Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Andre stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, "All cleaned up."

After hanging up the phone, Conner glanced at the clock, "All done for the day. So, what's next?"

Andre stood up, grabbing his suit jacket from the back of his chair, "Heading home. It's getting late, Mia and the kids are waiting. My boy just rolled over for the first time today." Conner stood up too, stretching his neck and feeling quite pleased with himself for the day's outcomes, "Mind if I hitch a ride? I'll come over tomorrow to see the little champ."

At some ungodly hour, when the moon shyly hid behind clouds and the earth was silent, Andre arrived home.

He quietly pushed open the bedroom door to find a warm, yellow nightlight left on for him, his wife and child snuggled together in bed. The little one, usually buzzing until midnight, had dozed off with tiny feet poking out from under the covers. Mia, too, was asleep, one arm wrapped around their son, a picture of maternal warmth.

Seeing them, Andre smiled. He quietly undressed and headed for a shower, inadvertently waking his waiting wife.

Rubbing her eyes, Mia adjusted their son into a more comfortable position and then followed Andre to the bathroom. "Did I wake you?" Andre asked, seeing his wife's sleepy awakening, endearing in her grogginess.

Mia yawned, "Honey, why are you home so late tonight?"

"Just swamped at work," Andre replied.

As Mia went to pick up her husband's dirty clothes, she noticed the strong scent of smoke on them. She didn't press the issue, though, instead checking his pockets before tossing the clothes into the laundry hamper.

While Andre showered, Mia chatted, "Our son rolled over today. Waited up for you till midnight, but his little eyes couldn't stay open any longer and he fell asleep in my arms."

After his shower, Andre joined his family in bed, lying beside his son, "Mia, I have to go abroad for work tomorrow. While I'm gone, stay here, don't go back to our place."

go back anyway; it's too big and empty without you. It

until their breaths evened out in sleep,

Conner came over, fussing over the little one and even

received a report of a burnt car and a charred body

a trip to the

colleagues. "The victim had been beaten up, bones broken all over, even his jaw seemed

the

findings, a new intern was overwhelmed by the sight and smell, rushing

at

too, made a brief visit. "Just passing by," he said, but

knowing Chad had seen

Chad left unanswered questions behind, choosing not to call Andre, and returned

"leave on business," Mia and their son saw

drove Andre to the airport, despite nursing an injury, thanks to his grandfather's

Tom without success, worried

Wesley, that all was calm,

the airport, Jillian took custody of a baby girl from a couple, fulfilling a secretive and

baby's identity secret for her safety and the potential fortune that awaited if the child

to me!" Jillian slammed her fist onto

tried to call

as she was about to try again, a