In Her Tracks (Tracy Crosswhite #8)(8)

Rex and Sherlock, their Rhodesian-mastiff mixes, greeted Tracy at the door, though not for long. They bolted past her, biting and playing with one another in the yard. Dan stood in the foyer dressed in his running attire, which explained the dogs’ excitement.

“Hey,” he said, giving her a kiss. “They haven’t been out today.”

“I see that. Therese didn’t get them out?”

“Therese took Daniella to the zoo. They’re stuck in I-5 traffic trying to get to the 520 bridge.”

“That area is always a mess, but especially during rush hour. When does she expect to get home?”

“She expected to get home before five. I suspect she won’t be home until close to six. Join me on a run before it gets too dark?”

Tracy really wanted her Daniella fix. “Ugh,” she said.

“You have all the enthusiasm of a soldier starting the Bataan Death March.”

“Less,” she said. “I had a trying day at the office.”

“Excuses, excuses. Do I make up excuses when I’m in trial and you’re running me into the ground?”

“I think you just answered your own question.”

“We have precious alone time. So, it’s either sex or running, and I know Rex and Sherlock’s vote.”

“That makes it three to one.” She hurried past him up the stairs to change clothes.

He called after her. “You could have at least contemplated the sex.”

They ran the trail behind the house, the brown summer grass just starting to turn green from the fall rain. Final daylight bathed the trail and grass in a golden hue. Rex and Sherlock, as usual, took off as if shot from a cannon, racing up the hill. They’d soon slow down, panting and out of breath.

It took ten minutes before Tracy found her pace and her wind, at least enough that she could hold a conversation with Dan, who had been jabbering from his first step.

“You able to talk now without passing out?” Dan said.

“I can hear you huffing and puffing over there, too, Kip Keino.”

“Kip Keino? The Olympic gold medalist? Wow. You’re dating yourself.”

“My mom and dad talked about him. What’s your excuse?”

“I’m old.”

“Some days I feel old.”

“Okay, enough self-flagellation,” Dan said. “Tell me about your day.”

She told him about Maria Fernandez, and about Nolasco’s offer that she work cold cases.

“What did you tell him?” Dan asked, the concern clear in the tone of his voice.

“Nothing yet, but he didn’t leave me a lot of options.”

“You could file a complaint with the union. You’re entitled to get your job back.”

“I could, and I would look like a woman whining. I don’t have that luxury with two breasts.”

“Well, for God’s sake don’t give up the breasts.”

She laughed.

“Seriously,” Dan said. “Your colleagues would know it’s a legit beef.”

“I’d lose,” she said. “Nolasco was short two detectives with Faz out on medical leave, and Kins and Del both asked him for the help. I can’t claim discrimination, because Fernandez also has breasts and she’s a minority, which the department is pushing for promotion. And, technically, Nolasco is offering me a job in Violent Crimes.”

“But not your job.”

“I don’t want to alienate Maria. She didn’t do anything wrong. She deserves a position. Just not mine.”

“When do you have to let Nolasco know?”

Tracy sidestepped Rex, who barreled out of the grass and ran across her path. “End of today.”

Dan stopped running. “Are you kidding me?”

Tracy surged past him, then slowed. “Nolasco wanted an answer. I didn’t give him one.”

Dan caught up to her. “He could have called to give you time to think about it.”

“You’re mistaking him for human. I told you, he’s a reptile.”

The path narrowed, just wide enough for one person. “This is bullshit,” Dan said. “You don’t need it. Stay home with Daniella.”

“I’m considering that.” She glanced over her right shoulder. “A lot. But I don’t want to be rash about this. There are advantages to think about.”

“Such as.”

The path widened and Dan pulled alongside her. “In cold cases I’m a team of one. Nunzio pretty much said he did what he wanted. He worked nine to five Monday through Friday, unless he was pursuing a lead, and that schedule is certainly advantageous with Daniella at home. We can spend weekends together. Unless you’re in trial.”

Dan didn’t respond.

“Cat got your tongue?”

He stopped running. Rex and Sherlock continued, trampling the tall grass and occasionally stopping to chew the blades. Tracy jogged past Dan several steps, then jogged in place until she realized he wasn’t just pausing. She walked back to him. She knew what he was thinking but asked anyway. “What?”

“I’m worried about you.”

“I think you once said worrying is a part of loving.”

“That was Faz.”

“He’s poetic for a big goombah.”