“Wel , f**k me,” Lee said, looking at George. “Is this a social cal ?”

I felt the tension ebb out of the room as it moved out of Mace and the hostile vibes stopped emanating from Vance.

“Nightingale,” George replied but he was looking pale and his eyes were weirdly on Smithie. It was weird because they were on Smithie without ever actual y focusing on Smithie, then he said, “Mrs. Armstrong, perhaps we should go.”

“But –” pinch-faced lady (or, apparently, Mrs. Armstrong) started to protest but she didn’t finish.

“Is that…?” Smithie was looking closely at George. “It is!

George Riverside. Wel , damn, man. You don’t come George Riverside. Wel , damn, man. You don’t come around much anymore. Where you been, motherfucker?” I stared between George and Smithie as George’s face started getting red.

“Sorry, do I know you?” George asked.

“Sure. It’s been awhile but you used to come to my club al the time.” Smithie leaned toward Mrs. Armstrong. “I own a strip club and Georgie here likes lap dances. Dirty ones.

Pays extra to get a little touch here and there from the girls.

Usual y blondes with big tits. I mean big. ” Smithie put his hands out in front of him and pinch-face lady reared back.

“Now he goes outta town for his action.” Pinch-faced lady turned to stare in horror at George as Smithie kept talking.

“Not far to Wyoming, is it George? Stil , got a friend up there, he says you’re a regular. Damn, ain’t cool to take your business out-of-state. What us local guys gonna do?” Pinch-faced lady stepped away from George and swung her gaze to Shirleen. “I’l cal you Miz Jackson.”

“You do that,” Shirleen replied, settling in her seat at the same time she was sorting through her pencil holder. She yanked out a nail file and leaned back, crossed her legs and started to file her nails.

On that, pinch-faced lady took off.

“Nightingale –” George started.

“We got pictures, George,” Lee cut him off then continued speaking. “And that’s scratching the surface. It took me half an hour to find that on you. You want more, you keep this shit up.”

George’s mouth got tight. Then he looked to his shoes and he left too.

Preston Mason’s cool eyes swung through the room.

Everyone stared back. Shirleen even did it while filing her nails.

“Pleasure,” Preston murmured and he, too, left.

The minute the door closed, Lee’s eyes went immediately to Shirleen.

“You okay?” he asked.

“Wil be, once Georgie Porgie gets his ass back to his office and cal s the dogs off Jules, Roam and Sniff,” she answered.

Clearly, that was good enough for Lee and his eyes cut to Mace. “You?”

“Yeah,” Mace replied.

Lee’s eyes moved to me. “Stel a?”

“You guys know a lot of dicks,” I told him.

Lee’s eyes crinkled in a smile that didn’t quite make it to his mouth and he said softly. “That’s the sorry truth.”

“Am I done here?” Smithie asked impatiently.

Lee clapped him on the shoulder. “Thanks Smithie.” Smithie threw up one hand and then he was gone.

Shirleen hit a button on the phone and we heard the speaker click on and the phone ringing.

“Yeah?” Jack’s voice could be heard throughout the room.

“You get Stel a on tape doin’ her ‘You won’t have to wait for Lee to wipe the floor with you, I’l l do it’ speech?” Shirleen asked Jack.

My body went solid.

“Got it,” Jack replied then you could hear him chuckle.

“Get me a copy, I wanna transcribe that f**ker,” Shirleen demanded. “Luke, Eddie and Hank’ve gotta hear this shit.

Hel , I might get Tom or Malcolm to send out a network-wide email to al the po-lice. Give the boys in blue a good old f**kin’ giggle.”

I turned and looked up at Mace.

Apparently, he was none the worse for wear after our episode in Lee’s office and the showdown with his Dad. I knew this because when he looked down at me his gaze was warm and he was grinning. He took one arm away, pointed to the corner of the room and my eyes went in the direction he was indicating.

Then his arms went back around me, he leaned down and said one, scary word softly in my ear.

“Cameras.”

I stared at the camera.

Effing hel .

I looked back to Mace.

“Is she serious?”

His grin broadened to a smile. “Probably.”

“Shit,” I whispered.

His arms got tight. “You okay?”

“Your Dad is the Supreme Asshole of Al Time.” His smile died and his arms went from around me to my biceps. He fingers curled around, his thumbs stroking the inside skin softly.

“I hurt you?” he asked in a soft voice.

“I’l live,” I replied in a softer one.

His eyes flashed but he let it go.

“Vance’l take you home. We’l talk more later.” I nodded.

From across the room, Shirleen entered our conversation, “Can I just ask what in the f**k is goin’ on with you two?”

Mace and I twisted to face Shirleen.

“It’s a long story,” I explained.

“Wel , get your ass over here and start tel in’ it,” Shirleen shot back.

I looked back at Mace. He smiled, bent low and kissed my forehead.

“Got things to do. You got a grocery list?” I pul ed the grocery list out of my back pocket and handed it to him.

Then I stared at the piece of paper in his hand, wondering if it was the grocery list or the flight numbers. I snatched it back and whipped around, flipping it open.

It was the grocery list.

I let out a big sigh, turned back and handed it to Mace again.

His eyes were narrowed. “What the f**k?”

“Nothin’, just, erm…” My mind raced for some reason to explain why I was such an idiot, then I came up with something. “Thought that was the set list for tomorrow. You know I’m weird about those.” I wasn’t, that was a total lie which had to be why his narrowed eyes got narrower.

“Anyway, it’s not the set list. It’s the grocery list.” I leaned up and brushed his mouth with mine and said, “Now, go forth and conquer bad guys, starting with your Dad.” He stared at me a beat, decided to let it go then lifted a hand to my neck and gave me a squeeze.

Then he was gone.