The Hutchins Street house was perfect. Nolan had done a fantastic job tending to every final touch. This was the first time I’d let him fly solo on that score and it was clear he had a knack for it. He’d set out fresh-cut flowers in glass vases on every end table. I’d bake a plate of cinnamon rolls in the morning so the scent would fill every room just ahead of the open house.

It would sell, I had no doubt. Between the purchase price and reno, I was all in at two hundred thousand dollars. I stood to clear one hundred grand and maybe more. It would make this house one of my widest profit margins yet. The next project could be even bigger and better. Hutchins Street and all of the north end was changing. Businesses were starting to come back into the industrial park ten blocks over.

“I hope you like it, Pops,” I whispered as I stood in the new foyer opening into the grand living space. I knew he would have. My father would have wanted to be at the open house with me. He’d talk the ear off anyone who would listen about the ethnic history of the neighborhood.

I lingered there, feeling connected to Chase even though he’d wanted to leave everything about this place behind. He couldn’t. No one could. I believe we leave part of our heart and soul in every place we live. How could we not? Sadness, triumphs, grief, loss, love. All of it played out between the four walls that contained us.

I walked to the back of the house where the master bedroom beckoned. “Are you here, Rochelle?” I whispered. Closing my eyes, I tried to shut out the echoes of the horror she’d suffered here. Maybe it would have been better if I’d just torn the place down and started over. Had I known beforehand, I think I would have. Now fresh sunlight stabbed through the French doors bringing perhaps a tiny sliver of hope.

I should have brought champagne. It felt like this room should be rechristened just like a ship. Let it be reborn. Let it provide comfort and solace to a new family with new hopes and dreams. If I were a witch, I would have cast a spell driving out the demons of the past. It would be pretty to think it worked that way.

Finally, it was time to go. I knew I’d probably never be in this house alone again. That was for the best. The deck off the bedroom had a glorious view of a perfect sunset. We’d put a little iron bistro set out there. It was perfect. Everything was perfect. Exhaling, I said one more goodbye and let go.

As I came out the front door, my phone rang, setting my heart flipping. Fingers shaking, I swiped away the lock screen. It was Chase.

“Hey,” I said, breathless.

“Hey,” he answered back. “You in the middle of anything?”

“Are you kidding? Oh my God, I’m going to wring your neck. How are you? Where are you? What happened?”

Chase’s soft laughter both thrilled and infuriated me. How could he be so damn casual? Josie had described this morning as business as usual. God, I didn’t know if I’d ever be able to get there.

“Baby, it’s all good. For now. Only, I kind of need a favor. You think you could come downtown and pick me up? They’ve kicked us all out.”

“I’ll be there in twenty minutes,” I said, barely able to get the words out as relief poured through me. I wanted to kill him. I wanted to hug him. I wanted to jump his bones. Everything about my feelings for Chase seemed to come in extremes.

He said other things, but I didn’t hear them. I raced to my truck and barreled down Hutchins Street. I knew it wouldn’t do either of us any good if I got pulled over for speeding, but I decided I didn’t care. I raced across the Port Azrael Bridge, saying a prayer that the drawbridge hadn’t been raised. It would have been just my luck to have to wait a half hour for a freighter or something.

I pulled into the Lachlan Federal Building. Port Azrael was small enough that the place housed a magistrate, a satellite office of the FBI, U.S. Attorneys, and a post office all in one. They also had holding cells for prisoner transfers. I pulled into a no parking zone getting a sideways glance from two men standing near the entrance. They were U.S. Marshals. I gave them a broad smile and a wave, then rushed past them.

I had no idea where to meet Chase. He hadn’t said. It didn’t matter, nothing would keep me from him.

“Hey, miss!” one of the marshals called after me. My heart thundered but I didn’t stop. He shouted again, his tone taking greater urgency.

Then nothing mattered. The front door of the building opened and Chase walked out. He twirled his cut around his shoulders and slid his arms through the sleeves. Catching my eye, he beamed.

“You lost, darlin’?” The marshal got to me.

I was already gone. I threw myself into Chase’s arms and showered him with kisses.