Page 55 of Ashes of Us
"Coffee. Large. Now." She collapsed into the corner table.
I poured her a cup and slid it across. "Rough morning?"
"Client meeting from hell. I need carbs and sympathy."
I grabbed a lemon bar and sat down across from her. Megan could handle the counter for five minutes.
"So, heard the gossip?" Maya said, picking at the lemon bar. "Apparently Morrison's retiring."
I looked up. "Who?"
"Captain Morrison. Station 47." She took a bite. "Mom mentioned it. She ran into his wife at the grocery store or something."
Station 47. God, I hadn't thought about that place in months.
"Good for him," I said.
"Yeah. They're bringing in someone new. Some kind of promotion thing." Maya was focused on her lemon bar, not looking at me. "Apparently it's a big deal."
"Mm." I took a sip of my coffee.
"You okay?" Maya asked.
"Why wouldn't I be?"
She studied my face for a second, then shrugged. "No reason."
My phone buzzed on the table. Daniel.
Friday still good? Thinking that Italian place on Oak.
Perfect. 7?
When I looked up, Maya was watching me with an expression I couldn't quite read.
"What?" I asked.
"Nothing." She finished her lemon bar and stood up. "I should get back to work. Thanks for the sugar rush."
She left before I could respond.
I sat there for another minute, watching Main Street through the window. People walking past with shopping bags and coffeecups. Tuesday morning, and everything was exactly as it should be.
I went back to work.
CHAPTER 22: LIAM
Twelve faces stared back at me.
I recognized maybe half of them. Carlos, still built like a tank, arms crossed. Jenkins, thinner than I remembered, leaning against the wall. Patterson had transferred out—Captain Morrison had mentioned that when I'd called to accept the promotion. The rest were new. Younger guys who probably knew my name from stories, none of them good.
Morrison stood beside me in the apparatus bay, hands clasped behind his back. Morning briefing. First shift under new command.
"Most of you know Sullivan," Morrison said, his voice carrying across the bay. "Worked here for years before transferring to Station 34. He's earned this position, and I expect you to give him the same respect you gave me."
No mention of why I'd left. No acknowledgment of the elephant taking up half the damn room.
Morrison looked at me and nodded. This was my show now.
