She turned. Officer Matthews, one of the junior detectives, stood clutching a manila envelope. She looked nervous. Hesitant.
“What is it?” Victoria asked, her voice automatically brisk.
Matthews swallowed hard. “I was told to deliver this to you directly. It’s…from Detective Torres.”
Victoria took the envelope, her fingers suddenly cold. She recognized Isabel’s handwriting instantly—the slanted script across the top that readCaptain Victoria Langley.
Her throat tightened. “Did she say anything?”
Matthews shook her head. “Just that it was effective immediately.”
Victoria nodded once, her voice quiet but even. “Thank you, Officer.”
When Matthews walked away, Victoria stood alone in the hall, the envelope heavy in her hand. For a long time, she didn’t open it. She just stared at it, feeling the hollow ache spread slowly through her chest.
Then, with a soft sigh, she tucked it under her arm and walked toward her office. Her footsteps echoed down the hall, sharp and steady, like a woman who still had everything under control.
But the truth was, she felt anything but.
By the time Victoria left the precinct, the city had gone quiet. The night breeze off the harbor was cool against her face, carrying the scent of salt, rain, and something faintly floral from the gardens near the pier.
She didn’t think about where she was going. Her hands just steered the car through familiar streets until the soft, purple glow ofLavender’ssign came into view.
The café’s windows were dark except for the faint golden light inside. Through the glass, Victoria could see Lavender Larwood stacking chairs and wiping down tables, her gray-streaked hair falling loose around her shoulders. The place looked exactly the same as always—plants spilling from macramé hangers, a record playing low somewhere in the back, the smell of coffee lingering in the air.
Victoria pushed on the door, but it didn’t budge. Locked.
Before she could turn away, Lavender looked up, spotted her, and smiled—soft and knowing. She crossed to the door, keys jingling as she unlocked it.
“Well, if it isn’t Captain Langley,” Lavender said, leaning casually against the doorframe. “You realize it’s almost midnight, right? Even the caffeine addicts went home an hour ago.”
Victoria’s mouth tugged faintly. “I know. I just…didn’t feel like going home yet.”
Lav’s smile softened. “Then it’s a good thing I’ve got wine on the boat. Come on, Tori. You look like you need it.”
Victoria hesitated only a second before nodding. “Yeah. I do.”
They walked side by side down the dock, the boards creaking beneath their steps, the reflections of the harbor lights dancing on the water.
Lav’s houseboat was just as cozy as Victoria remembered—painted pale blue, strings of warm fairy lights looping the deck,wind chimes whispering in the breeze. One of her cats appeared and purred round Victoria’s legs.
“Hey, buddy,” Victoria murmured, crouching to scratch behind his ears. He sniffed her hand once before wandering off to his favorite cushion by the window.
Inside, the boat smelled faintly of sage and red wine. The mismatched furniture and soft blankets were as comforting as ever. Lav poured two glasses and handed one to Victoria before settling into the couch across from her.
“To finding Chloe Harper safe and sound,” she said, raising her glass.
Victoria clinked lightly, a hollow smile tugging at her mouth. “To Chloe.”
They drank in companionable silence for a while. The sound of the waves lapping against the hull filled the spaces between them.
Finally, Lav set her glass down, studying her friend. “So,” she said softly. “You finally got the win you’ve been chasing for weeks. You should be floating, Tori. Instead, you look as if someone kicked your dog.”
Victoria gave a quiet, humorless laugh. “You always were blunt.”
“You always needed someone to be,” Lav replied easily, tucking her legs under herself. “So, I’ll skip the small talk. How’s Detective Torres?”
Victoria froze mid-sip, her throat tightening.
