Mia was too tired to care anymore. "Fine." When she got to her car, she called Spinnelli, gave him the information. "Have Brooks and Howard make the collar."
"You don't want him?"
A week ago, it was all that mattered. Now… "I think I need a vacation."
"You've got the time. When this is over, take some. Go to the beach. Get a tan."
She laughed even though she didn't want to. "You're obviously thinking of somebody else's skin. Call me if they get Getts, okay?" She had important things to do.
Twenty minutes later she was knocking on the door of the emergency foster home in which DCFS had placed Jeremy. He was sitting on the sofa, watching TV.
"He hasn't moved all day," the foster mother said. "Poor thing."
Mia sat down next to him. "Hey. kid."
He looked up at her. "Did you get him?"
"Not yet."
"Then why are you here?"
He sounded just like Roger Burnette. "I came to see you. You okay?"
He nodded his red head, his freckled face sober. Then he shook his head. "No."
"I guess that was a stupid question. So, I'll try again. What's this show?"
"The history of jet aviation."
She put her arm around his shoulders. "Okay." After a few minutes of rigidity, Jeremy put his head on her shoulder. And stayed that way until the show was over.
Saturday, December 2, 9:20 p.m.
Mia pulled into Dana's driveway, later than she'd wanted. She'd stayed longer with Jeremy than she'd planned. But after the week she'd had, it felt good to sit with a small boy who'd needed her to be there as much as she'd needed it herself.
She had her hand on the front doorknob when Dana and Ethan moved into view through the window. Dana was laughing and Ethan had his hand on her stomach. Then he leaned down and talked to Dana's middle and just like that, Mia understood.
To her consternation, there was no wave of joy. Just a huge empty sadness. And shame. Her best friend was pregnant and had been too concerned about her emotional state to bubble her happiness. How selfish can I be? Tonight, pretty damn selfish. Like a coward, she backed away and almost made it to her car when the front door opened.
"Mia?" Dana stood on the front porch shivering. "Come in, for heaven's sake."
Mia shook her head. Pursed her lips. Drew a breath and forced a smile. "I just realized I'm late. I promised…" But no lie leapt to her tongue and Dana's face fell.
"I'm sorry. I wanted to tell you."
"I know." She swallowed hard. "I'll come by tomorrow and get all the details."
Miserably, Dana nodded. "Where are you staying tonight?"
"With Lauren." When hell froze over. "Hey, do you have room for another kid?"
"Actually, we do. DCFS gave the kid that was coming back to his mom."
"I have a kid that needs a good place. His mom was murdered last night."
Dana's eyes filled. "Hormones," she muttered. "What's his name?"
"Jeremy Lukowitch. He's a nice kid." Who deserved better than what he got. But then don't we all? "I have to go. Get some rest." She grinned awkwardly. "Boil water."
He'd had to park on a side street far away not to be seen as he waited. But it was worth it. Through his binoculars he saw Mitchell talking to the redhead, then she got in her car and drove away. He followed her.
He hadn't even been waiting all that long, having made a stop on the way, wanting a backup. A check of the public records showed her mother's address. And on a lark, he'd looked for Solliday's as well. Sooner or later she would show up at one of those places. And if he got desperate, he'd planned to wait outside the precinct. But as luck would have it, none of those measures was called for. He'd found her. He'd follow her, and when her guard was down, he'd take her out. Sooner or later she had to sleep.
Abruptly she sped up when she got to the highway, slipping in front of a big truck. He floored it, his heart in his throat. But she was gone. She'd lost him.
I lost her. His temper was ice cold. Fine, he'd just make her come to him.
Saturday, December 2, 10:00 p.m.
They said misery loves company and that must have been true, because after ditching the pesky, lying Carmichael, Mia found herself parked in front of Fire Company 172 hoping she'd find David Hunter on duty. He was in the kitchen making chili.
"That's so cliche," she said and he turned around, eyes widening.
He shrugged. "It's also good. You want some?"
"Sure." She sat down at the kitchen table. "Smells good."
"I'm a good cook." He put a bowl in front of her. "You find him?"
"Not yet."
"Then why are you here?"
Mia rolled her eyes. "I swear I'll deck the next person who says that. I came by to see how you are. The fire at Brooke Adler's was… devastating."
He joined her at the table. "I'll be okay. I imagine you see worse on a regular basis."
She thought about Brooke Adler, the burns and the woman's excruciating pain. "No, I don't think so. That was bad, David. Don't feel bad if you need to talk to someone."
He said nothing, leaving her to stare at his GQ face and compare him to Reed. She must be nuts, because Reed came out on top. She sighed. "I wish I wanted you, David."
The initial surprise in his eyes gave way to wry amusement. "Same goes."
"You, too?"
He laughed sadly. "A few times I've wondered why one person does it for you and another doesn't. Sorry, Mia, but you don't. Although there are about five guys in this company alone who'd kill to be with you. That was an expression, of course."
"Of course." When she got over Reed, she'd ask David to introduce her to one of those five lucky guys. "You're not over her, are you?" Dana, who he'd loved for years and who had absolutely no idea how much she'd hurt him.
His gray eyes shuttered. "Eat your chili, Mia."
"Okay. Listen, my car got ambushed the other night. The department will fix the windows, but one of the bullets hit the hood. Will you take a look at it in your garage?"
His dark brows went up. "Bullets hit your car. Your little Alfa."
"Yeah." Then she grinned. "It was damn exciting."
He threw back his head and laughed and for one moment she wondered if she and Dana were both blind and stupid. "I'll bet it was." He sobered. "Why are you here, Mia?"
She should tell him about Dana and the baby because as hard as it had been for her, it would be worse for him. But not tonight. "I'm at loose ends tonight."
His eyes shadowed. "Fair enough. We have a pool table upstairs."
"Can I ride the firepole back down?"
He grinned, lightening the dark mood. "Sure."
"Then rack 'em up, Ace."
Saturday, December 2, 10:50 P.M.
Lauren was on a date and Beth was sulking. It was eleven on a Saturday night and he was alone. He closed his eyes and let himself admit that he didn't want to be alone. He wanted Mia here, with him. He wanted her smart mouth, her rough edges and her soft curves. God, the woman had the softest curves. He remembered how it felt to sink into her, thrust against her, fill his hands with her. She'd been…
Perfect. He opened his eyes and stared at the wall wondering if he was both blind and stupid. Perfect. She wasn't elegant and the home she made would be filled with take-out boxes and sheets that didn't match. But it could be a home. She made him…
Happy. He fingered the chain around his neck. He'd hurt her. Mia.
But it wasn't too late. It couldn't be. He got up and paced. He wouldn't let it be.