Page 116 of Secret Love

I stand up as Boxcar hustles me toward the door. “Thanks, Detective,” I say.

“Don’t leave town for a while,” he says. “Just in case I have more questions...”

“Now, now, Detective,” Boxcar scolds, playfully. “We both know that’s only enforceable with a court order, and you don’t have one.”

Lawrence bares his teeth but says nothing as the two of us rush out of the room. I follow Boxcar through the station, dodging the pointed glares of officers as we pass them by, and somehow make it out the door without getting shot.

The sun strikes my face as I step outside. I pause to take it in. I’d already said goodbye before. Can’t believe I thought I was ready to give this up.

“Hey, Box,” I say.

He nods. “Yeah?”

“I need another favor. Two, actually.”

We start walking toward the parking lot.

“Okay, what?” he asks.

“I need you to move some money around for me,” I say.

He stops beside a blue rental car and chuckles. “Easy. What else?”

I walk around to the passenger’s side. “How are you with a shovel?”

His face falls. “I’m going to regret this day, aren’t I?”

I smirk. He sighs.

“Fine,” he says, opening the driver’s side. “Come on. I’ll take you home, but can we please, for once, talk about something other than women?”

I laugh as I lower myself into the car. “Probably not,” I say.