“I told you she’d stop laughing,” Spenser said.

“Right you were, Sheriff. Right you were,” Amanda replied.

“I don’t get it. Why didn’t she just dump the kit?” Ryker asked.

“She said she was going to when the heat was off. She was afraid of somebody finding it in the trash or something,” Spenser replied. “It’s like I kept telling everybody, she’s highly intelligent, but she’s not a smart criminal. She doesn’t think that way. I really believe that underneath it all, she’s a good person, and she just let herself get caught up in her emotions. Let them make her do something profoundly stupid.”

“I think most of us have been there.”

“I know I have.”

With Layla Li safely ensconced in a cell down at the office pending transport to Seattle where she would be incarcerated pending trial, and the syringe/bottle sent off for DNA/blood tests (which would inevitably come back with Seth’s blood on it), Spenser decided to take the night off. She’d earned a night to relax and decompress. And to celebrate a successful end to her case, Ryker had brought the dogs down to the town center and laid out a nice picnic. They shared a meal and a bottle of wine on the green as they listened to the string quartet on stage.

Candles and dim lighting on stage softly illuminated the players, casting a soft nimbus onto the ground around the bandstand. The night was dark, and the gentle breeze carried a hint of summer warmth. There were a few dozen other couples and families on the green around them, picnicking and taking in the beautiful music.

“This is absolutely perfect,” Spenser said. “Thank you for putting this together.”

“You’re welcome. I thought you deserved to celebrate a win.”

“I appreciate that.”

Spenser threw a piece of meat from her dinner to Annabelle and one to Mocha. They both snatched the treat out of the air and swallowed it whole then looked to her for more.

“You two need to learn to savor your food,” Spenser said with a laugh.

“Good luck with that. These two are absolute chow hounds,” Ryker remarked.

Annabelle laid her big, blocky head on Spenser’s lap as she closed her eyes and let the music wash over her. She savored every note with a peaceful smile on her face. Nights like these nourished her soul every bit as much as the company nourished her heart. Spenser was grateful to have somebody like Ryker in her life. He was so kind and thoughtful, and he was always surprising her with gestures both big and small. More than that though, Ryker gave her a sense of peace. The sense she as protected. Those things had been rare in her life since Trevor died.

Spenser looked over at Ryker and the emotions bubbled up inside of her. She opened her mouth to give voice to them when her phone rang. She let out a low grumble, irritated at having the moment ruined, and gave thought to ignoring it. But her sense of duty was like a millstone around her neck. Even when she was off the clock, she wasn’t ever really off the clock.

“I’m sorry,” she said.

Ryker offered her an expression of understanding. “Nothing for you to be sorry about.”

Spenser pulled her phone out of her pocket and connected the call.

“Song.”

“Spenser, it’s Maggie.”

“Hey, Maggie. We’re at the—”

“You need to get down to City Hall right away.”

The serious tone of the mayor’s voice sent a cold ripple through Spenser’s heart. She knew immediately that Rafe Johansen and Alex Ricci were responsible for whatever was happening down there and the cold ripple in her heart turned absolutely frigid.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

“Emergency meeting and I think you want to be here for it.”

She looked at Ryker, the pangs of frustration and regret mixed in with the anxiety swelling within her. And when he gave her a look that said he understood, Spenser felt completely unworthy of the man.

“I’m on my way,” she said and disconnected the call.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

“They called an emergency meeting. Not sure what it’s about, but I think Rafe and Alex are making their move and coming for my job.”

“Sounds like it’ll be an exciting evening.”

She frowned. “I’m sorry. Tonight is just so—”

“Like I said, there’s nothing for you to be sorry about. I knew what I was signing up for when we got involved,” he said. “I’ll get the pups home. You go handle your business.”

“I’ll catch up with you when this is done.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

She leaned forward and gave him a long, lingering kiss, trying to convey everything she’d wanted to say but didn’t get the chance to.

“Kick some butt and take no prisoners, Song.”

“See you soon.”

Spenser walked into City Hall wrapped in feelings of dread and trepidation. There was a healthy crowd already there. She spotted Johansen, Ricci, and Kyra Foster on the far side of the antechamber conferring and surmised they’d managed to rally their troops in time to fill the chamber for this emergency meeting, making sure they had the home field advantage. It only increased the anxiety that had her wrapped in its iron grip.

“Good, you’re here.”

She turned as Maggie emerged from the crowd and stepped over to her. The woman’s stout body was taut, her hands clenched into fists, and she had a scowl on her face which wasn’t doing anything to reassure Spenser.

“What is this about?” Spenser asked.

“Johansen invoked an obscure rule to demand an immediate council vote on your impeachment,” she told her.

“You’re kidding me?”

“I’m pretty sure they’re doing it to blunt the good press you’re sure to get after closing the Hamill case. It’s underhanded and downright disgusting.”

“Why is the council going along with this?”

“They have no choice,” Maggie explained. “The rule is clearly part of the town’s bylaws. Their hands are tied, Spenser.”