Page 116 of Forever Dead

“We'll arrange to get it back tomorrow.”

He pulled out the chair opposite her.

“That doesn't mean I'm cutting you out of the investigation,” he said.

“I know.”

“But you've been on that leg all day. You need to give it a rest.”

Selena stared at Eleanor's photograph for a moment.

“I keep thinking about what happened to her. I can't stand the idea of whoever did it walking around while I'm sitting in that motel room.”

“I want the bastard caught, too.”

“I know.”

Connor rested his forearms on his knees.

“You've helped us today. A lot. But you don't have to be standing in this room to keep helping.”

Selena rubbed the edge of the brace.

“Then call me when you've got something. Especially if the lab comes back with an identification.”

“I will.”

“And tomorrow, I won't come into the station. I'll give this knee a rest.”

Connor raised his eyebrows.

“You better not. I want you rested.”

Selena smiled faintly.

Connor stood and offered his hand.

She accepted it.

As he helped her up, she remembered how often they'd argued over things neither of them wanted to admit they needed. She'd refused help because accepting it felt like surrender. Connor had been no better when something troubled him.

His hand remained beneath her elbow until she was steady.

“Thanks,” she said.

“Anytime.”

For a moment neither of them moved.

"You know… I never meant to hurt you… When I left," Selena said. It was as though the words had agency all of their own, slipping out without her control from some deep, dark place within her soul.

Connor's expression changed. He lowered the cane slightly.

“I know you didn't mean to.”

She swallowed.

“I still did, though.”