“Well, that’s the other reason for my call. I’d like to discuss a job opportunity with you.”
My heart stuttered. “I’m sorry. What?”
“Are you in a position to talk? This might take a few minutes.”
I glanced at Kayden. He’d paused his work, watching me with curious concern. I gave him a small nod and stood, moving toward the open door where the late afternoon sun slanted across the red dirt.
“I can talk.”
“I’ve been following your situation with Internal Affairs. I also pulled a couple of your case files.”
I groaned. Great.
“Your solve rate is impressive. Very impressive.”
Oh, I wasn’t expecting that. “Thank you, but ...”
“As you know, I’m the cold case detective in Rosebud,” he continued, “specifically, missing persons and unsolved murders throughout Queensland. It’s a small unit, chronically underfunded, and we’re drowning in backlog.” He paused. “Just the cases that Frank Branson detailed in his notes, and the ones that bastard Bob Ackerman contaminated, could keep me busy for years. And that’s before we get into the historical cases—disappearances never properly investigated, like my sister, Charlotte.”
My pulse quickened. I leaned against the doorframe, watching Kayden work while Parker spoke.
“I need someone sharp,” Parker continued. “Someone dedicated. Someone who understands that region, knows the people, and has the instincts to see connections others might miss. Someone who wants to do real detective work that matters.”
“You’re offering me a job?”
“I am, as a civilian consultant, to start, until the IA investigation concludes, and we can sort out your official status. You’ll be working under Aria’s jurisdiction, Wolf Security. The pay isn’t great, I won’t lie. But the work is meaningful.”
My breath caught.
“The skeleton in the cave is just one case,” Parker continued. “I’d like you to take the lead on that girl’s body under the drum in the cave. Once we dig out her remains, Whitney can process the bones, then we can hand the findings over to you. There are dozens of cases linked to Bob and Frank, probably more, once we really dig into it—years of work ahead of us. But it’s work that needs doing, work you’re uniquely qualified for, given your unfortunate connection to those bastards.”
I turned and found Kayden watching me from across the shed. He’d stopped working on the engine. Our eyes met, and the sadness in his gaze strangled my heart.
He’d been listening to my side of the call, and he already knew what this offer meant. Me leaving here. Moving to Rosebud. Distance. Time apart.
“I’m interested,” I said. My voice trembled. “Very interested.”
“Why do I feel like there’s a but coming?”
I studied Kayden, and my heart ached.
Ten years ago, I’d walked away from the man I loved. And every day since, some part of me had wondered what would have happened if I’d stayed.
I wasn’t doing that again. Not to him. Not to us. I’d lost my badge and the world hadn’t ended.
The job was a dream. Real cold case work. Justice for forgotten victims. Closure for families like Parker and his triplet brothers, who had been searching for their missing sister for twenty years. But if I lost Kayden, I wasn’t sure I’d recover from it twice.
“I’m sorry, Parker. I can’t move to Rosebud. I’m living at Koolaroo Ranch now, and I’d like to stay here … with Kayden.”
There was a pause on the other end. Then Parker chuckled. “I thought I’d seen a spark between you two. Glad my instincts work on more than just long-lost loved ones.”
I giggled. “Were we that obvious?”
“Hey, trust me, that’s a good thing. Anyway, I should’ve mentioned this can be done remotely. Most of what I do these days is digital: old case files, old photos, computer searches, and phone interviews. You’d need to travel for some fieldwork, but the bulk of it can be done from wherever you’re based. I’ll set you up with a computer, printer, the lot. I just hope you have a spot with some blank walls to set up some crime scene boards.”
I couldn’t wipe the smile from my face. Across the shed, Kayden was still watching me. I lifted my eyes to his. He let out a breath I think he’d been holding the whole call. His shoulders dropped. A slow smile broke across his face.
“I have the perfect place.”