Manning threw his jacket on a chair and slumped down. A growl of frustration bounced around the room as he cradled his head in his hands.
The house had been abandoned, not a single person in sight, and no sign of there having been anyone connected to their investigation.
“All right, people.” Detective Sergeant Ferguson ran a hand through his graying hair. Manning had always admired his stoic calm and solid build—nothing like Hush. Ferguson was a man you could lean on, not that Manning ever would date anyone from his workplace. He’d learned his lesson when he’d been with Robert.
Robert wasn’t a cop, but he worked with the station’s tech support. It had been fine as long as the relationship was good, they’d bought a house together, and Manning had thought he’d found his place in life—a jo
