Alone in the Dark

‘Oh wow.’ Scarlett pulled back far enough to see his face. ‘That’s beautiful.’

‘That’s what I said. Then I asked the new husband if he was okay with that and didn’t he want to name the baby after himself. He said naming it after one of us had been his idea. That if we hadn’t gotten her free, he wouldn’t have a family today.’

Scarlett’s eyes stung. ‘That’s lovely,’ she whispered, not trusting her voice.

Marcus smiled the smile she loved the best, the one that filled his eyes. ‘Then the husband said he was grateful we’d said it was okay to choose Cal, because he didn’t want a kid named Diesel. He was even more relieved when I told him that Diesel’s real name is Elvis.’

Scarlett laughed. ‘I guess he would be relieved about that.’

‘So it is a wonderful world,’ he said quietly. ‘For them.’

Scarlett sighed. ‘You can’t fix everything for everyone, Marcus. You can only do your best, one day at a time. Sometimes bad things happen and we can’t change them. Some people are going to get away with murder and some families will be broken. I can’t put every killer behind bars and you can’t save every abused mother and child.’

‘We do what we can,’ he murmured. ‘But if I’m not doing what I was doing before, what will I do?’

‘You mean how can you continue helping people but do it legally so that your girlfriend doesn’t have to throw your ass in jail?’ she asked dryly.

He kissed the tip of her nose. ‘Yes. That.’

She rested her head on his chest. ‘I don’t know what you should do, but I know you’ll figure it out. Whatever you decide to do, you need to remember that you’re not alone. Not ever again. Got that, Mr O’Ba

‘I think I got it, Detective. I think I should start building a gazebo tomorrow. With screens to keep out the bugs that are eating me alive. And maybe a shade or two for privacy.’

‘Mrs Pepper’s watching us again?’

He smiled. ‘From her upstairs window.’

Scarlett smiled back. ‘Then I say we give her a show.’

He kissed her hard. ‘I don’t think her heart can take what I have in mind.’

She laughed when he stood, carrying her in his arms as if she weighed nothing. ‘I bet she’s swooning right now,’ she said.

‘Good for her. Are you swooning?’

‘I have been since the moment I first heard your voice. Sing for me and I’m putty in your hands. Play for me and . . . well, hopefully your heart can take what happens next.’

He dipped her so that she could grab his guitar. ‘I think I’m willing to risk it.’