Sage

49

"Cancel Hailee's session and move it to next Wednesday," I repeat through the phone, my voice raspy with exhaustion. I don't make sure the incompetent intern has heard what I said before slamming the office phone back in place to hang it up and direct my attention to the stack of papers Hayden was now placing on the sleek desk.

"Contracts for Claire and Charlie are here. All signed and dated. Your ten o clock meeting has been rescheduled to tomorrow at noon and here's your tea." He places the warm mug down before running a hand through his dark hair.

"I asked for iced tea," I sigh. It was ninety-something degrees, leaving my office as humid and muggy as possible. My shirt stuck to my skin, and the little ponytail my hair was drawn up into didn't help with the heat that seemed to suffocate my body.

"I'll get that fixed right away," He rushes out, immediately reaching for the mug and bringing it to his chest. Sweat darkens the area around his armpits and it only irritates me further as I fan him out of the room. I had five minutes before my phone rang and twenty before I had to leave and get home to prepare for dinner tonight with Ellie.

Her 24th birthday was next week and she hasn't said a word to me about it. I don't know if she didn't want to stress me out or if she genuinely didn't care to have it celebrated, but when I got a call from Jenny asking what I had planned, I was honestly confused.

Ellie spent her birthday getting drunk with Jenny at a nearby club last year. She knew they couldn't do that for obvious reasons, so she wanted to plan with me. We decided on coming together to gift her a spa day with a prenatal massage and a coupon for her favorite sushi restaurant. After that, a small maternity shoot.

I'd been juggling a shit ton of things, but her birthday was a priority.

I knew Ellie had been feeling particularly lonely these days since I had been at the office catching up on work, and I wanted to do something nice for her. She deserved it. The baby has been kicking her ass, she's at that stage where she has to stand a mile away from the sink to rinse off her dishes, and each step is a waddle. It's quite adorable to watch her shuffle her way up the stairs or climb into bed.

The dinner I planned to make for us tonight wasn't exactly a birthday gift as much as it was a token of appreciation.

I knew she was home now. I checked the cameras a while ago and saw her watching some adult cartoon on the living room TV. Jenny would be there in about ten minutes to pick her up to go to run a few errands so I could have time to cook this shrimp alfredo recipe I've been studying for the last couple of days.

The door closes when Hayden leaves and I let out an annoyed breath, shaking my head as I scribble the pen across the dotted lines. I reach the third paper when my cell vibrates in my pocket. My heart drops at the familiar tone. I know exactly who it is, it was the only saved contact with that distinct vibration for the sole purpose of me answering accordingly.

"Tiki," I bring the phone to my ear as I walk toward the windows that show me the hallway and draw the curtains back.

"Busy fucking day, boss-"

"Where is she?"

"I can't tell you that, you know that," He jokes, making me inhale a sharp breath through my nostrils. Tiki's witty personality is what drew me to him those years ago. But now, it's just fucking annoying.

"Is everything taken care of," I ask, lowering my voice. My heart thumps against my chest as he hesitates before answering.

"Yeah, it is."

Finally.

I had detective Braden convinced that Quinn's death was simply a mugging gone wrong, as well as the entire city's police department. It wasn't an easy decision to make. To be honest, it was somewhat ironic that I was the one cleaning Tiki's mess.