“I’m okay.” Saying it almost made it true.
“If you ever need to talk, about anything, you know you can talk to me. Right?”
“Yes.” Her voice cracked. “Most of the time, my mind convinces me that it all happened to someone else. That I was an observer, like the camera that recorded those god-awful days. And then I see something and I’m right back there again. My head knows I’m not, but my body reacts and I can’t stop the panic.”
Sean’s grip tightened around her, and she leaned her head back on his shoulder. “Having you here makes all the difference,” she whispered.
“I’m not going anywhere, you know that.”
“When Matt Slater said I had special privileges, I think I knew it had to be true. What if I shouldn’t be in the FBI? What if I lose control over these panic attacks? I was turned down from the Academy once, what if I should have just let that dream die? There are other dreams out there.” As she said it, she believed it—except she didn’t want any other career. Seven years, obsessed with joining the FBI and fighting crime, had changed her. Irrevocably.
“You listen to me.”
She tilted her head to look at Sean. His blue eyes were so intense she couldn’t turn away.
“The FBI is damn lucky to have you, Lucy Kincaid. This Matt Slater is an ass to think that anyone is just handing you the career you want. You earned it. You are a damn good cop now, even without a badge. You’re going to be a great agent. I know it, you know it. No more doubts, Princess. Okay?”
She smiled. “Thank you for having so much faith in me.”
“It’s easy.” He leaned over and kissed her. “Besides, I could have helped, too.”
Lucy realized he wanted to help. He liked puzzles and needed something to keep his intellect challenged.
“You could have gotten the information faster,” Lucy said, playing up to his ego. “But Cyber Crimes is good. The FBI hires the best computer people.”
Sean cocked his head to the side. “The best? I’m hurt.”
She grinned and shook her head. She loved Sean so much. He could release the tension with one well-placed comment.
She kissed him. “The second best.”
“You’re going to have to make up that insult. My ego needs stroking. Maybe a massage, too.”
“Oh really?”
“There’s nothing I want more than to spend the next three weeks basking under your undivided attention,” Sean said. “But you’re not a quitter.”
“I know, but—”
“There is no but. You love this work. You need it. You’d go crazy being around the house all day, and I’d want to entertain you twenty-four–seven and then I’d get no work done. My brother and your brother would be livid at me for slacking off and not bringing in the big bucks.”
“I just—” She stopped. What did she want? Sometimes she didn’t know.
Sean tapped her chin and looked directly in her eyes.
“Stop doubting yourself. I don’t care how much experience the other cops have, your instincts are as good as theirs.”
“Thank you.”
“I don’t think I would like this Stein jerk.”
She had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling. “You wouldn’t. But he’s good at what he does. And he has more experience than me.”
“He took you off your case.”
“It’s his case, and Noah’s. I’m an analyst.”
“A damn good analyst.”
She pursed her lips. “You’re good for my ego.”
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. “I’m good for a lot of things.”
The cat wound around their feet.
“You should name this cat,” Sean said. “So when he annoys me, I know what to call him.”
“I can’t keep it.”
“Why not? You like him.”
“Yes, but I’m going to the Academy in three weeks. I can’t ask Kate and Dillon to take care of my pet.”
“I’ll keep him for you.”
“I didn’t know you liked cats.”
“I like this one.”
“Then you name it.”
“All right.” He picked up the cat and stared into his face. The cat meowed.
She grinned. “Did he just tell you his name?”
He gave her a crooked smile. “I need to get to know him first. It’ll come to me.”
They sat down on the couch and Sean wrapped one arm around Lucy and petted the cat with the other.
“Thank you for listening.”
“Anytime, Princess.” He kissed the top of her head. “I love you. And I think you’ll crack this case wide open and Noah had better rub it in this Josh Stein’s face, otherwise I’ll do it. I, for one, can hardly wait.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Ivy watched the news with growing horror.
This is not happening.
She glanced over to the door of the adjoining room where Sara and Maddie were sleeping. They’d been sleeping too much, but Ivy didn’t have the heart to wake them up. She definitely didn’t want them hearing the news yet.
* * *
The jogger found strangled in Rock Creek Park has been positively identified as the mistress of powerful Judiciary Chair, Congressman Alan Crowley.
Wendy James, a receptionist for lobbying firm Devon Sullivan and Associates, was found dead Tuesday morning. DC police had no comment, but sources indicate that the FBI has taken over the investigation.
Last month, Ms. James was exposed as the mistress of Congressman Crowley. At first the congressman from Los Angeles denied the accusation that he was having an affair, but after compromising pictures surfaced on the Internet, he admitted to the accusations.
Repeated calls to the congressman’s office have not been returned. His chief of staff issued a statement that said Congressman Crowley is fully cooperating with the authorities. The FBI is not commenting, but sources indicate that agents don’t believe the crime was random. A source in the Capitol said Congressman Crowley canceled a scheduled trip to California last Friday.
We’ll keep you informed of any new developments in this stunning case.
* * *
Ivy stared at the television screen. She flipped through all the stations, trying to learn more about Wendy’s murder, but the reporters had nothing new.
Wendy was dead.
She paced the hotel room, trying to convince herself that Wendy’s murder wasn’t connected to her or the fire, but she was only lying to herself. Of course it was connected.
Someone had found out that she’d taped Wendy with that congressman, and others. Now Wendy was dead and someone had tried to kill Ivy and the other girls. Except the tapes had been destroyed in the fire.
Sergio? Was it the guy who bought the tapes? But why? He could easily have killed Ivy after she turned them over, but she hadn’t had a chance, unless he stole them then set the fire. But why?
He rescued your sister. He gave you ten thousand dollars. He was going to give you ten thousand more before your house burned down. What’s his motive for killing you?
Wendy was smart, but eventually the police would find out that Wendy and Ivy had been in business together.
She tried calling Kerry again; no answer. Dammit, why hadn’t she checked in? She dialed Nicole, panic making her misdial twice. Nicole was supposed to have been here this morning. Ivy hadn’t thought about her absence. She dry-heaved, realizing that she’d put Nicole out of her mind while trying to plan how to keep Sara safe.
Someone picked up the phone, but didn’t say anything.
Ivy listened. Breathing. Was it Nicole?