08

By the next twenty-four hours, the case came together seamlessly, almost poetically, the way it always did when Morgan's HPI kicked into gear.

She spotted a discrepancy in the suspect's phone pings. One location placing him far too close to the hotel at the time of death, contradicting his claimed alibi. A storage unit nearby, leased under a false name, revealed key evidence: the victim's diary and a burner phone with damning messages.

Karadec stood beside her in the briefing room as she laid it out for Lieutenant Soto and the team. He didn't say much. He rarely did when she was in this mode. But she caught the flicker of pride in his eyes. That subtle way his posture shifted when she nailed something no one else saw.

Afterward, the two of them walked side by side through the near-empty bullpen, the soft buzz of overhead lights trailing above them.

"You cracked it," Karadec said. "Again."

Morgan arched a brow. "I just happened to be obsessive enough to dig through a hundred parking logs."

"And brilliant enough to connect it all."

She smiled at him, tired but glowing just a little. "Careful. If you keep complimenting me, I might start thinking you love working with me."

"I do," he said, and the words landed heavier than she expected.

He didn't rush to explain. Didn't deflect.

After a beat, he added, "And I meant what I said yesterday."

"Which part?"

"That your instincts came from being a mother." His voice softened slightly. "The way you fought for that girl."

Morgan blinked, something in her chest tightening. She didn't look away. "That's the first time anyone's told me being a mom actually helped me do this job."

Karadec's gaze held hers. "It shows. In the best way."

For once, she didn't quip back. Just nodded, a little overwhelmed. "You know," she said eventually, "you're not as emotionally stunted as you pretend to be."

"I have my moments."

They stood there a few seconds longer. The noise of the precinct dimmed around them, and for once, there was no rush to move on to the next thing.

He gave a half-smile, then nodded toward the exit. "Go home to your kids. Get some sleep."

She lingered for a second more, then said, "Thanks, again. For not letting me spiral."

Karadec met her gaze. "I told you. I'm here."

And somehow, that simple statement meant more than any grand gesture could.

She smiled. "Goodnight, Karadec."

"Goodnight, Gillory."

—

The next morning, just as the sunlight spilling through Morgan's kitchen window as she stood barefoot, baby Chloe on her hip, stirring oatmeal with one hand and sipping coffee from a mug labeled World's Okayest Consultant.

"Mom," Ava groaned from the hallway, "Elliot hacked the Wi-Fi again."

"I did not hack it," Elliot's voice shot back. "I just optimized the bandwidth."

Morgan grinned to herself and kissed the top of Chloe's head.

It felt... nice. The quiet after the storm. And yet, even in the stillness, Morgan's mind drifted inevitably to Karadec's voice the night before.

"I told you. I'm here."

She wasn't used to people meaning that. Not really. And definitely not him.

The doorbell rang.

She frowned, shifted Chloe to her other hip and opened the door, only to find Karadec on the other side, holding a small bag of croissants and two takeaway coffees like this was the most normal thing in the world.

"Morning," he said.

Morgan blinked. "Oh—uh, you brought me food to my house or... are you lost?"

"You texted me 'Remind me to breathe tomorrow.'"

She furrowed her brows. Then pulled out her phone. Sure enough, she had texted that. Around midnight. When she couldn't sleep.

"Wow," she muttered. "I was more tired than I thought."

He handed her a coffee. "You didn't mean it?"

"I mean..." She shrugged. "You brought croissants. So now I mean it."

"Good. Because we're technically late."

Morgan blinked. "Wait. What time is it?"

Karadec raised a brow. "Seven-fifty."

"Shoot. I was supposed to drop the kids off by eight!"

"What about Ludo?"

Morgan made a face, grabbing her keys and mentally calculating the morning chaos ahead. "Plumbing issue. Kitchen flood. He's stuck waiting for a repair guy."

"So no backup?"

"Nope. Just me. And now, unfortunately, you."

Karadec stared at her. "Me?"

Morgan was already stuffing things into a diaper bag with one hand and balancing Chloe with the other. "Well, you're here. And you brought caffeine. That means you've officially entered the splash zone."

"I'm not entirely sure that's how it works."

"Too late," she chirped, tossing him a clean baby bottle. "Welcome to the drop-off mission."

Five minutes later, Karadec was driving his car, a stuffed unicorn in the passenger seat cupholder and The Best of Kidz Bop playing low in the background.

Morgan sat beside him with Chloe now strapped in the back, along with Elliot and Ava—both with backpacks, loud voices, and entirely too much energy for eight a.m.

"This feels illegal," he muttered.

"You're doing great. You've done this before," Morgan said, taking a bite of her croissant like this was a completely ordinary Monday morning.

"I'm supposed to be questioning suspects, not negotiating who gets aux cord privileges."

"You can do both. You're a man of many talents."

Ava leaned forward between the seats. "If you're gonna be around more, you should probably learn everyone's coffee orders."

Karadec glanced at Morgan. "Define 'around more.'"

Morgan looked entirely too pleased with herself. "You did volunteer for this. And now you're family."

"Fantastic," he said in sarcasm.

They pulled up to the school. Karadec tried to keep his tone professional as he said, "Alright. Exit in an orderly fashion."

"Love you, Mom!" Elliot called as he slammed the door behind him, backpack bouncing.

"Try not to break anything!" Morgan called after him.

Ava lingered for a second longer, smirking. "You know, he's not bad at this."

Karadec looked mildly horrified. "What a pleasure."

She hopped out and winked. "Have fun with the baby!"

Back in the front seat, Karadec exhaled like he'd just finished defusing a bomb. "This is what your mornings are like?"

"You're lucky you didn't see last Thursday," Morgan said, fastening her seatbelt.

He shook his head, glancing at her. "I don't know how you do this. Every single day."

Morgan looked over at him, softer now. "Because I have to. And also, because I want to. Believe it or not."

He gave her a look that lingered a bit too long. "Now I'm starting to believe you're kind of a superhero."

She rolled her eyes, but smiled. "Don't get mushy on me now, Karadec. We still have a homicide to solve."

"I haven't forgotten."

She leaned back in her seat as he pulled onto the main road. "Thanks, by the way."

"For what?"

"For driving. And... showing up."

He didn't say anything at first. Just kept his eyes on the road.

Then, finally: "You can ask me again. Whenever. If you need help."

"I know," she said quietly. "That's why I texted you."

They drove on in comfortable silence, the kind that needed no filling. After dropping Chloe off at Ludo's house, they headed to work side by side, like always, but maybe just a little more in sync than before.