Once Jay and I are on the road again, I do the only thing I can do at this very moment. I open my donut bag and start eating what turns out to be a delicious treat. And thank God, rather than asking questions, Jay does the same of his. Perhaps he’s silent simply because we’re stuffing our faces, but whatever the case, I’m starting to move past “I don’t hate him” to “I like him.” Especially since I didn’t buy a drink and he has bottled water in the car. He’s a virtual saint, no worry that he works for my future husband who is not. He’s also not a monster either, like his uncle and Pocher.

Whatever the case, by the time I’ve licked the last dusting of sugar from my fingers, he’s dropping me at the door of the medical examiner’s office. With my trusty field bag at my side, I head up the stairs and enter the building where a security post greets me. I disarm and pass through the metal detector, only to set it off. The next thing I know, a thirty-something guard with a scar is patting me down and getting about as handsy as I get stabby. At one point, my legs are spread and he has his hand on my inner thigh. I decide the scar came from some woman biting him. He goes a little too high and I’ve had enough. “If you touch me in my secret garden, you will lose your sense of smell.”

He yanks his hand back. “What does that mean?”

“Well, my secret garden is right there between my legs, and your sense of smell is right there on your face, right above my knee.”

“She’ll do it. Beware.”

At the sound of Andrew’s voice, I turn to find him joining us, all decked out in his Police Chief Love uniform.

“Big brother,” I greet. “I thought Samantha would have greeted you with such love last night that you’d never make this early drive.”

“Well, though her secret garden is alluring, I didn’t see her last night. I didn’t get home until four.” He glances at his watch and then motions me forward. “I don’t have long. Let’s get moving.”

I eye the security guard. His lips press together and he motions me onward.

Seconds later, Andrew and I fall into step on a path toward the elevator. “Why are you here, Andrew?”

He doesn’t look at me. “It’s my case unless you’ve officially claimed jurisdiction and haven’t told me.”

“I thought it was Officer North’s case?” I challenge.