After hanging up the phone, Emily headed to her bedroom and changed out of her emerald green dress, hanging it in the closet. The evening with Brian left her with a comfortable, warm feeling before it was cut short. Better luck next time.
She dressed quickly—dark pants, a button-down shirt, and a dark blazer, her typical work attire. She pulled her brown hair into a tight ponytail and shut off her bedroom light.
The cat was waiting at the back door. "Oh, you're done with me, too?"
Emily opened the back door and waited while the black cat leisurely set out into the backyard.
On the way to her car, she called her partner, Javier Medina. They'd worked together for nearly two years, with Emily as the lead detective as she had more time in-grade. Although Javier had more time in the department, he never resented her holding the senior position.
He picked up on the first ring. "Please tell me we have a case," he said in a low tone.
"Bored on a Friday night, Javi?"
"I wish. I'm at Mom's and I'm getting the third-degree about where my life is, and she set me up with another one of her friends' daughters. Please tell me we have a gruesome murder to attend to."
"We have a rollout. Homeless camp off North 7th."
"I was just listening to the news. Another arson? Why are we rolling on that?"
"The chief's orders. I'll swing by and pick you up."
"I'm over at Mom's. Come rescue me."
* * *
Ten minutes later, Emily knocked on the midtown home. Javier seemed ready to bolt out the door. He stood on the step and began to close the door behind him. Javier was four inches taller and four years older than Emily, and he had that slight graying in the temples of his short cut dark brown hair. He blamed the gray hair on Emily.
"Hey, hey, what's the hurry? I want to say hi to your mom." She pushed past him, leaving him waiting on the front steps, shaking his head.
"Mrs. Medina, how are you?" she called.
"Emily," the thin older woman said. Her salt-and-pepper hair pulled back into a bun while she diced peppers, tossing them in a pot simmering on the stove.
"I need to steal your son away, but I wanted to stop and say hi."
"I'm glad you did. How's your mother? Is she adjusting to the assisted living facility?"
Emily bit her lip. Placing the retired schoolteacher into assisted living was the hardest thing Emily had ever done. After a series of incidents, including walking away from home, Connie Hunter couldn't take care of herself any longer. Since the placement, well, it was a struggle—for everyone.
"She's safe, and that's the most important thing. Half the time she's angry at me for putting her in a 'home,' as she calls it. I didn't have any other choice."
Lucinda Medina put her hand on Emily's arm. "I know you didn't, my dear. You made the best decision for her. Please tell her I said hello, would you?"
A petite, olive-skinned woman popped into the kitchen with a curious look in her eyes. She wore a short skirt and tight top emphasizing her toned, athletic body. Her dark hair draped over one shoulder.
"Hi, I'm Emily. I guess I'm the one responsible for taking Javier away tonight."
"I'm Jenny. Nice to meet you. Javier talks about you."
"He does, does he?"
Javier grabbed Emily by the elbow. "Come on, partner, crime awaits. Bye, Mom. Bye, Jenny."
He rushed Emily out the door. "What did you say before I pulled you away?"
* * *
