Free Her Anchor by Viva Fox

wasn’t alone.  Steve was curled in his proper place beside her.  She watched him for a long moment.  His eyes flickered open.  Slowly, he smiled. 
    “Good morning.” 
    “Morning.”  Laura leaned over to kiss him.  “We should get busy.” 
    “We weren’t busy all night?” 
    “We were off the clock last night.”  Laura tucked herself securely into him.  “Today we have a potential serial killer to catch.” 
    “Speaking of which,” Steve wrapped his arms around her, “you’ve heard about the Greensburg case, right?” 
    “A bit.”  She really only knew what Jones had told her.  “I haven’t read the file.” 
    “It was pretty much exactly the same-minus the troll aspect.”  Steve laughed at his own comment. 
    “Mm,” Laura nodded.  “Jones said they’ve found a few bodies like this lately.” 
    “I guess a few covers it.  There was one who was found up in North Park last spring.  But she was found in the lake, so she may or may not have been strangled.  She had bruising on her neck but there was also water in her lungs.” 
    “And the other body?”
    “Moraine State Park…up in Butler County.  She was found on the shore.  She was clearly strangled, but the killer used a rope instead of his hands.” 
    “Unlike our troll victims who were strangled with bare hands.”  Laura sat up.  Talking about the case made her ready to get to work. 
    “Yep.”  Steve sat up beside her. 
    “How did you know?” 
    “Know what?”  Steve smiled.  He tucked her hair out of her face. 
    “About this case.  You seem to have really done all of your research.” 
    “What do you think I did all day after you left?”  Laura raised an eyebrow. 
    “You used a serial killer case for the two of us to get back together?” 
    “Well, I didn’t really know it was a serial killer case.”  Steve got up and went into the bathroom.  He left the door standing open.  “But I didn’t want you going off to another part of the state without me.” 
    “I can investigate cases without you.”  Laura got up.  She started pulling clothes out of the closet.  “I’ve done it before.  I carry a gun.  And I know how to use it.” 
    “I know that.”  Steve came out of the bathroom, this time wearing boxer shorts.  “ But at the end of the day, I enjoy our team work.  I guess I thought that maybe…if I could show you how good we were together…”  He reached for her.  Laura let him pull her against his mostly naked body.  “I thought that I could prove to you that we were meant to be together-even if I’m an idiot.”  Laura shoved his chest. 
    “As long as you are willing to own that you will always be an idiot for what you did.”  Steve was momentarily silent. 
    “What about Stephanie?” 
    “What about her?” 
    “Do you think you can….”  He hesitated.  “Forgive her?” 
    “Why do you care?”  Laura took a step back.  “Why do you care if she and I are friends or not?” 
    “Because she admits that she made just as big a mistake as I did.”  Laura was suddenly suspicious.  And uncomfortable. 
    “So you want to keep spending time with her?” 
    “Laura, that is not what I said.”  Steve’s tone was rising.  He seemed more on edge now.  “I don’t want you to lose your friend.” 
    “Of course not.”  Laura stepped away.  “Because if I do then you can’t see her anymore.” 
    “Laura, come on-.” 
    “Steve you let me make my decision when it comes to Stephanie.  Don’t worry about it.” 
    “Ok, fine.  Forget I brought it up.”  Steve went back into the bathroom for more clothes.  He dressed as Laura gathered clothes. 
    They were ready in a few minutes.  Steve looked over at her, more sympathetic.  She didn’t like that look. 
    “Do you want to grab breakfast?  Just coffee?” 
    “No.”  She realized that her distrust for him had come back.  If she got back together with him, this would be her