Coffee in hand, she walked like a woman on a mission, which was by design. At the office she was all work and no play. But when the two of them were alone, she unleashed a wit that could get them both rolling with laughter. Other detectives, those who didn’t know her as well, thought her arrogant. She once confided in Max that she didn’t smile because men dismissed women who smiled, and she never wanted to be dismissed.

As she approached, Max found himself wishing that he’d taken the time to buy some clean clothes. He hadn’t planned to be in Minneapolis overnight. His shirt and frayed blue jeans had passed the smell test that morning, but now he had doubts. The rubber band he had used to tie his hair back had broken, so his hair fell loose and scraggly on his shoulders. He wore a thick canvas coat, stained with dirt and chain saw oil from cutting firewood. Had he held an empty cup to the people passing by, he probably would have made a couple bucks.

He also found himself wishing he had come up with something better to say. He had tossed and turned on the motel’s lumpy mattress, trying to figure out a way to say hello. In the end he decided that he would offer no excuse for his past behavior, no defense. He would take what he had coming, even if it meant a cup of coffee to the face.

As he stood, a wave of cowardice almost caused him to turn away. But when she was close enough, he said, “Hello, Niki.”

She stopped abruptly and looked at him, a question behind her eyes. She moved her coffee cup to her left hand, her right undoing the button of her coat to free up the Glock attached to her right hip. She narrowed her gaze to study his face, as if she couldn’t place it.

To help her solve the puzzle, he spoke again. “Long time no see.” It was a stupid thing to say, but it was the only thing that came to him in that moment.

With that, her eyes turned sharp and hard. “Max?” Her fingers tightened around the cardboard coffee cup and Max readied himself. She half yelled through gritted teeth: “What the hell? Max? You… son of a bitch.”

Max had nothing to say to that.

“You drop off the face of the earth. You completely disappear, no warning. And now…” Her lip lifted in a snarl. “You’ve got balls showing up here.”

“I deserve that—”

She stepped close enough to hit him. He braced himself. “You send me your gun and badge… It’s been three years… and now this? I was your partner… and I thought I was your friend.”

“I’m sorry.” Max wanted her to hit him now. Get it out there.

“Why did you…” She took a step back and held up her hand as if to stop him from answering. “You know what, I don’t want to know.”