Chapter 22 #2
The press conference was straightforward and professional.
Captain Holloway spoke first, outlining Shaw’s arrest and the charges against him. Then he introduced Carson, who presented the evidence they’d gathered.
“Captain Raymond Shaw abused his position for approximately twenty years,” Carson said, his voice steady despite the exhaustion clear in his face.
“He accepted bribes to destroy evidence, manipulate investigations, and allow criminals to avoid prosecution. We’ve identified at least twelve cases directly affected by his corruption.
That number will likely grow as we continue our investigation. ”
A reporter raised her hand. “Detective Black, sources say you were the one who uncovered this corruption. What made you suspicious of a decorated captain?”
“I was reviewing cold cases and noticed a pattern. Evidence disappearing without explanation. Cases going cold despite solid leads. All during Captain Shaw’s tenure. I followed the evidence, and it led to Shaw.”
“And to Maggie Reeves? The coffee shop owner?”
“Ms. Reeves facilitated Shaw’s operation. She connected criminals to Shaw, provided a location for meetings, and helped launder the money he received. She’s been charged as an accessory to all of Shaw’s crimes.”
More questions. More answers. Carson handled them all with professional competence.
But Nora could see the strain beneath the surface. The way his shoulders were too tight. The way his jaw clenched when reporters asked about his personal investment in the case.
When the press conference ended, victims were invited to speak with detectives about their cases. Avery Shone went immediately to Carson, thanking him for not giving up on her case.
Nora watched from across the room as Carson listened to Sarah’s story, his expression shifting through empathy, anger, determination. This was what he did. Who he was. A detective who cared too much. Who couldn’t let go until justice was served.
She loved that about him. And it was destroying them.
“Nora.”
She turned to find Captain Holloway beside her.
“Captain,” she said with a soft smile and gentle nod.
“I’m glad you came. You deserved to see this. Shaw’s corruption indirectly enabled Eugene to operate for years. You’re one of his victims too.”
“I know. Thank you for letting me be here.”
Holloway studied her. “Carson told me you left. That you’re taking time to think about the relationship.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’m not going to tell you what to do. That’s between you and Carson.
But I want you to know—I’ve put him on mandatory leave for two weeks.
Told him to go home. Figure out what he wants.
Who he wants to be.” Holloway’s voice was gentle.
“He loves you. I’ve never seen him like this over anyone.
But he’s also a man who doesn’t know how to not be a detective.
Doesn’t know how to turn off the need to save everyone. ”
“I know. That’s the problem.”
“Give him these two weeks. Let him sit with the consequences of his choices. Let him miss you. Let him figure out if he’s capable of change.” Holloway paused. “And if he can’t change—if he comes back from this leave still unable to find balance—then you’ll have your answer.”
“Two weeks,” she said, mulling it over.
“Two weeks. And then you decide. Either way, I’ll respect your choice. And so will he.”
***
Carson saw Nora leave before he could talk to her.
He wanted to run after her. Wanted to beg her to come home. Wanted to promise he’d change, he’d be better, he’d choose her.
But he’d made those promises before. And broken them. More words wouldn’t fix this.
He needed to show her. Prove it through actions, not promises.
But first, he needed to figure out if he actually could change. Or if this was just who he was—a detective who sacrificed everything else for the job.
“Go home,” Finn said, appearing at his side. “Captain said you’re on leave. So leave. Get out of here.”
“I have paperwork—”
“I’ll handle it. You’re done for today. For two weeks, actually.” Finn gripped his shoulder. “Go home. Rest. Think. Figure out what you want your life to look like.”
Carson drove home in a daze. The apartment was exactly as he’d left it. Empty. Quiet. Full of Nora’s absence.
He stood in the middle of the living room, looking at the case files still spread across the dining table. Looking at the couch where she’d told him she was leaving. Looking at the bedroom door, knowing her side of the closet was emptier now.
For nineteen years, Carson had filled the emptiness of his life with work. With cases. With the pursuit of justice. It had been enough. It had been everything.
But now—now it felt hollow. Meaningless without someone to share it with.
Without Nora.
His phone buzzed. A text from Captain Holloway: Nora was at the press conference. She left before you could talk to her. I told her you’re on leave for two weeks. Told her to give you that time to figure things out. Don’t waste it.
Carson sank onto the couch and, for the first time since he was seventeen years old, let himself cry.
He cried for Lily, the sister he’d never found. For his father, who’d died too young. For all the years he’d spent running from grief by drowning in work.
And he cried for Nora. For what they’d had. For what he’d lost by being unable to change.
When the tears finally stopped, Carson felt emptied out. Exhausted. But somehow clearer.
He couldn’t keep doing this. Couldn’t keep sacrificing everything for the job. Couldn’t keep being the detective who saved everyone except himself.
Something had to change. He had to change.
But how? After nineteen years of being one thing, how did you become something else?
Carson didn’t have the answer. But he had two weeks to figure it out.
Two weeks to decide who he wanted to be.
Two weeks to become someone Nora could build a life with.
Or two weeks to accept that he was too broken to be anything other than what he’d always been.
A detective. A savior. A man who loved justice more than he loved himself.
And maybe—maybe—that meant he wasn’t capable of the kind of love Nora deserved.
The kind that showed up. That chose her. That put her first.
But for her, he had to try.
Even if trying meant tearing down everything he’d built over the past nineteen years.
Even if trying meant facing the grief and guilt he’d been running from since Lily disappeared.
Even if trying meant admitting he’d been wrong about what mattered most.
Carson looked around the empty apartment and made a decision.
He couldn’t do this alone. Couldn’t figure this out by himself.
He needed help. Real help. Not just promises and good intentions.
He pulled out his phone and searched for therapists in Blackridge.
It was time to stop running. Time to face the demons he’d been avoiding since he was seventeen years old.
Time to heal. Or at least try to.
For Nora. For himself. For the possibility of a future that included more than just work.
He made an appointment for the next day.
And then, for the first time in weeks, Carson Black went to bed and actually slept.
Because finally—finally—he was ready to start changing.
Not for the case. Not for justice. Not for anyone else.
But for himself.
And maybe, if he did the work, if he really changed, he’d be worthy of Nora’s love again.
Maybe.
It was the only hope he had left.