She glanced around the nearly deserted garage and tried to make an exit again. Well, umMerry Christmas.
Murdock. This time Miranda kept walking. Look, I just wanted to say this isnt how I wanted it to happen.
She opened her truck door, but stopped at the odd remark. Wanted what to happen?
Her cell phone rang in her pocket, but she was more concerned about deciphering the apology stamped on Holdens expression.
He nodded toward her coat pocket. Youd better take that.
What are you talking about?
Your phone. It may be Captain Cutler. He started backing away. If so, its important.
How do you know? An ingrained sense of duty pushed aside the ominous vibe that this chance meeting with Holden Kincaid had nothing to do with coincidence. Too many phone calls in her life meant a summons to an emergency, and seeing Michael Cutlers name on the screen of her phone indicated this was a call she couldnt ignore. She climbed into her truck, closing the door as she hit the answer button. Yes, sir?
With a Merry Christmas, Murdock, Kincaid turned and jogged down the ramp and disappeared around the garages front gate into the night.
I didnt catch you in the middle of dinner, did I? her commanding officer asked. The friendly greeting told her this wasnt an emergency.
So Miranda took the time to start her truck and get the heater running before answering. This is a good time to talk. Whats up?
Weve had a situation develop over the course of the day at Gallagher Security Systems that requires yourunique expertise.
A situation?
With a muffled curse, the captain cut the chitchat and got straight to the details. I talked to Sergeant Wheeler about your schedule this week. She said you volunteered to take some extra patrol shifts over the holidays so that some other officers could spend more time with their families.
He was calling her on Christmas Eve over this? Ive already cleared it with the desk sergeant. It wont count as overtime. Im just trading my vacation days for another time.
Its an admirable gesture, but I took the liberty of clearing your schedule for the next week. Ive already talked to Holden Kincaid, and hell take the shifts you were going to cover so no one else has to change their plans. The team is on On Call status this weekif something comes up, hell fill in for you.
A bolt of icy electricity rippled down Mirandas spine and her gaze shot to the black pickup in her rear-view mirror. This isnt how I wanted it to happen. Kincaids words made sense now. Hed already known he was replacing hernot on SWAT 1, not yetbut that was what the preemptive apology was about. Cutler had already made the arrangements to get her out of the picture.
The gray dog sat in the back of the truck, watching her. Hed probably known his master was here to take her place, too.
She clenched her fist around the steering wheel as those insecurities that had plagued her since the Rich Girl Killer screwup shivered through her. She was losing the job she loved, losing her family, as Dr. Kilpatrick had put it. Only a girly-girl would sit here and cry about it. Still, the inevitable feelings of loss, betrayal and failure burned beneath her eyelids.
Randy? Captain Cutler was speaking in her ear. You still there?
Tearing her gaze away from the dog and turning off those self-sabotaging emotions, she managed to keep an even tone as she answered. Im here, sir. Why dont you want me to work over the holiday?
I dont want you to work patrol, he clarified. Since youre not traveling out of town, Im recruiting you for a dedicated assignment this week. And you will be receiving overtime pay for the extra hours.
Pay was the last thing on her mind at the moment. Whats the team going to do at Gallagher Security?
Not the team, Randy. You.
Well, cant Holden take the assignment instead of covering for me?
No. He cant. The normal clip of authority in his tone softened to something slightly more paternal. Id consider it a personal favor if you do this for me. Can you meet me tomorrow? After youre done with whatever plans you have for Christmas morning?
Mirandas sigh filled up the cab of the truck. She was available after a bowl of cereal tonight if he wanted. Besides, doing a personal favor for the captain couldnt hurt her chances of staying on SWAT Team 1 now that Holden Kincaid was back in the picture. Ill be there.
She jotted down the address he gave her and promised to meet him at noon.
What kind of assignment was she good enough for, but Holden wasnt? Or was it a case of what assignment was Kincaid too good for, but she was adequate enough to fit the bill?
Stop it, Murdock. Miranda willfully shut down that negative voice in her head and disconnected the call. Dr. Kilpatrick might have her pegged better than shed given the psychologist credit for. Her confidence really had been rattled by recent events.
Miranda shifted the truck into Reverse and pulled out of her parking space. When she braked to shift into Drive, she took a moment to scan her surroundings. There might be skeleton crews working over the holidays at KCPD, but none of them had parked up here. There wasnt a soul to be seen. It was just her and the unblinking malamute who watched her drive past. And the dog didnt count.
She was alone on Christmas Eve. No one was here to see her drive away; no one was at her apartment to welcome her home. Her boss had some sort of mysterious assignment that would separate her from the rest of the team for a week.
One might think shed have gotten used to going solo through life by now.
But she hadnt.
It stank.