“I’m going to miss you guys,” she said. “You’re both special.”
“I’m going to miss Ryan,” Carl said.
Ami brightened. “He tried the curveball in his last game.”
“How did it go?”
She laughed. “He struck out a batter the first time he threw it. But the next guy hit a homer off him. But he’s not discouraged. We practice every day.”
An embarrassed quiet settled on the room. Then Ami remembered her package.
“I brought you something. The marshals said they’d make sure you got it when you’ve settled into your new home.”
Ami took off the brown paper. Under it was the landscape that Carl had admired at the Portland Spring Art Fair on the day they’d met.
“This is great, Ami. This is perfect.”
Ami reached across the table and placed her hands on top of Carl’s and Vanessa’s. She was crying unashamedly now.
“You take care of yourselves.”
“We will,” Vanessa said.
“You’ve been an important part of our lives, Ami,” Carl said. “We’ll never forget you.”
Brendan Kirkpatrick stood up when the door to the interview room closed. Ami’s eyes were red and her face was flushed. He could see that she’d been crying, and he handed her his handkerchief.
“Are you okay?” Brendan asked.
“I’ll be fine. I’m just worried about Carl and Vanessa.”
“Those two are survivors, Ami. Remember, Carl escaped from a North Vietnamese prison camp, survived the jungle, and fought his way back to the states. And Vanessa had the courage to challenge her father, who just happened to be a billionaire candidate for the White House. These are two tough guys. They’re going to survive this, too.”
Brendan pushed the down button and the elevator doors opened. Ami stepped into the car.
“I know you’re right,” she said. “This whole thing has just overwhelmed me. I’m not used to seeing my face on the front page of the paper. I don’t like being the center of attention.”
“I know you don’t, but you’ve been magnificent.”
Ami blushed. “Thank you, Brendan, but I don’t feel magnificent. I feel…I don’t know…exhausted, I guess.”
“I don’t doubt you’re exhausted, but you’re also one of the gutsiest women I’ve ever met.”
Brendan laughed.
“What’s so funny?” Ami asked.
“I was just remembering that stunt you pulled in the hospital when you kept me from asking Carl if you were his lawyer. You have no idea how pissed off I was at you.”
“Oh, I have some idea. What you don’t know is how scared I was. As soon as you left, I collapsed. I was so frightened that you were going to arrest me that I was shaking.”
The elevator doors opened on the main floor and Ami was shocked to see that it was dark outside.
“Do I still scare you?” Brendan asked with a grin.
“Nah, you’re all bark and no bite.”
“I’m also famished. I was down here in San Diego about a year ago working with the feds on a drug case and one of the U.S. attorneys took me to a terrific seafood place in the gaslight district. Want to join me? I’m buying.”
“I don’t have much of an appetite.”
Brendan shook his head and laughed ruefully “You
“What do you mean?” Ami asked warily.
“Because you usually pick up on stuff pretty fast. I’m asking you out on a date, Vergano. I’m not nearly as interested in the seafood-which is really good-as I am in spending time with you.”
“Oh!” Ami paused. “Okay, I’ll have dinner with you, especially if you’re buying.”
“You’re not a gold digger, are you?”
Ami slipped her arm through Brendan’s. She had an impish grin on her face.
“You’ll have to figure that out, won’t you?”
