtime family friend who’d taken him under his wing when Jonas’s father died. And now he was someone who would bring a bit of familiarity to this new season.
Jonas took a long look at his new boss. The man had aged since he’d seen him last. His hair was now completely gray and there were signs of a slight paunch around the middle. But Carl Michaels wasn’t the only one who’d exchanged a “normal life” for a high-stress career. As satisfying as the job was, law enforcement came with a long list of unavoidable stressors.
“I hope you’re hungry,” Glenda said, pulling Jonas back into the present, “because breakfast is ready.”
“I am, and from the smells of whatever you’re cooking, I know I’m not going to be disappointed.”
“I hope not.” Glenda signaled for him to follow her through the living room that was exactly as he remembered with its vintage decor that highlighted her love of antiques. “I thought we’d eat on the balcony. I made smoked salmon eggs Benedict and roasted red potatoes. Favorites of yours if I remember correctly.”
Jonas grinned. “Why do you think I took this job? I understood that your cooking was part of the deal.”
“Ah, so now the truth comes out.” Glenda laughed. “Well, we’re glad to have you back. And I know your mother’s happy as well. The two of you go make yourselves comfortable outside. I’ll be out there in just a second with the rest of the food.”
Jonas followed Michaels out to the balcony with its stunning panorama of the Space Needle and Elliott Bay in the distance.
“I never get tired of this view,” Michaels said. “Moving here is going to do you good.”
“I think so, though that will all depend on how much time off my boss will give me. I hear he’s a slave driver.”
Michaels chuckled as he poured orange juice from a pitcher into three glasses. He handed a glass to Jonas. “Hopefully, he won’t be that bad.”
Glenda returned with the food and a minute later, they’d said a prayer and were filling up their plates with the smoked salmon smothered in hollandaise sauce, roasted potatoes, and berries. Jonas couldn’t remember the last time he’d had a home-cooked meal.
He took a bite of the salmon. “This is delicious.”
“I figured you could use a bit of fattening up after living as a bachelor for so long.” Glenda’s smile faded. “I know the past couple years have