And she was good at that work. Riley knew she had an outstandingrecord of success in her cases, even if she had also stirred up somecomplaints. In just a few years, she could retire from the FBI with a fullpension, but if her career ended early at the whims of a petty bureaucrat, she’dface some pressing problems. Her two daughters would be headed for collegesoon. She had depended on her ex to help with those expenses, but in his debaucheryRyan had lost everything. She’d thought about taking on less field work at theBAU but never considered quitting altogether.
And now …
Her future seemed desperately uncertain.
CHAPTER THIRTY NINE
Riley heard Bill whisper in her ear.
“What are you thinking about?”
Riley snapped out of her reverie and remembered where shewas—sitting in a high school auditorium with Bill at her left and Jilly andGabriela on her right.
This was April’s graduation ceremony. Right now someone wasgiving a speech that Riley hadn’t been paying attention to.
She chuckled and whispered back, “I was just thinking of Walder’suntimely demise.”
Bill chuckled as well.
“I’m glad you were thinking happy thoughts,” he said.
Riley had to admit to herself, revenge was sweet.
A year and a half ago, Walder had grilled her in the BAUconference room, threatening to fire her and even to jail her. Riley had longago learned why he’d been suddenly called away for that phone call fromDirector Milner—and also the true nature of his relationship with then–StateSenator Walker Danson.
It had turned out that Danson and Walder had been enemies formany years, ever since they’d been students at Yale together. Danson had keptclose tabs on Walder’s career during all the years since then, knowing that hewas dishonest and hoping for a chance to trip him up.
Danson’s private investigations had revealed that Walder harboredmore than his own share of “unsavory” secrets. One of them was a seriousgambling problem. Danson had finally found proof that Walder had skimmed offenormous amounts of BAU funds to pay off vicious loan sharks. He’d alreadyreported his discoveries to FBI Director Milner. They’d both been watchingWalder closely for several months, to see what else might turn up.
When Danson had called Walder that day to praise Riley for herwork, he’d been infuriated to hear that his longtime nemesis planned to fireher. As soon as he’d hung up, Danson had contacted Director Milner to urge himto close in on Walder right away, before he could do further damage to theQuantico office.
Walder had been arrested, and Riley had been reinstated.
Now Walker Danson was in the U.S. Senate, and Brent Meredith wasSpecial Agent in Charge at the BAU.
And Carl Walder was in prison.
Happy thoughts indeed, Riley thought with a smile.
With Walder out of the way, Riley now had true job security atlong last. She’d chosen to spend most of her time lecturing and teaching atQuantico instead of working in the field. Whenever she did accept a fieldassignment, she always insisted upon having Ann Marie Esmer as a partner. Theyhad developed a fine rapport, with Riley serving as Ann Marie’s mentor. Morethan that, they had become great friends.
Just like me and Jake Crivaro, Riley thought.
But Riley’s field assignments were few and far between. To hersurprise, she hadn’t missed the excitement of field work. She’d soon realizedshe’d put in quite enough time in conflict with crazed minds.
Instead, she had really enjoyed the added time she was able tospend with her girls. They were doing very well. April was headed forGeorgetown University this fall, and she had substantial scholarship help forcollege. She was planning to pursue a psychology degree.
Typically for a girl her age, Jilly was still trying to find herpassion in life. But she was doing well enough in school that Riley feltconfident that she, too, would get her share of financial help when she headedoff to college.
The principal called April’s name, and Riley’s oldest daughtercrossed the stage to pick up her high school diploma.
Riley cheered and applauded, and Bill, Jilly, and Gabrielacheered even louder. Then Riley took hold of Bill’s hand and squeezed. Sheleaned over and kissed him on the cheek.
It was no longer a mystery where things were going between them. Theirrelationship had deepened and grown over the last year and a half. The additionof a romantic sex life to their strong friendship had bonded them in ways thatneither of them had ever imagined. In about another year they would bothretire, still in their forties, and then decide what they were going to do withthe rest of their lives together.
All in all, Riley Paige felt happier than she’d ever been. She’dhad a long and successful career, and the years to come were sure to be evenricher and more rewarding.
Life is good, she thought, squeezing Bill’s hand again.
A NEW SERIES!
NOW AVAILABLEFOR PRE-ORDER!
LEFT TO DIE
(An Adele Sharp Mystery—Book One)
“When you think that life cannot get better, Blake Piercecomes up with another masterpiece of thriller and mystery! This book is full oftwists and the end brings a surprising revelation. I strongly recommend thisbook to the permanent library of any reader that enjoys a very well writtenthriller.”
--Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Almost Gone)
LEFT TO DIE is book #1 in a new FBI thriller series by USAToday bestselling author Blake Pierce, whose #1 bestseller Once Gone (Book #1)(a free download) has received over 1,000 five star reviews.
FBI special agent Adele Sharp is a German-and-French raisedAmerican with triple citizenship—and an invaluable asset in bringing criminalsto justice as they cross American and European borders.
When a serial killer case spanning three U.S. states goescold, Adele returns to San Francisco and to the man she
