1 Chapter One

A bead of sweat trickled down my cheek. The muscle in my temple pulsing steadily as my jaw clenched. It's been over seven minutes and my eyes were starting to burn as I stared down my slightly crooked nose at my opponent's face. My expression was stern as I struggled to compose my scowl. I pressed my lips together and started to whine. This elicited a smile.

"What's so funny?" I grumbled.

"That you really believe you can beat me," a small voice giggled.

At that moment a woman entered the room holding a plastic white basket with checkered holes and overfilled with unfolded clothing. Dirty laundry. She held a smirk on her heart shaped face as she stared in my direction. Her green eyes filled with humor as her smile spread to try and stifle a giggle. Her straight and smooth hair resting just past her shoulders, now tied into a messy bun with loose strands sprouting from her head.

Her short arms stretched over the width of the basket and pressed it to her chest. Her beige long sleeves scrunched up to her elbows. She shuffled through the narrow space in her plain black pajama pants and fluffy bunny slippers. She let out a soft snort as she passed us. I glanced in her direction and subconsciously blinked.

"Ha! I win again, uncle Lee!" the energetic six-year-old squealed. I exaggerated a pout and a whine.

"But it was an accident! Can I get a second chance?"

The earnest child shook her head and stared at me.

"Rules are rules, Uncle Lee, and I won this staring contest fair and square."

She stared expectingly into my eyes, her own eyes twinkling as she waited for me to declare her victory. I sighed and smirked.

"Okay, you can have cookies before bed."

"And?" She urged. I rolled my eyes.

"And you can stay up until 10 pm tonight."

"Yay!" She squeaked and lunged forward to hug me tightly around the neck. I embraced her gently and she giggled before letting go to scamper toward the kitchen at full speed.

The woman watched after the little girl as she disappeared into the hallway before shaking her head and walking toward me to take the spare seat that became available moments ago.

"You'll spoil her that way if you keep playing her little games. She's getting smarter to get the best of you, Lee."

"I know," I shrugged. "If it makes her laugh and enjoy a short childhood, who am I to take it away from her?"

I looked right into the woman's bright face and smiled. She unconsciously blushed and looked away.

"You do that for many of the children here. For a cop I wouldn't be surprised you're trying to do your part to be apart of their lives, but it's not fair if you won't always be there. They're not your kids."

I smiled weakly and cleared my throat quietly.

"I may not always be there, but you can only do so much with everything on your plate. So, just do what you can do as their doctor. Playing mom will also cause more harm than good too."

She shifted uncomfortably in her seat and sighed.

"I know I just– "

"Wanted to know what it's like to have a family of your own before you actually commit to the possibility?"

She glanced at me and smiled sheepishly. "Was it that obvious?"

I chuckled and pushed a loose strand of her red hair behind an ear.

"You're an open book. You've always been, Charlie."

The dim blue glow of the lava lamp was the only light in the room as I slowly turned the knob to peek in on the little weasel. She liked playing competitive games but loved the idea of making her own rules and following others. I glanced at my Apple Watch and smiled. 10:01 pm. As overly energetic as she is, this child never abused authority.

"Fair and square," I mumbled to myself and quietly shut the door.

The ceiling was too low for this house. Or maybe I was too tall as I ducked to pass through the doorway of the hall on the second floor. The staircase was slightly narrow as it hooked to the right around a corner wall. It's hardwood steps were hugged tightly by a layer of gray carpeting. I stretched my arms above my head and touched the slope of the ceiling to guide my decent. The entrance light was on, so was the living and dinning room. I guess it's silly of me to think she'd also be asleep already.

I reached the bottom of the stairs and heard the faint clinking of plates and running water. As I thought, she couldn't sleep. I threaded softly onto the thick beige carpeting of the dining room and headed towards the kitchen at the back of the house. The hallway was dark but I could make out the open door of the backyard.

The bug-frame was locked but the door stood agar to let the cool early spring air in. A light switched on and nails on tile echoed into the space as a small brown Yorke-terroir bounded up to me. His breathing pitched as he jumped around my legs to try an lick my fingers. He didn't bark but moments later Charlie stuck her head around the corner.

"I wondered where he scurried off to when I turned on the light."

I quickly bent to scoop up the pup and petted him. He wiggled in my arms and licked my chin so I put him back down. He ran into the hall and out of sight. I straightened up and looked at Charlie. She was a beautiful woman. At 5'6" she stood with her hands on her hips leaning on her left foot. She'd changed her pajama pants to shorts that exposed her crème thighs, full calves, and strong ankles. A tattoo decorated her right ankle; a bracelet with the initials SB on a heart-shaped artistic pendant.

As an aspiring detective I had naturally become curious about what they stood for when our wayward friendship had first blossomed. She'd refused to tell me and avoided the subject whenever it was brought up. Of course being who I was I couldn't let it go so I did some digging. It took longer than I expected but I caught a break when a coworker of mine mentioned a name from an old case. I had found what I was looking for. Then I felt like punching my own teeth out. While reading the closed case I realized I had overstepped my bounds and dug up old scars that were best left untouched.

Looking at her now with the knowledge that I had betrayed her trust made my hands sweat with guilt. Charlie smiled and slowly approached me before reaching for my wrists. She gently squeezed them and looked up at me, smirking.

"I almost can't believe you're still this scrawny after seeing how much you can eat." She let go and turned to head back to the kitchen. She turned to look at me. "Are you coming or not?"

I followed after her and watched as she wiped a plate with a damp towel. I leaned against the tinted lavender wall next to the fridge and glanced at the freezer door. It was decorated with alphabet magnets and drawings from the children at her hospital. Charlie clears her throat and I look at her. She's watching me with a small smile lighting up her flushed face with a plate filled to the brim with food. Seasoned yams with yellow rice and a peas. A large piece of chicken draped over the rice. Its juices oozing from the meat making my mouth water.

She gestured to the breakfast table across from the stove. It's high chairs and beige pleather-cushioned seats were inviting. She sets the plate of food in front of me while I settle onto a seat comfortably and sits across the rounded table. She watches me silently as I shovel forkfuls of rice and peas into my mouth. I paused to sip the orange juice she had poured and glanced lazily in her direction.

Her red hair was pulled back into a ponytail. Her face was clear. Semi-thick eyebrows hovered over large, almond-shaped green eyes. Her round cheekbones complimented her perfect Greek nose. All the while her heavy lower lips filled the space between her nostrils and her smooth jawline.

I put the cup down and continued eating until she cleared her throat. I had placed my left hand on the table in a loose fist and ate with my right. She placed a hand gently on mine and spoke softly.

"Lee," she said.

I froze with the fork halfway to my mouth and looked at her. She had a weak smile and avoided my gaze. The saliva caught in my throat. My mouth was dry.

"Lee," she repeated. Quieter this time.

My palms began to sweat as I tried to meet her avoiding gaze.

"Yes?" I near croaked. My mouth was too dry. I was thirsty. Nervous. Guilty. She finally looked at me and sighed.

"I know," she almost whispered. "I know you been looking into Sarah Barnes."

My eyes widened. I felt hot. The collar of my shirt was itching me. I cleared my throat, but it was difficult to swallow.

"Charlie, I'm sorry. I – "

She smiled and shook her head. She closed her eyes for a moment and opened them to look at me seriously.

"Finish eating and I'll fill in the blanks. You earned that much."