“What did she mean?” I ignored him and turned to Ben. A drop of blood fell off his chin, plopping onto his T-shirt and expanding, crimson against white. “Who were you here with before?”

Ben gave me a look: You silly little girl.

“Don’t forget why you’re doing this,” he finally said.

CHAPTER 31

NATE WAITED AS KIA ordered a low-fat turkey sandwich from the deli at Safeway. No mayo. No cheese. Whole wheat. He looked at the Christmas-themed M&M’s he held in one hand, the turkey, cranberry, stuffing, and bacon sandwich in the other. Grease was already leaking through the paper.

“Yes, you should eat healthier, Nate.” Kia answered his unspoken question without looking up from her phone.

“How’d you know I was thinking that?”

“I know you.”

Nate grinned, shifting the M&M’s to glance again at his phone. Still nothing from Emma. He felt bad leaving things the way they had last night. He should’ve stayed downstairs and talked to her more, but he couldn’t bear to have her tell him that getting a promotion wouldn’t help Josh. It was the only way he knew how to help.

He’d been gone before she got up this morning, and though he’d texted an apology, she hadn’t replied yet.

He moved away from the deli counter toward the flower department and dialed the clinic while standing under a giant Santa balloon.

“Hey, Brittany,” he said to the receptionist. “Is Emma free? I’d like to talk to her.”

There was a long pause. “Emma called in sick this morning, Detective Sweeney. She’s home with Josh.”

Nate stared up at the Santa balloon. Emma was not at home; he’d spoken to his mother about Josh a half hour ago. Where the fuck was his wife? And who was she with?

His phone beeped an incoming call: Lieutenant Dyson. He thanked Brittany and switched over.

“We just had a call from a pharmacist over in Lynnwood,” Dyson said. “She had a prescription come in for OxyContin signed by Dr. Chad Wallington from Allegiance Health Clinic.”

“Okay?”

“She said Dr. Wallington’s on his honeymoon right now. His new wife is her sister, so she knows for a fact. She doesn’t think he wrote that script. I already spoke to Special Agents Hamilton and Greene. They’ve asked you to report back what you find.”

“Sure. Text me her details,” Nate replied.

“Will do. Hey, Nate?”

“Yeah?”

“It’s getting close to the end of the year.”

Nate’s throat tightened. “Yep.”

“Maybe it’s time to let someone else take over Mr. Martinez’s case? Josh has his treatment soon. He’s gonna need his dad.”

“You taking my case away?” Nate asked stiffly.

Dyson sighed. “Course not. You still have till the end of the year. Just remember where your priorities should be.”

Nate hung up. He knew exactly where his priorities were.