Shadow of Grace by Anya Mora

Author:Anya Mora [Mora , Anya & Warrant, Without]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-05-15T16:00:00+00:00

21 WILLOW GRACE

After my interrogation with Moon, I run into Holt in the hallway. I’ve been cleared to leave the station, but my vibration is high; I feel like I could explode. The entire conversation with Moon has left me so insanely frustrated.

Holt looks at me with concern, eyebrows knit together. "You okay?"

I give an awkward laugh. "I've been better," I say.

He runs a hand over his jaw, looking at me. "Can I give you a ride back home?"

"Actually, yes. Thanks," I say. "I just need to get my coat and my purse. I’ll be a sec?”

"No problem. I can wait."

I enter the waiting room and retrieve my items, pulling on the coat, the purse over my shoulder. I check my phone for the first time all day. No missed calls, but I'm not surprised. I don’t have much of a social life. Still, I'm surprised at the time. It's five o'clock in the evening. I've been at the station for hours, and I'm exhausted.

When we walk out of the station, it's dark and gray. Not because the sun has set, but because the rainstorm rolling through Thurston County for the last twenty-four hours hasn't quite left. I pull the hood up on my jacket, and Holt does the same.

"Damn," he says, "I don't think I'll ever get used to the weather out here on the West Coast."

"Where are you from?" I ask.

He smiles over at me. "Midwest. Born and raised."

"Yeah? Whereabouts?"

"Oklahoma City. You ever been there?"

"Not even once," I answer.

"Where'd you grow up?" he asks. I lick my lips, wishing I hadn't fallen into this line of conversation. Usually I do my best to avoid it, but I'm off my game, especially after the day I've had.

"I grew up outside of Seattle," I say.

He nods. "I'm living in the heart of the city now."

"You like it?" I ask.

He shrugs. "The city is full of tech bros. Not really my type."

"What is your type?" I ask as he uses a key fob to unlock his vehicle.

I slide into the passenger seat as he sits in the driver's. He turns on the engine and presses the seat warmers for both of us. "My type," he says. "Hmm, I prefer people who don't lead with their accomplishments. How about that?"

I nod. "Yeah, I like that too. With my line of work in academia, some people always want to make sure everyone knows the prizes they've won and the awards they've received. It's all about recognition."

"And that's not you?" Holt asks me.

I shake my head, buckling up. "No, not at all."

"You don't like to talk about yourself?"

"Not really, though it seems like I did plenty of it today. Though none of it did me any good.”

I lean back into the headrest as Holt reverses the car and pulls onto the main road.

"You had a hell of a time back there, huh, with Moon?"

"That's one way to put it. Moon told me you're off the case. Apparently they already have their prime suspect."

He looks over at me.

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