Closure (Partners in Crime Book 5)

Chapter 1

Nicole Wagner left her house in a flurry of activity. She was late, again. Hopping in her Equinox, she backed out of her drive and sped into town. Her boss, Greyson Whittle, was going to get on her for being late. It wasn't her fault. Well, it was but the reason it was her fault was not. Today marked the day she met her ex-fiancé, Seth. September 14. Anger boiled in her just thinking about him. There had been lots of sleepless nights in the past week. She just hoped she didn't run into him today like she did yesterday.

Her phone started ringing, interrupting her thoughts. She picked it up, "Hello?"

"Nicole, Hi!" Her new sister-in-law, Hazel, was on the other end.

"How are you?" Nicole asked.

"I'm doing great. You?"

"Pretty good." What a lie. "How is my brother treating you?"

Nicole didn't miss the lovesick sigh, "Like a queen. I'm taking him out for dinner tonight, don't tell him."

Nicole smiled, "I wouldn't dream of it."

"I called to let you know that you are welcome for dinner anytime this week." Hazel told her.

"That's very nice, I'll have to stop by soon." Nicole closed her eyes for a minute at the stop light. Cole knew. Of course he knew. He knew everything about her. Why did she keep her and Seth a secret? She should have told Cole about him so Cole would check him out. It would have saved her a lot of pain. What a fool she was. Men were now officially off her list of interests.

"-I was thinking that we could have enchiladas one night, how does that sound?"

Nicole zoned back in. "Perfect. Hey Hazel, I just arrived at work can I call you back?"

"Of course! Have a great day."

"Thanks. You too."

Click.

Nicole sighed as she stepped out of her car and made her way into the hospital. Married life suited Cole and Hazel. It suited Dominic and Chloe. It suited Grace and Hunter. And mercy's sakes it suited Jack and Olivia more than she realized. They were starting to get worse than Dominic and Chloe had been as newlyweds. "No. Nicole, stop. Having a bad attitude changes nothing. Every sixty seconds your glass is half empty you lose a minute of glass half full."

She stood up tall, sucked in all her dignity, and walked into the hospital.

"Nicole! You're late again!" Jenna Gilmore, her "partner" ran up to her. "Nicole, that's four days in a row this week." She hissed. "Grey is gonna freak."

"I know, I know. I'm sorry. I'll slip into the back unnoticed. Where's Grey?"

"Checking on the sugar babies. Go, hurry!" Jenna ushered her into the hall.

Nicole shook her head, smiling. Jenna and her nicknames. Who would ever have thought that one slip of tongue could get the whole staff to call the ambulances the sugar babies?

A siren wailed in the breakroom and Nicole saw her name flash across the computer screen. She grabbed her red paramedic jacket and ran out.

Jenna joined her in the hall and together they raced out to the sugar babies. "I'll drive!" Jenna called.

Nicole jumped into the passenger seat and buckled the seat belt as Jenna backed out.

She turned on the siren and they hurried down the streets. "What is it?" Nicole asked.

"Bad car accident up on highway twenty-one. A few critically injured." Jenna flipped her blonde ponytail behind her back.

"That's awful."

"Tell me about it."

Nicole leaned back in her seat and sent up a few prayers, asking God to be with the people injured.

Jenna pulled up to the wreckage and gasped. It was terrible. Even the fire department was there. "I'll get the gurney, you assess the area. Also, I think Lucas is in the back so he can help us."

"Sounds good. I'll be back in a bit."

Nicole stepped out of the sugar baby and went to the scene. The cops let her past the line because of her jacket and credentials. She walked toward the nearest car, a minivan, and noticed a cop leaning in it. She waited for him to step away to ask what the condition of the victims was.

The cop stepped away from the car and looked up. "You a paramedic?"

"No, I just wear this jacket for fun." Nicole said dryly.

He gave a small smile. "I'm Blake Tanner."

She lost all sense of her surroundings. The memories rushed back. She closed her eyes. "Blake Tanner." The name tasted like salt on her tongue. Bleh.

"Yeah...?"

Nicole suddenly was very self conscious. She tried to remember what she had on. Her brown hair was in a ponytail, and looked semi good. Her paramedic jacket looked similar to a letterman jacket, just not as bulky. She had a white t-shirt on and dark skinny jeans. Also, her favorite leather work boots that Olivia said were highly attractive. If shoes could be attractive.

"Are you going to tell me your name?" Blake asked.

Was she? She opened her eyes and looked at him. "Nicole Wagner."

She almost laughed at his expression. His eyes widened and his jaw dropped a fraction. "Oh."

Nicole knew exactly what was going through his mind. It was going through hers too. Great. She cleared her throat, "So, uh what's the condition of the victims?"

Blake shook his head as if to dissuade the memory, "There's a girl who's smooshed against the car and an unconscious mom. I think the girl broke a rib. The mom's head is bleeding but it doesn't look too bad."

"Right, right. Okay." Nicole turned, "Jenna! Get over here!"

Jenna was at her side within seconds and they worked to untangle the crying girl from the car.

Nicole spoke in soothing tones, "Hi honey, what's your name?"

The girl wiped her eyes, "Sandra."

Jenna smiled at her, "What a gorgeous name. How old are you?"

"I just turned fifteen." Sandra replied. "My side hurts."

Nicole looked at her, "You might have broken a rib."

"No." Sandra whispered. "Homecoming is soon, I can't have a broken rib."

Jenna wiped Sandra's tears, "You'll be better right away I promise."

Nicole helped maneuver Sandra out of the car and handed her to Blake who carried her to the gurney. Then, they set to work on the mother.

Once the mom was in the sugar baby, Nicole and Jenna made their way back to the crime scene to check the other cars. Lucas would drive the sugar baby back to the hospital and come back when Sandra and her mom were in good hands.

"So, who's the hottie?" Jenna asked.

Nicole felt a blush creep up her neck. Not now, of all times. "Who?"

Jenna bumped her shoulder, "You know, that cop that took Sandra from you. Who was he?"

Nicole sighed, "Blake Tanner. An old classmate of mine in high school." God, it'd be great if she didn't ask for details. As much as she hated to admit it, Blake was really good looking, more so than he was in high school, and the cop title suited his well toned body.

"Any details about him? I feel like you'd be more friendly to an old classmate than you were." Jenna pointed out.

Nicole closed her eyes, "Things were...complicated."

"Was he your boyfriend?!"

"No."