New York Detectives (Book 3)

Chapter 4

I looked at the same colored paint, same front door, even the same gardens. The door opened and Lucie slowly stepped out.
"Destiny?" She asked and I nodded.
"Yeah." I said and stepped forward. Lucie covered her mouth with both hands and tears had filled her eyes. When I got across the small yard to the sidewalk in front of the porch steps, Lucie went down the two stairs and hugged me. I kept my arms down, and let her hug me.
"I thought I'd never see you again!" She cried and I clenched my jaw.
"Likewise." I grunted and Lucie stopped hugging me and held me at arms length, scanning me from head to toe.
"You've gotten tall, that's for damn sure. " She laughed and I nodded.
"You have my hair and eyes." She said and I nodded.
"I know." I said and she looked at me.
"I'm sorry for what I did to you, Destiny. I really am." She said and I rolled my eyes.
"I'm here to find a missing person, not for a family reunion." I said and Lucie tilted her head.
"That missing person is your father." She said and I shook my head.
"No. My father's name is Kevin. He's living in Long Island with my mother, Carey, and my other siblings." I said and she nodded.
"Nathan is your father. Whether you like it or not." She said and turned and walked back up the stairs and to the door.
"Come inside, please." She said and I nodded and waved Sherlock over. He walked from the car, and to me.
"It would be wise to stay with me, and let me do the talking." I said as I went up the stairs. He nodded and followed me inside.
"Lucie, this is Sherlock. He's also a detective. A consulting detective. Best one in London." I introduced Sherlock when Lucie gave me a weird look. She rolled her eyes this time.
"Well this is New York, not London. I chose the best detective in New York." She said and I glared an at her.
"Well, if I do recall, I did have to travel back here, so... That makes me a London detective. Not a New York detective!" I said and she rubbed her forehead and was going to say something but I shook my head.
"Shut up, and sit down." I said calmly and she hesitantly did. I sat across from her and had Sherlock sit beside me on the couch.
"When was the last time you saw him?" I asked.
"A week ago. Today's the eighth day I hadn't seen him. He said he was going to be back, but he obviously never showed." She said and I nodded.
"Was he gambling? Maybe a few debts?" I asked and she shook her head.
"No, we paid all those off. After you left, we cleaned up our act." She said and I nodded, resisting the urge to say something.
"Is there anyone who would want to hurt him?" I asked and she shook her head.
"No. Not anyone that I can think of." She said and I sighed.
"Where does he work?" I asked and she looked at me.
"He works in the Empire State Building." She said and I almost choked on my spit.
"Ok, was he going to be working late?" I asked and she nodded.
"He told me he'd be back about 10 at night. He had to finish a stack of papers for his boss." She said and I stood up.
"Alright. Well Sherlock and I are going to go and check out a few things. I'll call you if we get something." I said and followed Sherlock out the door, Lucie behind us.
"Ok. Destiny, thank you for helping." She said and I nodded and went down the stairs. I followed Sherlock to the car, and got into the passenger seat. He closed my door and I smiled at him from the inside, but forgot he couldn't see me through the tinted window. I put on my seatbelt and waited for Sherlock to get in, but he was looking at the house and I saw him nod his head. He walked around the front of the car and opened the door. He looked at me and I smiled softly at him. He smiled back and climbed into his seat. He grabbed the keys from his pocket and started the car. He put his seatbelt on and drove off.
"What did she tell you?" I asked as I looked out the window, watching familiar houses go by, and as we turned off the quiet road, the roads started to get a bit more crazy.
"She said that if I hurt you, she'd beat the Hell out of me." he said and I laughed.
"What did you tell her?" I asked as I looked at him and he smirked.
"I told her that if I hurt you, you'll already be giving me Hell." He said and I nodded, agreeing with him.
"That is true." I mumbled and looked back out the window, rolling it down. I breathe in deeply, getting the smell of the city and smiling.
"Tonight I'm showing you what real pizza is supposed to look and taste like." I laughed and he chuckled.
"Whatever you say, Des." He said and I smirked.
"You'll get a taste of what I grew up on." I chuckled and Sherlock looked interested.
"You mean besides the cigarettes and pizza?" He asked and I laughed.
"Besides the cigarettes and the pizza." I said as I looked at familiar buildings. There were a few that weren't there when I left but thought it would make the city look even more beautiful at night.
"Actually, go to the NYPD." I said and he looked at me oddly.
"I need to go talk with someone." I said.
"Alright. I'm guessing Sarah." he said and I nodded.
"Yep, Sarah. Let's hope I don't get arrested." I chuckled and Sherlock rolled his eyes. When Sherlock pulled up to the police station and I hopped out. I started to walk towards the front door when I heard my name being yelled. I turned to look and saw my old partner.
"Neil!" I said, smiling at him. He laughed and walked over to me.
"Now here's a face that I thought I'd never see again." he said as he hugged me.
"Well, mysterious things do happen." I said as I hugged him back. I took a step back and examined him, holding his arms up a bit, and I nodded.
"I'm not gonna lie, you did get hotter." I laughed and he chuckled.
"Don't be getting any ideas, Des. I have a wife at home. " He said and I smiled.
"Please tell me it's Tess." I said, hopeful and he nodded. I cheered and clapped.
"Oh, you have no idea how much I wanted that to work out for you two." I gushed and he laughed.
"Oh, how I know that. You were always sending me down to get your paper work." he said and I nodded, and looked at Sherlock, who was standing at the car. I waved him over and he slowly walked over. I smiled and grabbed his hand once he was close enough.
"Neil, this is my boyfriend Sherlock. Sherlock, this is Neil. He and I were partners once upon a time." I said and they shook hands.
"You're that detective from London, right?" He asked and Sherlock nodded.
"That I am." He said and Neil looked to me.
"You also hit the papers, too. There are a few tabloids that are saying that LT needs to get you back because now we realize we lost our best detective." he said and I laughed.
"LT was the one who wanted me out because of the breakdown." I said and Neil nodded.
"Oh, I remember that day. I don't think I ever wanted to shoot Sarah so much until I saw the way she acted with you." he said, leading us inside.
"Yeah, that's a day that I'll always remember." I chuckled dryly.
"Well, I'm gonna leave you here. The station is exactly the same. LT Bitch is still upstairs, I think she's out at the moment though. She should be back soon, though." He explained and I nodded.
"Sweetness, thanks Neil. It was lovely to see you again, Hun. Tell Tess I said "hello", and gave the baby a kiss on the cheek for me." I said with a final wave, and went to the elevator.
"So, Neil." Sherlock said, as if his name left a nasty aftertaste in his mouth. I chuckled and nodded.
"Yes, that was Neil." I said and pressed the button for the seventh floor. The doors closed and Sherlock put his hands behind his back.
"Did you two have a "thing"?" he asked and I nodded.
"We did, but it ended just as quickly as it started." I said and heard him scoff.
"You asked!" I defended, a smile on my face and Sherlock smirked.
"He wasn't your best decision, was he?" He asked and I laughed.
"No, he was not. He was all about cuddling. Me, on the other hand, am more about..." I said and chuckled. I looked to Sherlock with a knowing look. "Well, you know what I mean." I said and he chuckled.
"Oh, I definitely do know what you mean." He said and I smiled, grabbing his hand. The elevator doors opened, and I walked out, looking at the same people I had worked with, about a year and a half ago. I smiled at some of them and walked to Sarah's office, still holding Sherlock's hand. I knocked on her door and I heard her say to enter. I opened the door and smirked.
"Well, LT, I've arrived to help for a bit. Since you gave a while, certain woman, my phone number." I said and she looked at me, surprised.