“Have a good day, Agent Lindy,” she said, her voice carrying throughout the squad room.

I withdrew to my office and sat down in my chair, putting my head in my hands. Seconds later, Val burst in from the hall, and Marks came in after her, slamming the door behind him.

I looked up.

Val pointed at him. “Stop! You can’t chase me all over the building!”

“I’ll stop following you when you start giving me straight answers!” he yelled.

“What the hell is wrong with everyone today? Has this entire office gone crazy?” I yelled.

“I’ve already given you an answer!” Val said, ignoring me. “I told you I would talk to him tonight!”

Sawyer popped his head in, knocking as he did so. “Boss?”

“Get out!” Marks, Val, and I yelled in unison.

“Okay then,” Sawyer said, ducking out.

“And then what?” Marks asked.

“If he won’t move out, I will,” Val said as if the words had been punched out of her.

“Thank Christ!” Marks yelled to an invisible audience, pointing all his fingers in Val’s general direction. “A straight fucking answer!”

Thomas blew in. “What the hell is with all the shouting?”

I covered my face again.

“Are you all right, Liis? What happened to her, Val? Is she all right?” Thomas asked.

Marks spoke first, “I’m sorry, sir. Are you…are you okay, Lindy?”

“I’m fine!” I shrieked. “I just need you toddlers to get the fuck out of my office!”

All three of them froze, staring at me in disbelief.

“Get out!”

Val and Marks left first, and then after some reluctance, Thomas left me alone, closing the door behind him.

The rest of Squad Five stared at me. I walked over to the glass wall, flipped them all both of my middle fingers, shot off several strong words in Japanese, and then pulled the blinds closed.

Chapter Twenty-Four

I READJUSTED MY CELL PHONE, so it sat better between my cheek and my shoulder while I tried to cook. “Hang on, Mom. Just a sec,” I said, resorting to setting the phone on the cabinet.

“You know I hate the speakerphone.” Her voice wafted with the spices in the air. “Liis, take me off the speakerphone.”

“I’m the only one here, Mom. No one else can hear you. I need both hands.”

“At least you’re cooking for yourself and not eating that processed poison every night. Have you gained any weight?”

“I’ve lost a few pounds actually,” I said, smiling even though she couldn’t see me.

“Not too much I hope,” she grumbled.

I laughed. “Mom, you’re never happy.”

“I just miss you. When are you coming home? You’re not going to wait until Christmas, are you? What are you cooking? Is it any good?”