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Ginger laughed, reaching forward to shake Barker’s hand Derek gave a lazed over at the contact “And tonight’s cause, Mr Barker?”

The rookie puffed up a little “My uncle is leading a corahborhoods To help keep local kids froet into sports or academic pursuits instead”

“Damn, Barker Did you rehearse that in thethe bartender

Barker flushed “Anyway, you’ll hear er”

She smiled broadly at him “I look forward to it”

Derek had seen quite enough of Ginger s He couldn’t recall her ever s an arm around her bare shoulders, he excused thened seats Already seated at the round, ten-person table was Patty, the dispatch operator responsible for his bringing Ginger in the first place Also waiting for dinner to start was Kenny, his ex-partner, and Lisa, Derek’s ex-girlfriend, still an item apparently Thankfully, they were across the table, blocked by an obscenely large centerpiece, saving hi to make introductions

Patty, however, stood to greet hiht a date!”

Wanting to roll his eyes at Patty’s false shock, Derek placed a hand on Ginger’s back and guided her forward “Ginger, this is Patty She works dispatch and is unfortunately leaving us soon to terrorize her husband full-time”

The older worin in response Despite being her favorite target for practical jokes, he liked Patty quite a lot and would be sad to see her go

“Oh, Lieutenant You know you’re going to miss me like hell”

“I think I ht, Patty”

Trying to hide her pleasure over his words, she turned to Ginger with a sly smile “And how do you know this assle, honey?”

Ginger nearly choked on her wine “Oh, um, Derek and I are roommates”

Her eyebrows shot up “Roommates? Aren’t you a little old for a roommate, Derek?”

Ginger answered before he could “It’s only temporary, actually My apartment across the hall, where I live with ht Derek insisted we take his spare room He was very heroic, actually”

Patty snorted “I’m sure it’s been a real hardship for hier up with o”

“I take it back, Patty,” Derek gru”

A uests to take their seats Derek held the chair next to Patty out for Ginger, then took the seat on the opposite side Alvarez and a few other detectives joined them a minute later