He took a swallow of his tasteless fizzy fruit juice and held it to the light. “Well, I’m right. It is half empty.”

“And you’re worried sick about Kristi.”

“I didn’t think it showed.”

“You’ve been a wreck ever since she left.” Olivia sat across his lap, wrapped an arm around his shoulders, and touched her forehead to his. “She’s going to be all right. She’s a big girl.”

“Who was almost killed…had to have her heart started twice. Almost legally dead.”

“Almost,” Olivia stressed. “She survived. She’s tough.”

He rotated the kinks from his neck and drank in the scent of her as Hairy whined from the nearby recliner as if he wanted to join them in the oversized chair. “I just worry she’s not tough enough.”

“You’re her dad. She’s tough enough.” She took a long swallow from her glass, then twirled the stem. “Wanna fool around?”

“Now?”

“Yeah. You play the big, tough detective and I’ll be—”

“The weirdo who can read a killer’s mind?”

“I was going to say a weak little woman.”

He was taking another drink and nearly choked. “That’ll be the day.” But he kissed her and felt the warmth of her lips mold over his intimately. Familiarly. Old lovers who still had heat.

His cell phone vibrated loudly, quivering across the desk.

“Damn,” Olivia whispered.

He picked up the phone and glanced at the LCD. “Montoya,” he said. “No rest for the wicked.”

“I’ll hold you to that when you get home,” she said as he grinned and placed the cell to his ear. “Bentz.”

“Happy New Year,” Montoya said.

“Back atcha.” It sounded as if Montoya was already driving, speeding through the city streets.

“We’ve got a D.B. down by the waterfront. Looks like a party gone bad. Not far from the casino. I’ll be there in fifteen.”

“I’m on my way,” Bentz said, and felt a jab of regret when he saw the disappointment in Olivia’s eyes. He hung up and started to explain but she placed a finger over his lips.

“I’ll be waiting,” she said. “Wake me.”

“You got it.”