A Little Death on Darwin by J. Rodriguez

There are three ways to pass the time on Darwin Station: sleep, slots, and s…olving a murder.

Willa Jordan is a cunning linguist.
And yes, she’s heard the joke before.
More specifically, she’s an intergalactic interpreter, trying for a cushy job at Central Station. To get there, she’s willing to do grunt work at the galaxy’s edge—like translating at a banquet that involves creepy Zeltesians.
And climbing a rock wall to impress VIPs.
And getting stuck on said rock wall with Leith Morales, Darwin’s security chief, who both annoys and arouses her.
Willa will only fall for Leith over her dead body.
Or a dead body they happen to come across.
When she and Leith are seen in an isolated hallway with a murdered Zeltesian Elder, they quickly become the chief suspects, and nobody does much to prove otherwise. With their futures on the line, Willa and Leith refuse to take things lying down—well, most things—and now, they’re on a hunt to catch a killer before they become the next victims.

(While part of a series, this is a standalone story with a HEA and no cheating)