A week ago, he’d delivered unexpected news. Benny Santiago had been knifed to death two days after arriving in prison. She’d have been lying if she said she’d not felt relief. He was one less demon to worry about.
When Bella came home for Thanksgiving, Julia had made herself scarce, letting the two enjoy their holiday. And now as Christmas loomed and Novak’s daughter had returned, she’d retreated again. Again, she told Novak to enjoy his kid and to not worry about her. They’d find each other again in January after the New Year. Julia had plenty to do with helping Cindy behind the bar.
“Why are you here?” Cindy asked as she straightened the red Santa hat perched on her head.
Julia grabbed a couple of empty tumblers from the shelf and filled each with two fingers of bourbon. “I’m helping you, remember? The holidays get crazy, and your regular help always flakes.”
“Thought you’d be with your man.”
“He’s not my man, Cindy. And his daughter is home from college. It’s their family time.”
“And they can’t include you? I gave ’em a pass at Thanksgiving, but not now.”
“I didn’t give him the chance to ask. Told him I was busy and working here.”
“I can judge men pretty well. Novak is a good man, and you’re important to him. You should be with him.”
“I’m the chick he dates. And that’s okay.”
Cindy shook her head. “Why do you still keep your distance?”
“I’m not keeping my distance.”
“You’re just hedging your bets because you think he’ll leave like Jim.”
“I’m not.”
“Then why aren’t you together now?”
Julia couldn’t give her a good answer. “Cindy, the guy wants to spend time with Bella. I can’t begrudge that. I’d have loved it if Jim had wanted to spend a holiday with me.”
Julia served up the two drinks, wiped down the bar, and refilled the peanut bowls. She liked the familiarity of the bar. It was easy to lose herself in the mundane work and take her time processing what had happened only six weeks earlier.
Nate Unger had created the Hangman when Alexi Popov had told him to destroy Detective Jim Vargas. Popov didn’t want Jim to simply die; he wanted Jim’s family and life stripped from him, his reputation ruined. Rita had also been enlisted. Her job was to seduce Jim and turn his personal life upside down. When the cops searched Unger’s country house, they’d found a collection of videos that had been made during the hangings. In several instances, Unger panned the camera around the warehouse and captured Rita standing in the back, smiling. Waving.
Andrews dug into Unger’s bank accounts and discovered he’d been paid over $1 million for his Hangman work. Most of the money had been wired into numerous small accounts. Judging by the account balances, he’d not spent much money over the years. He never really cared about it. It was the one truth he told Julia.
Unger had slipped into the Hangman persona as easily as he had his undercover identities. He lost himself in the role, became the person, and this time discovered he liked the monster.
When Julia had reopened the Hangman case, she’d never realized she was racing an unseen clock or that the Hangman was coming after her. Lana and Elizabeth had been chosen because both were loose ends. Unger saw Julia’s death as insurance—a show of loyalty—to guard against anything Elizabeth might have said to the Popov family about him.
The front door opened, and Cindy glanced up, her frown fading. “So look who just walked into my bar.”
Julia turned to see Novak and a young girl with curly red hair and a petite frame enter the bar. She recognized Bella from her pictures, and her nerves jumped. She could chase a bad guy down a blind alley at night, but meeting Novak’s kid made her stomach knot.
She smiled at them, and though tempted to use the bar as a buffer, came around it to greet them.
She wiped her hand on her apron and extended it to Bella. “You must be Bella.”
“Julia,” the girl said, grinning. She shook Julia’s hand. “Great to meet you! Dad’s told me a lot about you.”
“What brings you two here?” she asked, looking to Novak, who stood behind his daughter with his hands on her shoulders.
Bella laughed. “Dad’s been champing at the bit to come see you.”
She glanced at Novak, who didn’t look the least bit put off by his daughter’s openness. “I thought you guys had a special tradition at Christmas. Did you make it to tea?”
“Yeah, and it was fun, sort of,” Bella said. “At least for me. Dad always looks like someone is shoving bamboo shoots under his fingernails.”
“We were hoping you’d join us for a late dinner,” Novak said. “Part of the tradition is that we get a real meal after our plate of girl sandwiches.”
“I don’t want to intrude,” Julia said. “Better you two have your special time.”
Novak moved around Bella and kissed Julia lightly on the lips. “Come with us. I know you haven’t eaten.”
“I had nuts and crackers.”
“Oh, please,” he said.
“We can get pizza,” Bella said. “There’s a great Italian place near the university.”
“She’s determined to feed me, just like you,” Julia said, smiling.
“She’s never been good at taking no for an answer,” he said.
“Maybe you can tell me what it’s like to be a cop,” Bella said.
Julia shook her head, holding up her hands. “I think your father might have a nervous breakdown if I do. He has visions of you in a plush, safe office. He mentioned something about encasing you in Bubble Wrap.”
“Not happening,” Bella said. “I’m going to be a cop.”
Novak let out a long, not-too-pained breath. “Maybe you can scare her away from the job.”
“I love what I do,” Julia said.
“Then, that’s a yes?” Bella asked.
Julia glanced back at Cindy. “Mind if I take off?”
Cindy nodded toward the door. “Get out of here.”
Being part of a couple, a family, felt awkward. But she wanted it to work. She wanted to spend more time with Novak, and she liked Bella already.
“Let me get my coat.” She moved to the back office and grabbed her belongings. She glanced up at the picture of Jim and Amy. “Wish me luck.”
As she turned, she found Novak leaning on the doorjamb. Crossing the small room, he reached for her coat and helped her put it on, a gesture she allowed only when other cops weren’t looking. He kissed her cheek. “I love you.”
She heard Cindy and Bella in the hallway, but she didn’t pull away. His words wrapped around her heart and warmed her in a way she’d never felt before.
“I love you, too,” she whispered.
He turned her to face him and kissed her on the lips. This time his touch wasn’t quick but lingered an extra beat. “Did I hear you correctly?”
She moistened her lips and grinned. “Maybe.” Julia walked out into the bar and found everyone staring at her.
Novak came up behind her, unmindful that they were the center of attention. He squeezed her shoulders. “You said you loved me.”
Julia faced him. “Don’t let it go to your head.”