she not even call?” he asked.
“She tried and…damn. I still forgot to take it off silent. Went to the dentist for a checkup.”
She took her phone out of her purse and switched the ringer back on. She saw at once where Melissa had indeed tried to call her an hour and twenty minutes ago.
“Well, you know, we can have the date here,” he said. “We can call up some Thai food and watch a movie. And the ending part of it all could be the same.”
Kate nodded and smiled, but her attention was still on her phone. She had missed another call as well. And the number had tried calling twice, having left a message the last time.
It was a call from DC—from Director Duran.
“Kate?”
She blinked and looked away from the phone. She hated that she felt like she had been caught doing something bad.
“You okay?”
“Yeah. It’s just…work called, too. About three hours ago.”
“Return the call then,” Alan said. He was pretending to dance with Michelle and although he wore a happy face, Kate could sense some irritation lurking beneath. But she also knew that he’d only press her harder to go ahead and make the call if she refused.
“One second,” she said, walking into the kitchen and returning Duran’s call.
The phone rang only twice before it was answered. Even in something as simple as “hello,” Duran sounded pissed.
“Kate, there you are. Where have you been?”
“My phone was on silent. Sorry. Is everything okay?”
“Well, when you didn’t answer the last time, I’ve sort of been scrambling around.”
“Over what?”
“There’s a case out in Illinois—two murders that seem related but there’s no hard link. It’s pretty much stumped the local PD, and the field office out of Chicago pointed out that you were familiar with the area…the Fielding case you cracked in 2002. They said they’re glad to put their own agents on it, but were asking if you’d rather take it. They’re kind of excited about the idea of getting you back out there.”
“When?”
“I’d like to get you on a plane tonight. Get you and DeMarco out there nice and early in the morning.”
“What are the details?”
“I can send you what I have, but there’s still some stuff coming in. Police reports, forensics, all of that. Can I count on you?”
Kate looked back over at Alan, still dancing with Michelle. She was bopping him on the nose and on the mouth while he sang a Bob Dylan song to her. If she took the case, she’d have to call Melissa back and tell her she couldn’t keep Michelle. Not tonight. And she’d also have to cancel plans with Alan.
“What happens if I can’t?” she asked Duran.
“Then I’m going to pass it over to the field office in Chicago. But I really think you’re the perfect match for this. All I need you to do is find some leads and get it rolling. After that, local agents can roll with it.”
“Let me think about it?”
“Kate, I need to know now. I have to let the local PD and the Chicago field office know what’s going down.”
In her heart, she knew what she wanted to do. She wanted to take it. She wanted to take it very badly. And if that made her selfish, then…then so what? There was a huge difference between putting family first and denying herself the opportunities and the chance to live her own life. She knew if she turned this opportunity down just because she had stepped in to watch Michelle for Melissa at the last minute, she’d feel resentful toward them both. It hurt to admit it, but there it was, the honest and raw truth.
“Okay, yes, count me in. Are there flight details yet?”
“DeMarco is taking care of all of that,” Duran said. “She’ll be contacting you soon.”
Kate ended the call, her eyes again traveling over to Alan and Michelle. The strained look on Alan’s face told her that he had heard the conversation.
“When are you leaving?” he asked.
“I don’t know. DeMarco is in charge of the itinerary. Sometime tonight. Alan…I’m sorry.”
He said nothing, looking away as he sat down on the couch with Michelle. “It is what it is,” he finally said. “And don’t feel too bad…I still have a pretty hot date here.”
“Don’t be silly, Alan. I’ll call Melissa and explain things to her.”
“No. If they need the respite, let them have it. As you might know, I am fully capable of watching after this little one.”
“Alan, I couldn’t possibly ask you to do that!”
“And you never would. Which is why I am volunteering it.”
Kate came over to the couch and sat next to him. She rested her head on his shoulder. “Do you know how incredible you are?”
He shrugged. “Do you?”
“What do you mean?” she asked, sensing some resentment in his tone.
“I mean, this thing with you and your work. It was supposed to be an every now and then thing, right? And honestly, to be fair, it has been. But when it’s on, it’s on. They want you to drop everything and come running when they call.”
“It’s part of the job, though.”
“A job you retired from two years ago. Did you really miss it that much?”
“Alan…that’s not fair.”
“Maybe not. I won’t pretend to know what kind of lure that job holds over you. But I’m on the same sidelines as Melissa and Michelle. There’s only so much more of this I’m going to be able to take.”
“If you feel so strongly, I won’t take this one. I’ll call Duran back and—”
“No. You need to take it. I don’t want you taking it out on me or your daughter if you let it pass you by. So, go. Take it. But coming from someone who is rapidly falling more and more in love with you, I feel I should tell you that you need to have some hard conversations when you come back. With me, your daughter, and maybe even yourself.”
Kate’s first reaction was one of anger and resentment. But maybe he was right. After all, hadn’t she realized her decision was borderline selfish just several moments ago? She’d be fifty-six in three weeks. Maybe it was time she finally drew up some boundaries in terms of her work. And if it meant that her special little set-up with Duran and the bureau came to an end, so be it.
“Alan…I need you to be honest. If me taking this is going to strain us…”
“It won’t. Not this time. But I don’t know how much longer
