I knew that scent.

“Elila,” a low voice said from the shadow of my armchair.

Andrew stood up.

He wore a dark wool overcoat, his tie slightly loosened at his collar.

His face was pale, shadowed by the dim streetlights coming through the window behind him.

“You shouldn’t break into people’s apartments,” I said, letting go of the water bottle.

“I didn’t break in,” he said, holding up a brass key. “I still have the spare you left at the office lab.”

“You had no right to use it,” I said, closing the door behind me.

I locked the deadbolt, my hands trembling slightly against the cold brass.

“I needed to see you where we wouldn’t be followed,” he said.

He stepped closer, his boots silent on my worn rug.

He looked down at my face, then his eyes flicked briefly to my stomach before returning to my eyes.

I instinctively folded my arms over my middle, trying to shield myself from his gaze.

“You suspended me, Andrew,” I said. “In front of the entire department.”

“I had to,” he said.