The moment Flic pushed open the door, sounds of overly forced girly laughter reached her. She had to fight back a wave of nausea that threatened to take her balance as she clung to the doorway. Her chest was heaving, partly in anger but the stairs had been a bastard to climb with her thigh still only partially healed. With a sinking feeling of what was ahead, Flic forced herself to calm and schooled her features. She couldn’t do more than hide her feelings under a layer of indifference, but she couldn’t allow her pain to be so exposed.
With her head high, and fighting the limp that chided her for overexerting herself, Flic moved into the apartment. Her stomach clenched, waiting for the inevitable blow, but as she strode into the common area, it relaxed slightly.
“Flic!” A squeal from
