Shane nods to everyone, shaking their hands.
“Here,” Eric says, handing me several thumb drives.
“Are these the security footage from the train station?” I ask.
“Yes, I figured you could use these quickly,” he tells us.
“Thank you. Any new leads?” I ask, looking at the whiteboard.
“No,” Michelle says softly.
I walk over and squeeze her hand. “What help do you all need?” I ask.
“We’ve finished going through all the past case files, checked on all the convicted, their families, and associates. We found nothing,” Frankie says.
Michelle tears up, and Eric pulls her close. “We are not giving up on finding her, and I know wherever she is, she is fighting to get back to us,” Eric says, and I nod in agreement.
“As hard as this is to say, I think everyone needs to go home and decompress for the night,” I hold up my hand because I know Declan is getting ready to argue with me.
“Listen, I’m not saying don’t care, I’m saying walk away tonight, get a good meal, watch some TV, go to the gym, or whatever it is you like to do normally, then get a good night's sleep. None of you look like you’ve slept in two weeks. When you take care of yourself, things seem clearer. Then come back refreshed, and maybe something you haven’t thought of will come to mind. As long as we all keep going around in circles nothing will get accomplished. Kim needs us all at our best, and right now, no one is at their best,” I tell them all, but looking pointedly at Declan, who looks worse than everyone else.
Eric nods.
“How about we all go get something to eat together, Heath and I can catch you up on the Train Killer, everyone can eat, then go home and do whatever relaxes you before you go to sleep,” I tell them.
“Okay,” Michelle says, softly. “You are right, we can’t keep going in circles, we need something new or fresh eyes.”
I look over at Frankie, he nods, then I look at Declan, he takes a deep sigh, then nods in agreement.
“I’m going to call Chris and see if he is available to come,” Heath says, stepping out to call Chris.
Everyone shuts off their computers, turning off the lights as we walk out. I quickly grab my laptop case, and shut the door behind me, while Eric locks it.
“Where shall we go to eat?” I ask the group when the elevator doors open.
“Let’s go to the Italian place down the road,” Declan suggests, and it makes me happy to see he is taking what I said to heart.
“That sounds perfect,” Michelle says as we get off the elevator and we walk down the sidewalk to the restaurant.
I watch as Heath sends Chris a text telling him where to meet us.
Eric goes in first to get us a table, and we wait until he comes out to tell us they have one available that will accommodate us.
We all make our way inside and follow the hostess to a table in the back. A few minutes after we sit down, Chris comes in and makes his way to our table.
“Hey, everyone,” Chris says, taking a seat next to Heath. “Hey babe, missed you,” he whispers to him.
“Missed you too,” Heath says, smiling big at Chris.
Heath had already ordered Chris a drink, so the waitress went around the table taking our orders.
Shane and I both order the lasagna meal, once orders are taken, conversation flows freely, and there is no discussion about work, or Kim, though we can all feel her absence around the table. I do give credit to everyone, they are at least trying.
Once dinner is done, everyone heads back to the parking lot at work and gets in their vehicles, waving good night to each other.
I drive us to my place, and I’m a bit nervous taking Shane to my apartment. It isn’t much, but it’s home for when I’m there.
“Dinner was great,” Shane says.
“It was, and I’m glad most everyone allowed themselves to relax,” I tell him as we pull into my complex.
I park the car, and we both exit it, going to the trunk to get our bags.
“They all were really trying, though I have to ask, is Declan and Kim in a relationship?”
“That is a good question. I think they are, though neither one has ever admitted to it, and I’m wondering if they are taking a page out of Michelle and Eric’s book,” I tell him, leading him up the walkway to my door.
“Huh?” he asks, and I know he is confused.
“I’ll explain inside,” I tell him as I place the key in the door, unlocking it, and turning the knob to open.
We walk inside, and I drop my keys and purse on the console table, before walking over to the thermostat and dropping the temperature. Now that I am home, I want to be comfortable, but there is no reason to run it if I’m not there.
I take my bag to the bedroom, open it up, and put all the clothes in the laundry hamper. Shane follows me into the bedroom, and I tell him, “You can put your bag over there if you want,” as I grab the hamper and walk to the washing machine down the hall. I get the laundry started, and then ask him, “Want some coffee?”
“Sure, coffee sounds good,” he calls back.
I make my way to the kitchen and start a pot of coffee, and Shane walks in.
