in a hurry. He hesitated, then said, “Not much. Not like a few weeks ago.” Thank God. For a while, the pain had been enough to make him scared to ever try his gift again.
“So you might be able to do a real Find on her? Not now. I mean, someday?”
“Probably. I’d try, anytime you want to.”
“I don’t want you to hurt yourself. It’s not that important.”
Except it was. Anyone who really knew Nick sensed that. He’d say something casual about his sister, in passing, and there’d be a tight bleakness in the way he said it that made the casual words a lie. Like now. “Just say when.”
Nick shook his head on the pillow, his damp hair brushing Brian’s chin. “Christmas is coming up. Lori’s baby’s due in less than a month. I need to find a job. But… someday. Maybe.”
Brian didn’t want to dive into a Find tonight anyway, but before he let sleep claim him, he did open his Finder eye for a quick peek. Or a slow peek— Nick. Lori. Damon, still out there. Keesha, the little boy, the slimeball… At first, he couldn’t see Ariana’s trace, but then, alongside Nick’s, he caught a flash of green, and a wisp of shimmer— silk and leaves in sunshine, a clean floral scent, light on water. He let it go and pressed his eyelids tight against the backlash. It wasn’t too painful.
I could Find her. It was up to Nick, though, and Nick was pretending to be asleep, breathing a fraction too evenly against Brian’s chest. Brian eased his grip to a loose contact. He was so tired he couldn’t think. He cradled Nick’s ass against his bent thigh and let his satisfied, tired body have its rest.
****
Nick led the way out of the DMV office. Charlie stuffed his wallet into his back pocket and grumbled, “That’s two hours of my life I won’t get back. Why couldn’t we come back when the line was shorter?”
“I didn’t want to wait. Anyway, that woman said it’s always long.” Nick popped the locks on the Taurus. Frustrated energy prickled through him, and he wished he could make time move quicker. “That’s a first step, anyhow.”
Charlie got in stiffly. “To what?”
“Um.” This was Charlie and if anyone would understand, it was the man who’d also been involuntarily retired. “To the sheriff’s department. Maybe? You heard— she’s understaffed. I looked up the requirements and I can apply once I have a local driving license and gun permit and two months in residence. I haven’t decided, but… maybe?” The idea had been tugging at him since he’d heard the word “shorthanded.” Brian might not like it— probably wouldn’t. He’d have to cross that bridge carefully when he came to it. And Sheriff Gannet might not even consider him, depending what the MPD put in his record. He was just keeping his options open.
Charlie was silent until they’d pulled out onto the street. “I thought you were going to try something different. Going private.”
“That was the cover story but I’m still a cop.” He tapped his chest. “In here. You understand.”
“Yeah, I do. But there’s a bunch of water under the bridge since the last time it was that simple.”
“This could be a fresh start.” He’d screwed up things with the MPD, but that’d been the worst shit luck ever, all coming at the same time. Well, other than Brian. There was no reason for it to be like that again. “We can settle down, start new. I can maybe have Brian and the job.” It was dangerous to hope too hard, but he couldn’t help thinking how good that would be. “And my best friend nearby. It’s like the trifecta of winning, instead of losing.”
“I can’t help noticing I come down the list from the job. Third place again.”
“No, that’s just the way it came out. I didn’t mean—” He caught Charlie laughing silently and took a hand off the wheel to bop his knee. “Bastard.”
“Gotcha.” Charlie sobered. “You really want to take orders again? The private eye thing would at least be our— your own boss.”
“I can take orders.” He felt insulted Charlie would doubt that. He’d had lots of good reviews, before the end. “As long as Brian’s not in danger. I liked working for Olson. This sheriff sounds like she’s okay. I want to do something more important than taking pictures of cheating husbands.” Plus if he went private, he’d be badly tempted to use Brian’s talent. Not risking him