From sheer exhaustion, she slept deeply that night. When the first rays of sunshine began to annoy her eyelids she promised herself she would make today a new day. She would honestly try. And then it would be up to fate to break up the long chain of craziness or add to it, she bitterly smiled.
She needed to see Baker. Some old file Woz asked her to look over before Verco got his hands on it. Marching down the street she kept her eyes on the ground, mind mired in thought. No amount of hitting the bag and standing under a too hot of a shower was able to clear that out.
Baker offered lunch and Harlee agreed for the old times sake. The caf atmosphere was boring, just as white and sterile as the rest of the building. Harlee ordered salad, double the chicken, Baker got hot-n-sour soup. They fell into an easy banter almost forgetting about work.
She sat there, her attention partly on Baker and partly directed inward, mulling over the events of last night. She still felt his smooth skin under her fingertips, his hot mouth on her thigh... All of a sudden, the chicken looked pink and the lettuce seemed wilted.
She pulled out her cell as if it pinged and scrolled through the screen. "Woz needs me back", she explained and stood up, "let's do it again". Baker smiled and within seconds her nose was in her work tablet.
As Harlee turned her head, she noticed Stahl at the counter, looking at her, as cool as ever. Next to him stood a tall, elegantly dressed man. There was something about his erect posture that was ringing all sorts of unsettling bells. Military? No... Her gaze wandered up his back to his shoulders, to the back of his neck, to his hair... He looked so familiar... Harlee's heart stopped. Recognition pierced her gut and she almost doubled over.