December 18
“Deck the halls with boughs of holly…”
“I thought we agreed no holiday songs in the office.”
“We agreed no holiday music in the office,” I said, hanging fresh holly over the last window. “I didn’t think that included me singing.”
“Well it does,” said Carmedy, scowling.
I gave him my best look of wounded sorrow.
He sighed.
I added my brave waif smile for effect. I took as many drama electives as I could fit in when doing my undergraduate degree in psychology and criminology. It’s amazing how useful they proved to be in my professional life.
The cherry on top was a trembling lower lip a la Little Orphan Annie.
“Oh give it up,” he said, laughing. “I don’t believe that quiver for an instant.”
But I got you to laugh, I thought. These days, that’s victory enough.
By the terms of my father’s will, Carmedy and I became equal partners in his investigation agency. I took a leave of absence from the City Police Services to figure out what to do about that.
Carmedy thought I was crazy. Give up a secure job with benefits in this economy? But when had the economy not been an issue? I knew Dad didn’t expect me to inherit so soon. Well, I didn’t expect to lose my father so soon. Life happens.
He thought I was even crazier to take the cat-killer case. And he was pissed off I didn’t consult him. Fair enough, but how did he expect me to say no to the Chief?
But that was yesterday’s news. I was determined to reduce the tension between us. For ten years we had been avoiding each other because of a misunderstanding my darling father created. I had miles to go in the grieving department, but was tired of being sad all the time, and walking on eggshells around Carmedy was getting old.
“How are the reports going?”
“They’re going.” I glanced around the room and checked my handiwork. Not up to Thorsen standards but not too shabby either. “I’m making coffee. Want some?”
He looked at the half empty bottle of flat cola on his desk.
“I’ll make you a café au lait.”
“Yes, please.”
I nodded, a bit distracted. Something was missing.
“I could help you finish the reports. I’m almost done with the client statements.”
No way, budinski! It’s taken me days to make sense of and to streamline his raw notes. I didn’t say this though. I just shook my head.
“Then how about if I take your place on the patrol tonight?”
I laughed. “Miss prowling around in the cold and damp? No way! Besides, you’re the one who told me if I took a job without consulting you first, I’d have to do it myself.”
I heard the sigh and turned around in time to see the eye roll.
“I get it,” I said, hands up in surrender. “You have to work with Valerio on the Eldridge case. I want it tied up as tightly as possible too.” Damn straight. That was my father’s last case before he died.
He opened his mouth, but I didn’t let him get a word out.
“There are year-end statements and month-end invoices on your plate as well. And, no doubt, you have plans for Christmas. Have I missed anything?”
He shook his head and managed a smile. I turned back to the office kitchenette. A few minutes later, I presented Carmedy with his café au lait.
“Don’t worry, Carmedy, I’ll get the reports done…in time for you to see I did it right. Now that I’ve cleared my head and have fresh coffee, I’m good to go. But first…”
I remembered what I forgot. There was one last paper bag to empty. I picked it up and climbed on top of my desk.
“What the hell?”
I pulled out a bunch of fresh mistletoe, wired into a ball and tied with a red ribbon. I stepped over my work to hang the ball between our desks. I had to reach to secure the suction hook. I felt, rather than saw Carmedy move in, ready to catch me if I lost my balance. When the job was done, I reached to use his shoulder to steady me when I jumped down. He did me one better and lifted me off the desk. We both looked up, but the mistletoe was out of range.
I think I was relieved. Carmedy looked disapproving, either because we didn’t get to kiss or I put him in the position that we might. I went for the latter.
“Before you tell me it’s unprofessional to have mistletoe in the office, the plant was originally hung to bring peace.”
He went back to his desk muttering, “I knew that.”
“Thought you might need reminding.”