Gunnar couldn't lie to himself any more about his attraction to the doctor. Liam's mix of professional confidence and personal vulnerability were enough to drive any alpha to insane, gibbering lust. It was amazing no one had snapped Liam up yet. Or maybe not amazing. Whoever Liam's ex was had damaged Liam, and Gunnar wanted to hunt down the man and beat him within an inch of his life.

Damaged, but not broken. Thank God.

From the back seat, Olivia chattered cheerfully about her new friend to Puff and Gunnar. "We're going to the carnival, right?"

This morning, Olivia had been tepid at best about the carnival, but now, her excitement was palpable. And that was thanks to Liam too. Gunnar was grateful. He even considered inviting Liam to join them, but it was too soon. Olivia was already becoming attached to the doctor, and after losing her barer father, Gunnar knew he could not officially bring anybody into their lives until he was sure they would stay. As hot as things were burning between him and Liam now, Gunnar couldn't risk it. He hadn't been with anyone since Adam had died. And in the month before Adam’s death, they had been fighting a lot. This attraction he felt to Liam could simply be in part the result of a long dry spell. Still, he wanted to enjoy it at least as well as he could without feeling disloyal to his husband's memory.

"Dad? Are you okay?"

He had pulled the car in front of the house. How long had they been sitting there? "Sorry, Olivia. Just woolgathering. You have your kung fu class at 9:30 tomorrow morning."

"I know. And then special sparring from 10:15 to 10:45. But we can still go to the carnival, right?"

"Of course. I'm glad you're excited about it."

They went into the house, and set Puff up with a big bowl of water and can of food in the kitchen. "I think you want to keep him in his own room overnight, just to be safe."

"Can he stay in my room? Puff likes to sleep with me."

"Okay. Just don't wear him out with too much playing. He's still recovering."

"I know. I promise."

If nothing else, at least Liam had taken Gunnar's mind off of his lack of progress in solving the murdered omega. Aside from a flower petal in the back of the man’s throat, the autopsy hadn’t yielded much they could use. There were signs of rough sex, possibly rape, but the perp had used a condom. And considering Reese’s profession, even a fluid sample wouldn't be conclusive. Gunnar hadn't been able to find any similar local cases within the past five years either.

Most of Gunnar’s day had been spent in court testifying in another matter, a domestic dispute which had left a beta's wife beaten and then shot in a struggle for the handgun. The perp had gotten Murder 2. Twenty five years to life with a chance of parole in fifteen. Not enough, considering the man's history of spousal abuse, but justice was imperfect.

Gunnar and Olivia ordered a pizza. Gunnar knew it was his responsibility as a parent to make sure his daughter had healthy meals, so he made sure to add broccoli and green peppers, but he hadn't had the energy to cook. Adam had always been better at cooking. Gunnar managed pasta, stir-fry, and scrambled eggs. He could grill a mean steak too. He knew Olivia missed Adam’s special meals though she didn't complain.

Of course, what kid complained about pizza?

They finished up and watched a movie before Olivia went to bed. Olivia was generally good about bedtime, especially on Fridays because she didn't want to be groggy for Saturday morning kung fu class.

Once he had kissed her good night, and after reading her the next chapter of the Hardy Boys mystery they had chosen three weeks ago at the used bookstore, Olivia snuggled up in her covers and closed her eyes. "Good night, Dad. Good night, Daddy in heaven." She rolled onto her side. Puff meowed and hopped around on the cover until he curled up in the comma of open space near her chest.

Gunnar wanted to make sure she was completely asleep before he called Liam, so he tidied up the kitchen table and threw out the paper plates from the pizza before washing out the glasses where he and Olivia had shared seltzer enhanced juice.

Maybe it would be better if Gunnar didn't call. It was Friday night. Liam was young and single and probably out. He deserved to do that. Maybe he'd meet someone, a young, handsome alpha looking to start life fresh. Not one haunted by the memories of his dead husband.

In his pocket, Gunnar’s phone began vibrating. Gunnar grabbed it, excited that maybe Liam had called him first, but the number was of the chief of his old precinct. Gunnar's guts went cold.

"Justice," Gunnar said, holding the phone to his ear. "Commander Kelley?"

"I'm sorry son, to be calling you on a Friday night. How's your daughter doing?"

"She's adjusting well. Olivia made a new friend today."

"Good. Good," Cmdr. Kelley said absently. "Unfortunately, this isn't a social call."

It never was. "I understand. What's wrong?"

"Dobbs' wife has gone missing. I didn't want you to see it on the news."

Gunnar's hand clenched around the phone. "He killed her, didn't he?"

"We don't know that. She left a note saying she was going to Vegas with some friends, but – –."

"He fucking murdered her." And it was Gunnar's fault. The evidence against William Dobbs had been airtight until some of it went missing.

"None of this is your fault. I told your partner, Marcus the same thing."

Except maybe it had been Marcus's fault.

Dobbs' brother was one of the largest donors to the juvenile outreach program that Marcus swore had saved him from a short life as a gangbanger or maybe a longer life in prison as the same. Marcus still mentored kids through the program. It was a tenuous connection, but if the program's funding had been threatened, Marcus would have done anything to protect it. After the evidence disappeared, Gunnar had confronted his partner about this, and Marcus had denied it, but Marcus had always been a good liar. He was one of the few alphas who could pull off a credible good cop. And then a week later, Gunnar was being transferred to push the evidence cock-up under the rug.

Politics. Gunnar hated them, but Marcus had known how to play the game. Now, a woman was dead. Another woman.

Gunnar asked, "Who's working the missing person?"

"Siskind and Tran. And you're not to mix yourself up in it. That's the other reason I called. This comes from up high. If she is dead, the department doesn't want any reminders of what went down earlier. We already have egg on our face. And if she's alive, then you stomping around in the middle of things isn't going to help mend fences."

"You know she's dead. You know he killed her."

"And this is why you have to stay out of it. You're not objective, Justice. Gunnar, your dad was like a brother to me, and you know I have your back. But this is bigger than the both of us."

"Did you look into Marcus?"

"There's nothing there. At least nothing anyone can prove. But I've given him the same warning. He's to stay out of it. Siskind and Tran are good detectives. They'll find her."

"Dobbs put his previous victims in barrels weighted down in the Liberty Lake."

"I know. And we'll have divers. Just in case. But I doubt Dobbs would be stupid enough to use the same dump location."

"No. He wouldn't."

"You're a good cop. I hear good things about you in the Six One. Don't screw it up."

"Understood, sir."

"I mean it."

"I know."

Kelley hung up.

Gunnar put the phone on the counter. The worst part about it was Cmdr. Kelley was right. Nothing would be helped by his dredging up the past. Tran and Siskind had his case notes, and though Gunnar had never worked a case with either of them, both had good reputations.

They'd find her. Hopefully not weighted down in a barrel in a lake. The plump, red-haired woman had been terrified her husband would kill her if he somehow wiggled out from under the murder charges. It hadn't even taken a year.

Gunnar wished he kept beer in the house. Or hard liquor. He had been so excited to call Liam, but with Gunnar’s current mood, he wouldn't be good company. Adam had hated it when Gunnar brought work home, as Gunnar always got morose in the middle of difficult cases. He'd wanted Gunnar to quit. Or at least take a desk job. Adam had been terrified of getting the call that Gunnar had been killed in the line of duty. Ironic, in the end, Gunnar is the one who had gotten that early morning phone call.

Detective, I regret to inform you… We need you to make a positive ID.

Yes, Gunnar was no company for anyone tonight.

He filled another class with apple juice and seltzer and sat down on the sofa. He didn't turn on the television. He couldn't stand to see Dobbs faking concern and worry, or face the photos of the woman Dobbs had certainly murdered.

Why hadn't Dobb’s wife called him? He’d said he’d help her if she felt in danger.

Gunnar knew the answer. In the end, he had failed her the first time when her husband had gone free. Why would she trust him again to keep her safe?

It was the same story, again and again.

His jealousy had driven Adam away, and then, Adam had died.

His incompetence and blind trust in his partner had led to Dobbs being acquitted, and now, Madeleine was dead.

Gunnar thought of Olivia, asleep under her covers with the kitten curled up at her chest. He thought of Liam and how well their bodies had slotted together, and that little whine Liam had made in his throat when Gunnar kissed him.

Trust.

They trusted him, but how could he call himself worthy of their trust?

He took a gulp of apple juice. It was too sweet, and the carbonation tickled.

The worst of it was, Gunnar wanted to call Liam. He wanted to bury his weakness in pleasure, and he wanted to hear Liam's voice through the phone speaker as the omega came.

A woman was dead. They hadn't found the body yet, but Gunnar knew it in his bones, and here he was imagining what Liam's cock looked like, flushed and leaking in his hand.

Gunnar picked up the phone. Opening up the text window, he typed, "I know you don't do texts, but I can't call tonight. I'm not good company. I'm sorry."

He hesitated. Maybe it would be better to simply say he couldn't talk, without the explanation.

No. Better to be honest. Liam needed to know what he was getting into. Besides, it was Friday night. Liam was probably out.

Gunnar hit send. He leaned back into the cushions of his leather couch and shut his eyes.

Less than a minute later, his phone buzzed. Gunnar glanced at the caller ID. Liam.

Of course, he'd wanted the omega to call.

He should ignore it. He wasn't good company. He might never be good company. But before the call could go to voicemail, Gunnar tapped accept.