“Ronan’s a detective. It’s his job to catch killers. McGrath died fifteen years ago. His death is a cold case, ergo, Ronan would be doing his job. End of discussion.”
It might be the end of the discussion for Aurora, but for Tennyson, it was just beginning.
3
Ronan
With no further evidence in the Maxwell case, Fitzgibbon had made the call to shelf the investigation for now. While Ronan agreed with the captain’s call, it upset him that this family was going to have to wait even longer for justice to be served.
Before they’d left the office for the day, Fitzgibbon set a meeting for the following morning to discuss which case they wanted to investigate next, which left Ronan to spend a stress-free night at home with his family.
Ten had texted and asked Ronan to pick up dinner for everyone at Greek Life. When he, Jude, and Fitz walked into the house with the food, the kids were sitting around the coffee table coloring pictures.
“Finally, Daddy! We’re all starving.” Everly rolled her eyes in a perfect imitation of Ronan.
“Yeah,” Wolf chirped. “I’m about to die!” He groaned dramatically and hit the floor.
“We wouldn’t want that, Wonder Wolf,” Jude said. “Especially since you start swim lessons next week.”
“Hey, babe.” Ronan set the food on the kitchen counter and pressed a quick kiss to Ten’s cheek. The detectives along with the kids followed behind Ronan like a Conga line.
“How about you kids eat in the living room? You can put on a movie.” Ten’s hands shook as he opened each of the pizza boxes.
“Itch!” Ezra said.
Ronan’s eyes moved between Tennyson and his son. He couldn’t decide which crisis to handle first; an obviously upset Ten or his itchy son. “Where does it itch? I think we’ve got cream in the bathroom.”
Everly, Wolf, and Aurora giggled. “No, Daddy. They don’thavean itch, they want to watchStitch.”
“’Itch!” Lizbet chorused along with Ezzie.
“Sure thing.” Ronan cut up pieces of pizza for the little ones, while Tennyson served the bigger kids. Everly grabbed juice pouches. He carried the food into the living room and got the kids settled, all the while wondering what Ten could be upset over. So far as Ronan knew, he hadn’t been a dumbass at all lately. Well, not much, anyway.
When the kids were happily munching away, Ronan headed back into the kitchen and pulled Ten to the side. “Are you okay?”
Ten shook his head. “There’s something I need to talk to you about.Allof you.” He eyed Jude and Fitz.
Nodding, Ronan took his seat at the table. “Where’s Cope?”
“Getting a massage. He’s still a bittightfrom the fun run.” Jude waggled his eyebrows.
“Wait, Cope didn’t run. Why the hell would he be tight?” What was Jude talking about? Throwing colored powder and handing out water didn’t seem that strenuous to Ronan.
“Just because he didn’t get a medal, doesn’t mean Cope didn’t earn one.” Jude snorted.
“Ew!” Fitz grimaced, clutching his imaginary pearls.
Ten cleared his throat. The look on his face indicated he’d had enough small talk. “I got a call from Madam Aurora this afternoon. She asked me to come to the shop to help her with an emergency,” Ten began.
“Oh, Christ.” Jude rolled his eyes. “Did Amazon ship her faulty cauldrons?”
“To be honest, I wondered the same thing.” Fitz got up from the table to grab another slice of pepperoni. “The last time she called with an emergency, it was because a customer wanted a refund on a spellbook because he couldn’tactuallyturn his soon-to-be ex-wife into a salamander.”
“The nerve!” Jude laughed.
Ronan studied Tennyson as he spoke. He knew whatever was going on with Aurora was more serious than an incorrect Amazon order and was most definitelynotamphibian related. “What is it, Ten? I can feel the anxiety pouring off you.”
“One of Aurora’s friends was arrested for OUI last night,” Ten began.
