The Captain's Placeholder: My Husband's Secret

in the corner shaped like a bruised lung. Kelsie stared at it, counting the cracks in

ee

n gone for

t a phone that didn't ring, then did ring, then didn't ring

mugs of coffee. She looked like she hadn't slept much eit

ting on the edge of the mattress. "Did you

hed for the coffee, needing the heat to seep into h

ia asked, he

thread with Judge was open. The last message was from her

No blue bubble. No 'Read' rec

d, her chest tightening. It felt like a physical w

tment is his favorite sport, remember?" She stood up and pulled the curtains open. The Boston s

p streets. The city lights blurred in the rearview mirror. Kelsie leaned

gers on the steering wheel. "You coul

said, though her vo

slow. Brake lights painted the

a groaned.

gh the windshield. It

lig

ildings, rhythmic and jarring. A line of c

the time on the dashboard. "It's bare

rational reaction. She wasn't driving. She hadn't been drinking. But the sight of those lights, t

lower in the passenger seat, pul

r. "We're fine. Unless you're hid

ugh, but it came o

t was waving cars through or stopping them. He looked

indow as he approache

ne his flashlight into the back seat, then swe

blinding her for a second.

e radio on his shoulder. He muttered something low into the receiver. Kelsie

Kia asked, her voice l

. He took a step back, h

nd the patrol car, a s

el and asphalt. The sound was di

tic bird trapped in a cage. She knew that w

d into the halo o

e Ga

linting in the harsh light. His face was a mask of stone, hard angles and

ere locked

ookie said, snap

a hand, a dismissive gesture that sent the youn

or a moment, looming over them, blocking out the city lights. The

kle against Kelsie

echoed in

t," he

Kia. Kia looked furious, but also a little scared. One didn't say

on. The glass slid down

ing the scent of rain, exhaust, and

wn until his face was level with Kelsie's. His eyes

voice a low, gravelly rumble that vibrated in Kels

sie managed to say, her

ics," h

aning across the console. "Sh

azor blade. "Stay out of this, Ms. Chen. Unless you w

mouth, her

back to Kelsie. He held out

Kel

asked. "I'm

ked for it,"

umb. She pulled out her wallet and extracted

t the name. Kelsie Gamble. He ran his thumb o

around the plastic card

ed. Judge didn't flinch

, hold this vehicle. We're

," the radio

wasn't just stopping them. H

nse," Kelsie said, pani

cket, right behind his badge. A hos