A chunk of the ceiling the size of a laptop fell and splattered on the middle of my desk. Sizing it was easy since it landed directly on top of where I normally kept my laptop. Thankfully, I still had it locked away in the filing cabinet for safety. This time the safety part wasn't from robbers.

Smaller pieces of soggy ceiling material and other unidentified bits rained down with a steady stream of water. At least it was no longer a waterfall. Everything literally crumbled around me. Just like my case.

What a freaking horrible day.

A mold smell filled the air. Wonderful.

I'd probably contract some horrible disease and have to go to the hospital. A nurse would kill someone and I'd have to solve the crime while hopped up on meds.

Actually, that would be a pretty kick ass.

I sucked in a deep breath of moldy air.

The water slowed, becoming more of a trickle than anything else, but I didn't move. It had already soaked through my coat and pants, so what was the point? The window on my door was now made of cardboard. My car had bullet holes in the bumper and a broken back window. The office having an extensive water leak and no ceiling was just the cherry on my crap cupcake.

Someone gave a single knock on the door and then pushed it open. Since I no longer had a window, there was no warning of my intruder. Probably ninjas to finish the job.

"Hey Vonnie, I saw your car out front..." the sentence trailed off. Tony poked his head into my small space, and his eyes widened. He finished opening the door and stood just a foot inside my office. "You look busy. I'll come back at a better time."

He backed out of the door and then closed it behind him.

I sneezed.

Water sloshed over the desk from the wave it created.

Great. Just great. I got the mold disease I asked for and now regretted. I couldn't handle any more crap. Through it all, I'd kept moving, but every woman had her limits, and I'd hit mine.

I wanted my dog, my warm bed, and Broadrick.

A bowl of ice cream.

Water squished from my coat pocket as I pulled my phone from it.

Broadrick answered on the first ring. "Babe?"

"I need you." It wasn't a long sentence, but it portrayed everything.

"I'll be right there," he said and then hung up.

Of course he would be. Broadrick was always there when I needed him the most. I could kick ass again tomorrow. Right then, I needed a cuddle. And that ice cream.

I dragged my hand across the desk and sent a puddle of water to the soaked carpet. A single motorcycle engine revved somewhere outside my office. The trickle of water turned into a drip, but it'd already done its job of drenching me by the time Broadrick made it through my office door.

Broadrick's eyes were as wide as Tony's when he saw me sitting at my desk with water everywhere. Except, unlike Tony, he didn't back away.

"Babe," Broadrick said as he walked across the space, his heavy military boots squishing with each step on the wet carpet. He took off his black leather jacket and handed it to me.

I held out my hands to refuse. "No, I'm all wet."

He grabbed my hand, pulled me from the chair, and wrapped the coat over my shoulders. "I don't care."

"At least it's not jail," I said, staring up at him as he held me close.

Broadrick chuckled. "I'll take care of this later. Let's go home. It's late."

The fact I didn't argue with him about it being my home and not his stood as a testament to my weariness.

"Does it smell like a deadly mold to you?" I asked as he helped through the doorway into the hall. "How much time do you think I have left?"

He crinkled his forehead at the question. "I don't know."

"Really? Something they didn't teach you in the military? How odd."

Broadrick laughed but cut off as the bitter cold winter night hit me in my soggy clothes as we walked outside. I'd try again tomorrow.

**

The next morning-on a Saturday, mind you-a heavy pounding on the front door woke me. It was just rude. Everyone should get to sleep in on Saturdays. This part sucked about everyone knowing where you lived. I might get away with ignoring a phone call or text but not ignoring the sounds of my door caving in.

Someone had good practice on their cop knock.

NB woke up and stretched at the end of the bed. At the second set of knocks, he faced the bedroom door and barked twice.

"Okay, okay," I said and threw back the covers.

He circled once and lay back down after confirming I had the murderous intruders under control.

"Don't just answer the door to anyone," Broadrick said, and also slipped out of bed.

I shoved on my pink fluffy slippers and wrapped a thin black robe around my pajamas. "Don't worry. The ninjas don't announce their presence."

"What?" he asked as he led the way to the front door.

Sunlight poured in through the windows, but from the heavy feeling of my eyes, it couldn't have been past nine. On a Saturday. Did I mention the Saturday part?

Broadrick opened the door with his body blocking the way, but once I saw who it was, I pushed him to the side.

"What in the hell do you want?" I demanded.

Detective Anderson, already wearing his long tan trench coat with his police badge hanging from his neck and his hair perfectly styled, smiled from my small front porch. "Morning to you too, sunshine."

Broadrick growled. He had hair sticking up on one side from sleeping and he had sheet marks across his cheek, so it wasn't as intimidating as it should have been.

"I need help," Anderson said.

He pushed past me and forced us all into the living room. What was with people in this town barging their way into homes?

We created a deformed circle beside my couch as we stood off against one another. I didn't trust Anderson on a good day, but I really didn't trust him before nine on a Saturday. "What's in it for me?"

Anderson's mouth dropped open. "One of the forty-seven times I haven't arrested you yet."

He had a point.

Damn it.

"Ugh, fine. What is this overreaching favor you want from me?" He didn't barge in for something simple.

He motioned to the door as it opened. "I need you to stay with Lainey for me because I have to go out of town overnight."

Lainey walked in and turned our mismatched circle into a square. She hunched her shoulders and only made eye contact with the floor. What happened since I saw her last? If Anderson upset her, I'd totally get revenge.

"Why does Lainey need a babysitter?" I asked.

Her head popped up at my question, and then she glanced at Anderson to answer. I left him a spunky bakery girl recruit, and he'd sucked the life out of her. I told her he was bad news.

"Her ex, Tyler," he said. It seemed Lainey had gotten too truthful with Anderson. It was probably the bullets, so I forgave her for breaking girl code. "He's stepped up his attacks. He's been repeatedly calling her home and family. She has an appointment with a judge on Monday, but we need to keep her safe until then. She just told me everything this morning, so I haven't had a lot of time to prepare."

"You have an entire police force at your disposable," I said but definitely laid it out like a question.

Lainey stepped forward. "I'm sure I'll be safe at home. Anderson is being overly cautious. We really don't need to make a fuss."

I shook my head and rubbed her shoulder for comfort. That worked on some people. Lainey's red hair was in a high ponytail and it didn't look like she'd washed it that morning. This had her worried, too, even if she wanted to pretend differently. "In this town, you can never be too safe. I just want to hear his reasoning."

Anderson looked two seconds away from an eye roll. "Because I have to follow rules. I can't put my department on her or someone might say it's a misuse of resources and public funds. This isn't the time to have scrutiny on the force."

Another interesting choice of words from Anderson. Also another reminder of why I didn't become a cop. Too many rules.

"Fine," I said with a jerk of my shoulders. "I'll do it. You only needed to say it was for Lainey. I like her."

Her smile met mine.

Lainey was adorable and would make an outstanding bakery girl one day. Even if she had a not-so-secret crush on Anderson.

Anderson left with a promise he'd check in with her, and Broadrick walked him the two feet to the door, whispering to each other. I tried to listen, but they were good at lowering their voices.

Once Broadrick closed the door on Anderson, I turned to Lainey. "Let me get dressed and we'll go cause trouble."

Broadrick groaned as I walked away, but he didn't understand. Lainey clearly needed a trip to the bakery for cupcakes, gossip, and good advice. It was written all over her.

It took me a full twenty minutes to figure out what to wear. I just didn't know what the day might bring and wanted to be prepared for all situations. In the end I settled on some fleece-lined leggings to help me stay limber in case I had to beat anyone up in a dark alleyway. A light sweater topped it off, and then I stole Broadrick's black leather coat. It hadn't gotten wet like mine, which was still airing out over the top of the kitchen heating vent. And black leather looked damn good on me.

Lainey stuck to the front of the car and didn't ask me about the bullet holes or safety conditions. I liked how trusting she was. It meant that she'd be more likely to go along with my plans and not ask too many questions. All great attributes in an accomplice.

Broadrick watched from the porch as I waved at him while backing out of the driveway and turning to the north. Except, I drove right past the turn on Main Street.

And kept going.