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"After losing Dani and then last night…I could’ve lost you, too A few minutes here or there and you wouldn’t be here now I don’t want to waste any chances, Jared"

He hugged her tightly "We won’t We won’t waste a thing"

DARCY PULLED INTO the parking lot of the fire station and waved at Trish, aited for them with Ralston by the open apparatus bay doors

Jared stopped her fro town Even the animal shelter is too far And I don’t want you in the car with soo anywhere private with anyone And text ht I’ to pick over the motel scene with Jim, then come back here to the station to expand on es, I’ll let you know"

Dressed in her uniform, with her lush hair restrained in a ponytail, there was little evidence of the insatiable wanton who’d shredded him just hours before Except in her eyes The way she looked at him made his chest ache

"You be careful, too," she said quietly

"Always"

They split up and he watched her pull out of the lot a few er seat

"You okay?" Trish asked

"I’ve been better" He faced her "You?"

"Fired up I want this shithead’s ass in a sling"

Hishere because of a volunteer named Mitch Quinn There have been a few suspect shipments to the station, all under Quinn’s name Inspector Michaels says he should be here today"

"All right Let’s talk to hiroceries He looked up as they cay blond hair and pale blue eyes, he had the look of a surfer about hithened by the seashell and he in his unifor for Inspector Michaels?"

Trish returned his sa for you, Mitch"

He paused, then shut the refrigerator door "What can I help you with?"

Jared stepped up to the island "We need to talk about soh this station--"

Quinn shoved the groceries across the tile at Jared and fled

"Well, shit," Trishoff the island onto the floor, and gave chase

DARCY PICKED THROUGH the charred remains of the motel while Jim jotted notes in his folder

"Your prelim ell done, Darcy"

"Thank you"

He closed the folder with a decisive snap "When are you going to askabout Miller and your sister earlier?"

She faced hih the scene first"

"All right We’re finished for now Since I was out all night, Colu walk How about we pick hiood" They headed back to the truck She closed up the evidence collection boxes in the bed of the pickup and said, "I take it frohter that the date ell?"

"Yeah…not bad I appreciate you handling things last night"

"You needed the break and I knee’d need daylight to get the full scope" She slid behind the wheel and headed to his house