“Criminals.”
Ivy shot him a quelling look. “In case you’ve forgotten, I’m a criminal.”
“You saved Maisie’s life. The fact that you were even charged under those circumstances makes me furious.”
“Yes, well ... it is what it is.” She held her hands out and shrugged. “I have to do what I have to do.”
“I guess.” Max didn’t look convinced, but he cracked a smile. “It’s really upped my street cred to say I have a sister in the system, so thank you for that. People all over town are afraid of me.”
That was enough to pull a genuine smile from Ivy. “How lovely for you. I used the term ‘street cred’ with Jack earlier. It must be a family thing.”
Max snorted. “Yes, we’re total geeks.” He sobered as he regarded his sister. She wore khaki pants and a staid shirt, so different from her normal wardrobe of ankle-length skirts and peasant blouses. She didn’t look like herself. “I really am sorry this is happening to you.”
“I know. It’s okay, though. I really do like the women I’m working with. They’re even entertaining at times.”
“They’re not violent, are they?”
Ivy shook her head. “Pot, credit card fraud, and drunk driving.”
“Well, I guess it could be worse.” His smile was back. “You should carry pizza in your pocket. That way, if the pothead becomes violent, you have something at the ready to distract her.”
“Oh, what a good idea.” Ivy rolled her eyes. “Anyway, I’m here for a reason. I have to meet my crew about a quarter of a mile down the road. I was hoping I could leave my car here so I don’t have to park it on the shoulder and risk it being hit.”
“That’s fine.” Concern etched Max’s face. “Can I bring you lunch or something? I mean, is that allowed? I’ll go all out and get you whatever you want.”
“That’s sweet, but I’m technically not allowed to interact with people outside the system while I’m working. There was a big thing when Jack turned up on the scene yesterday.”
“Oh, geez.” Max shook his dark head. “Now they know you’re engaged to a cop, huh? They’re going to give you endless grief over that.”
“They’ve already started, although I think it’s going to be worse now that everyone has had a night to think it over. It will be okay, though. I think my crew chief is more upset than anybody else.”
Max didn’t like the sound of that one bit. “Maybe you should ask Jack to make a call. Maybe he can get you transferred.”
“I’m pretty sure Jack has called in every favor owed to him as it is. Actually, I’m fairly certain that Brian has called in a few, too. That’s how I got off so light in the first place. Neither of them have said anything — they wouldn’t want that getting out — but it’s become fairly obvious.”
Max was horrified. “You mean it could’ve been worse?”
“A lot worse. As for lunch, I brought my own.” She held up the small bag she had clutched in her hand. “Just peanut butter, but it will be enough to get me through the afternoon.”
“That’s not enough food,” Max complained. “Let me pick you up something. I can hide in the bushes and give it to you when nobody is looking.”
The picture Max painted in her mind was enough to make Ivy laugh. “Yeah, then you’ll end up working right beside me.”
To Max, that didn’t sound like a bad idea. “Maybe we should try that. I mean ... it can’t hurt, right? I’ll get in minor trouble and then we’ll be chain gang siblings. Mom and Dad will be able to lord it over all their friends in Florida. No one else will be able to claim that about their kids.”
Ivy pinned him with a pointed look. “Um, no. I think you should keep your nose clean. In a few weeks, this will be nothing more than a funny story we tell when drunk at Christmas.”
“I guess.” Max rubbed his chin, thoughtful. “People are saying that it was Sasha Carmichael. Is that true?”
Ivy nodded, grim. “It was. Jack thinks she might’ve been hit by a car, but they’re not certain. They have to wait for confirmation from the medical examiner.”
“That is a complete and total bummer. She was always a nice girl. I was considering dating her before I met Amy.”
Before Max met Amy, he dated pretty much everyone. Ivy was certain that trend would continue forever when the pretty blonde appeared out of nowhere and knocked her brother for a loop. Now they were inseparable, and Ivy was fairly certain they would stay that way. Hearing her brother mention his previous dating habits seemed somehow jarring despite the fact that he’d only been with Amy for a few months.
“I think we’re all glad it didn’t come to that.” She clapped him on the shoulder. “I need to get going. I don’t want to be dinged for being late. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Yeah. Um, Ivy?” Max was unnaturally serious. “If you need help down there, don’t hesitate to call.”
“My phone is locked in my car. I can’t have it with me for work.”
Fury lit Max’s handsome features. “Then scream. I’ll have my superhero hearing on. I’ll know if you need me.”
It was a ludicrous thing to say, but Ivy smiled all the same. “Thanks for that. Somehow I think I’ll survive, though.”
“I’m your brother. I want to make sure of that.”
“You’re a good brother.”
“I am.”
Ivy chuckled. “A good brother with a teeny-tiny ego.”
“That’s the best sort of brother to have.”
JACK AND BRIAN WERE AT THE MEDICAL examiner’s office right when it opened. Danny Brady, one of the chief pathologists on the county’s team, was barely two sips into his first cup of coffee when they pushed into the lab.
“I should’ve known you guys would be here with the sun,” he complained, shaking his head. “You
