Page 202 of The Woman Left Behind

A hush came over the bullpen.

He turned toward the front of his station and saw Lillian, with George and Ronetta following, coming in.

Her gaze came right to Harry.

Raul opened the front bench to let her in, and Lillian ran toward Harry.

He turned fully to her and started walking her way.

She hit him like a rocket, so hard, he went back on a foot.

He thought this was a demonstration of her relief it was over.

But she pulled away and patted him down frenziedly, mumbling, “You’re good. You’re safe. You’re good.”

“I’m fine, honey,” he murmured.

She looked up at him.

He caught her face in his hands and put his to hers.

“It’s over, Lilly.”

The tears hit her eyes before she planted her face in his chest and circled him with her arms.

He wrapped both of his around her shoulders and held her close.

He looked over her head at George.

George’s expression was a study of concern and relief, more the latter than the former.

Much more.

George nodded to him.

Harry nodded back.

FORTY-NINE

Think About It

Harry

It was dark.

The paperwork was done.

The nightshift was on.

The world was still spinning.

That was when she came.

Harry had already powered down and closed up, and he was pulling on his jacket, ready to head home to Lillian, when Karen appeared in his door.

They’d already had a discussion. She was on paid leave until the shooting was investigated, and until a counselor said she was good, after taking a man’s life, to get back to work with a gun on her hip.

She’d been calm when they’d talked, accepting, and she’d handed over her weapon without demur.

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