Devil Smoke by C. J. Lyons Read Free Book Online Page B

deceptively simple twist that Lucy knew was too complicated for her to ever re-create with her own rambunctious curls.
    “Tiffany thought the kitchen might be a more relaxing place for a chat,” she explained. Valencia was the only person who used TK’s given name without fear of repercussions.
    “Good idea.” Even Lucy, whose culinary skill set began and ended with pressing a button on a microwave, adored Valencia’s kitchen. The room somehow radiated all the love and care that had gone into the hundred years’ worth of meals prepared there. It was a perfect place to get an anxious interview subject to relax. “So, things are working out? Having TK live here?”
    When Lucy had first met TK, the former Marine was camped out in an empty closet at the gym where she’d been teaching parkour and self-defense classes, and all her possessions were able to fit into the rucksack she carried on the old motorcycle she used for transportation. TK had reminded her of a feral cat then—homeless but too proud to ask for help. But now, living on the estate with Valencia, TK had shed her restless, aimless energy and was laser focused on her work.
    “I love having her here,” Valencia said. “And she’s a huge help to Xander.” The estate’s manager and Valencia’s personal assistant, Xander Chen, was in his sixties. Hong Kong born and raised, he had a British accent that always made Lucy think of Batman’s butler, Alfred. “But don’t blame me for her new attitude—that’s all on you.”
    “Me?” Lucy was surprised. It felt like she and TK argued about everything.
    Valencia’s smile widened. “The Texas case was a wake-up call for her. Seeing you in action, she realized how much she still has to learn. You’re her role model.”
    Lucy couldn’t help but glance down at her injured foot. Not even forty and already forced out of the job she’d loved, facing permanent disability, stripped of all her police powers, and placed in charge of a group of civilians? “Not sure I’m comfortable with that idea.”
    “Get used to it.” Valencia meant more than simply mentoring TK, Lucy knew. It was hard though, seeing Burroughs and Oshiro this morning, being reminded of everything she’d lost when she left the FBI. “You have a lot to offer, Lucy. And I think you’ll be surprised at how much working without the constraints of law enforcement’s bureaucracy and regulations can offer in return.”
    “Like interviewing a victim in your kitchen.”
    “More than that. If Detective Burroughs and Deputy Marshal Oshiro hadn’t gone the extra mile in bringing her to us, the police would have had little to offer Sarah once they established her identity and that no crime was involved. Social services can’t do much either—they’re much too bogged down in cases of abuse and neglect, helping those who can’t help themselves. But we don’t have those rules to follow, constraints placed by caseloads or a results-driven administrative culture. We can help her, make certain she doesn’t fall through the cracks.” Valencia glanced at the closed door beside them. “Besides, it’s nice to work a case that you already know has a happy ending, isn’t it?”
    Lucy couldn’t disagree. But there was another case that concerned her. “TK and Wash are worried about Tommy working this case. Apparently the anniversary of his wife’s disappearance is this week?”
    Valencia’s expression clouded. “I should have thought to give you a heads-up on that. I apologize. How’s he holding up?”
    “He’s going to document Sarah’s apartment for us, then he’s taking the rest of the week off to be with his daughter and hopefully escape the press.”
    “I’d hoped that working Sarah’s case would keep his mind off Charlotte.” Valencia sighed. “But it’s probably better this way. Her case… it’s so frustrating, so many false trails.”
    “Then you think she did leave voluntarily?”
    “The evidence points that way. Most of