Back Love You More
Chapters (53)
  1. Other Books by This Author
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright
  4. Prologue
  5. Chapter 1
  6. Chapter 2
  7. Chapter 3
  8. Chapter 4
  9. Chapter 5
  10. Chapter 6
  11. Chapter 7
  12. Chapter 8
  13. Chapter 9
  14. Chapter 10
  15. Chapter 11
  16. Chapter 12
  17. Chapter 13
  18. Chapter 14
  19. Chapter 15
  20. Chapter 16
  21. Chapter 17
  22. Chapter 18
  23. Chapter 19
  24. Chapter 20
  25. Chapter 21
  26. Chapter 22
  27. Chapter 23
  28. Chapter 24
  29. Chapter 25
  30. Chapter 26
  31. Chapter 27
  32. Chapter 28
  33. Chapter 29
  34. Chapter 30
  35. Chapter 31
  36. Chapter 32
  37. Chapter 33
  38. Chapter 34
  39. Chapter 35
  40. Chapter 36
  41. Chapter 37
  42. Chapter 38
  43. Chapter 39
  44. Chapter 40
  45. Chapter 41
  46. Chapter 42
  47. Chapter 43
  48. Chapter 44
  49. Chapter 45
  50. Exclusive Sneak-Peek
  51. Author’s Note and Acknowledgments
  52. About the Author
  53. Cover

Yeah, I gotta go. I’ll see you tonight, Regi.

Sarah hangs up, takes him in: cardboard BOX in his arms. Fish out of water in his Fubu and baggy jeans. Amused—

SARAH (CONT’D)

Yeah. I’m Linden.

HOLDER

I thought you’d be outta here by now. But if you need more time, I can wait outside.

SARAH

No, it’s okay. No, no, come on in. I’m almost done.

Not much room to navigate. He drops his box on the desk, knocking over her box, spilling files everywhere.

HOLDER

Damn it—

SARAH

It’s okay, I got it.

Holder tries to help, making more of a mess.

HOLDER

My bad, my bad.

Hold picks up the box, she takes it.

HOLDER (CONT’D)

Here.

He moves to the other side of the desk. Starts unpacking his own box.

HOLDER (CONT’D)

So, I hear you’re moving to LA.

SARAH

San Francisco area.

HOLDER

Oakland?

SARAH

Sonoma.

HOLDER

Sonoma. It’s nice.

SARAH

Yup.

Beat. She continues to clean up, not interested in engaging.

HOLDER

Nice weather. Ocean. The beaches … Hate that shit.

Holder shoots a ball into a hoop/trash can. Sarah smiles grudgingly.

SARAH

You must love this place then.

HOLDER

Ouch.

He’s glancing at one of Sarah’s files. CLOSE ON gruesome crime scene PHOTO of an ADDICT — white, trashy, fatty (think Courtney Love) — cut ear to ear. Beneath, a SKETCH: a lonely grove of trees on the sand. Beautiful.

HOLDER (CONT’D)

Crack head thought she was Picasso?

SARAH

Crack head’s six year old son drew it.

HOLDER

He get iced, too?

SARAH

No.

Sarah takes the sketch. Puts it away. Holder waits for more. None coming. Fort Knox this woman.

HOLDER

So what happened to the kid—?

LT. OAKES — 50s, soft touch for Sarah — enters.

OAKES

Don’t waste your time moving in, do ya?

HOLDER

No. County cut me loose early. So, I …

OAKES

Well, you got a tough act to follow. You wrapped up here, Sarah?

SARAH

Yup. All done.

Oakes hands her a PAPER.

OAKES

Good. Got a call down at Discovery Park. Check it out.

SARAH

On my last day? My flights tonight—

OAKES

You’re still on the city’s dime.

(off her look)

You can hand it off end of shift. Six o’clock. Go on do your job. Take him. Show him how to work a scene.

HOLDER

(quietly)

I know how to work a scene …

Reluctantly, Sarah grabs her coat and a box—

SARAH

Grab a box. We’ll take my car.

HOLDER

Alright.

SARAH

(indicating a nearby box)

Over there.

As Sarah and Holder exit, boxes in tow, Holder shuts the door with his foot.

EXT. DOWNTOWN SEATTLE - AERIAL SHOT - DAY

Transition.

INT/EXT. SARAH’S CAR - DAY

Sarah drives, Holder yaks. Wipers flipping across the rain-soaked windshield. Squat factories — abandoned, graffii-marred — slide past their windows.

HOLDER