Page 30 of The Devil's Embrace

He should toss it in the trash and make up some story about spilling coffee on it or something of the like.

“I’m coming,” he called out tersely once he was only a few feet from the door, yanking it open when he got there.

Troya stood with a paper tray in one hand and a tablet tucked under his other arm. He took Calix in and then pushed past him, entering the hotel room without an invitation. “You aren’t the type to take a sick day, but now that I see you, you really do look like shit.”

“Gee,” Calix let the door shut and followed him into the living room area where his partner was already making himself comfortable on the small loveseat, “thanks.”

Troya set his holo-tab on the coffee table and took a look around at the space.

“What are you doing?” Cal asked.

“Weren’t we both supposed to have the same style suite? Why’d you get an upgrade?” He pulled the fancy powder pink throw pillow from behind him and held it up. “Is this real silk?”

Calix rolled his eyes and snatched the pillow, clutching it close before dropping down on a navy chair set across from the love seat. “I’m guessing you didn’t come all this way to find fault with my room.”

“I’m literally in a room two doors down,” Troya argued, “and I’m telling you, my room isn’t decked out like yours. Who’d you blow to get all the perks, huh?”

His gaze hardened and he went to stand, intent on kicking the Inspector out, but Troya threw up his hands and stopped him.

“Okay, okay. Fine, it was just a bad joke. Mostly. The room really is better, though. Anyway,” he tossed the holo-pad to Calix, “these are the notes I collected yesterday from the doctor and the rest of the staff we were able to speak with. Doesn’t seem like there’s going to be much help there.”

Cal scrolled through the file, forced to admit his partner was probably right. “We knew it was a long shot from the beginning.”

“You’re disappointed. Would have been nice if we could solve this thing quick and you could put in your retirement at the ripe old age of twenty-six.” Troya leaned back and rested his hands behind his head. “What’s up with you and the doctor?”

His finger momentarily paused on the screen before he collected himself and nonchalantly asked, “What do you mean?”

“He wouldn’t shut up about you yesterday,” Troya divulged. “It’s not like you to make friends. Has me wondering if maybe there’s something more going on…? He did rescue you at the reunion. Was it love at first sight?”

“Shut up.” Cal tossed the pillow at him, hard, grinning when the Inspector caught it and laughed. For a moment, he could almost believe that maybe they didn’t dislike each other as much as he’d always believed. But that wasn’t a thought he’d allow himself to hold onto.

“Do you like him?”

Cal’s eyes narrowed. “Why do you ask?”

“No reason.”

“Did someone…” He ran a hand down his face. “That’s dumb. We’re not in grade school anymore.”

“The doctor may or may not have asked me to feel you out on the subject,” Troya admitted with a shrug.

“Seriously?”

“What? I think it’s kind of cute. Don’t you?”

“No.”

“Sure.”

“I mean it.”

“Okay, I believe you. Anyway, those are the notes. I was able to record my meeting with the Director, so you can listen to it later if you want. Personally, I don’t think you should bother. There was nothing useful there either.”

“You met the Director? What’s he like?”

“Titus is…Well. He’s a Connect. So.”

Calix couldn’t help but stare. “No shit.”

---