Chapter 30

"I hate this place," Eve said as she and Roarke stood against the wall in the waiting of the health center.

"That's not news to me," Roarke told her with a smile.

"I mean, I hate this place more than any other medical facility."

"I'll remember that next time I need to dump you into one. I'll remind you that you could always be here."

"You're funny."

"I know."

"Eve," Mira came out to meet them, "Where is McNab? He has to sign her out."

"Oh," Eve hid the smile, "Didn't you hear? Feeney got tabs on where Fenwick and Myers are. McNab went with Baxter and Trueheart to pick them up."

"Oh, no I hadn't heard. That's wonderful."

"Trueheart had the license plate numbers, and both went through a check point north of here about half an hour apart."

"So it will be a late night in the office for all of you," Mira commented. "That will give Peabody and me time to prepare for tomorrow's dinner."

"Dinner?" Eve asked.

"It's Thanksgiving," Mira smiled.

"SO it is," Roarke smiled too, "You wouldn't be interested in any help in the kichen, would you?"

MIra patted his arm, "You're welcome to join us."



When Cheif Tibble and Commander Whitney stepped into the room, everyone got very quiet. The mayor was with them and he looked grim.

"Sir," Eve nodded at her commanding officers, "What's the final status on Carter?"

"It's going to be a process, but Carter is no longer our chief of police," the mayor said, "I am looking for Lieutenant McNab. Is he around?"

"No sir," Eve answered, "He is part of the team bringing in Detectives Myers and Fenwick."

The mayor nodded, "Chief Tibble, I am putting this in your hands. My family has already left for vacation and I could use a large glass of wine right now. I have one more thing to do and then I'm goign to get that large glass of wine. Maybe two of them."

"Thank you," Tibble shook his hand and it was quiet while he walked away.

"So now what?" Eve asked.

Whitney smiled, "I am thinking that big glass of wine sounds wonderful," he turned to Tibble, "Care to join me?"

Tibble nodded and turned to Eve, "Roarke knows how we can be reached. Once this part of the matter is cleared up, send us your report and stay here in Florence."

"Yes sir," Eve watched them go just as Morris came out of the back, pushing Peabody in a wheelchair. "Well, look what the cat dragged in."

"Did I hear the Chief?" Peabody asked.

"You did indeed," Roarke told her as Eve stepped away to answer her beeping link, "Are you ready to go home?"

"New York?" she asked and Roarke smiled.

"Soon. I promise."

Morris offered Peabody his hand and she stood up, and, surprising Eve as she came back to them, limped to her and hugged her tightly.

"Hey now, stop that," Eve half-heartedly protested, "You'll ruin my bad-ass rep."

"Nobody here knows you," Peabody pointed out, but let Roarke steady her as she stepped back from Eve, "Who was that?"

"Feeney. We have them. I'm going to meet him and, as he called them, 'the boys' right now. I hear you're making dinner."

Peabody grinned, "You won't be disappointed."

Eve strode away, leaving the rest of them staring after her.

"So, you wouldn't happen to have room for one more, would you?" Morris asked Peabody. "Roarke got the Chief and Commander fancy rooms in one of his hotels in the next town over, but I feel like all the fun things happen here."

"Not true at all," Peabody told him as they all made their way out to the car, "not at all."




Eve grinned fiercely as Myers was led away. The former detective may have been sporting a black eye, but nobody would say how it got there.

"Ready to go home, Lieutenant?" Feeney asked McNab as they gathered in the hallway.

"I wish 'home' meant New York," McNab said as he walked toward his office, "But I'll settle for a glass of wine in front of our fireplace with my friends."

"I'm just going to check in with the chief," Eve told them, "Baxter and Trueheart are gone."

"Probably raiding our friggie," McNab grinned, "See you at home."

Feeney followed McNab into his office and they both stopped dead at the sight of the mayor sitting at the desk.

"Sorry Lieutenant, I wasn't sure how long you would be."

"Thinking of heading home, sir," McNab told him, "What can I do for you?"

"Lieutenant, it has come to light in the very recent ivnestigation of former chief Carter that this division is improperly run."

McNab's face turned pink, "Excuse me?"

"Let me rephrase that. This division is overly efficient for the crime rate in this city. We have too much manpower. I want to thank you for your dedication and loyalty to your position here in Florence but I am afraid that your position as Lieutenant of our E-division is going to be terminated."

"What do you mean?"

"As of an hour ago, the position no longer exists. Therefore, you no longer have a job with our police force. You can, of course, apply to work in another division if you like. You would no doubt be useful to any area of this city's police and security department. Or you could always apply to work in a different city," he glanced at Feeney, "You can always contact me in case you are in need of a strong reference."

McNab just stared at him while Feeney let himself grin widely.

"Well, anyway Lieutenant, I'm sure it is a lot to process. Losing your job always comes at a shock. I hope this doesn't affect your holiday in a negative way." He sent Feeney a quick wink and left the office.

"Did I just lose my job?" McNab asked Feeney, his eyes still wide.

"I believe so, kid," Feeney patted him on the back. "It's tough, but hey, I don't know if you've ever been to New York, but I know some people." He draped his arm over McNab's shoulders and led him out.