Hans shook his head. “I appreciate it, but your work is important, and I don’t think you staying will make a difference either way.” He looked from Dillon to Kate. “This is completely need-to-know. I’ve briefed Rick Stockton. Other than him, and whichever agent he pulls into the investigation, you’re the only person in the Bureau who knows about this investigation.”
“Do Lucy and Sean know?” she asked.
“Patrick is filling them in now.” He leaned back in his chair but didn’t feel at all relaxed. “There’s another connection between the deaths. Theissen had retired from the FBI two years ago and was working as chief of security at Citi Field. That’s where Rosemary Weber was murdered.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
New York City
Lucy and Sean left Patrick in his own room, where he’d set up Bob Stokes’s computer to find the e-mail that had sent the cop to New York two days before he died.
“We should help Patrick,” Lucy said in the elevator.
“It’s one computer, one operator. Are you forgetting your brother used to run the cybercrimes unit for the San Diego Police Department? He knows what he’s doing.”
Sean slid the card key into their door. “And,” he continued, “you’re so tired you’re about to fall asleep standing up.”
Lucy fell down on the bed. “True.”
“Patrick is taking care of Stokes; we’re following Tony’s trail. If there’s any overlap, we’ll find it.”
Sean lay on the bed next to her. He kissed her cheek and gently pulled out her hair band. “Sleep.”
Lucy would have gladly surrendered except she couldn’t stop thinking about the possibility that Tony was murdered.
“If someone poisoned Tony, when was it? If Stokes died after coming back from New York, they both could have been poisoned here.”
“What drugs could cause a heart attack?”
Lucy frowned. “Several, but they all have other symptoms. And some are virtually undetectable after they’ve passed through the system.”
“Hans is already suspicious. He’s having the FBI lab run additional tests.” He kissed her. “You’re too tired to think straight. I promise, a good night’s sleep and we’ll both be better focused.”
“It connects to Rosemary Weber. Somehow.” Lucy sighed and put her head down again. “But it’s not my job. Not anymore.”
“You haven’t quit yet.”
“I’m not quitting. I was never supposed to be there in the first place. I’m righting a wrong.”
“No. I’m not justifying what Hans did, but he did it because he knows you’re good. He wants you as part of his team, just like everyone at RCK would be thrilled if you worked for us. You’re a valuable commodity.” He leaned over and kissed her again.
“Thank you.”
“For telling the truth?”
“If I don’t go back I won’t have to worry about the driving test on Monday. And we don’t have time for you to teach me.”
“You know how to drive. I was supposed to teach you how to drive well enough to ace the FBI track. Is it the test Monday or a practice?”
“Defensive driving. No test, but I have to be able to complete the course.”
“You will.”
If she was there. “I hate driving,” she mumbled. She didn’t want to tell him, or anyone, how nervous she got when behind a wheel.
“You’re tense.” Sean nuzzled her neck. “Patrick told me about the accident.”
She frowned. “He shouldn’t have done that.”
“You’re right. You should have.”
“Am I supposed to recount everything that has ever happened to me?”
“I’ve asked why you hate driving.”
“It was never the right time.”
“Accidents are traumatic. But you’ve faced far worse than a non-fatal car crash. Which means, Patrick doesn’t know everything.”
“I was five. It left a lasting impression on me.”
She rolled away from Sean, but he pulled her back toward him, spooning his body around hers.
He was trying to make her comfortable, trying to make her relax and share. But it wasn’t working. He always wanted to know everything, and he usually just guessed. Most of the time he was right.
“What do you think happened?” she snapped. “You usually know what I’m thinking.”
He refused to take the bait. “Not this time. I only know that Patrick has no idea what happened during the crash, and that’s what I don’t understand.”
“I barely remember the accident.”
She’d been in the back between Patrick and Carina, who were bickering about something, but in the good- natured way they always had. They were only eleven months apart, and as Lucy grew up she’d been jealous that her older brothers and sisters were all friends and she was the mistake, the seventh child who came a decade late.
She didn’t remember much about the accident, only flashes. Like she knew it had been raining, rare for San Diego. Her father had muttered something about drivers being stupid in the rain. Her mother had a rosary in her hands. They may have been coming home from church, or that memory might be because her dad told her later. Patrick had taken something from Carina and had given it to Lucy to hide behind her back. Their dad told them to settle down, and Lucy was giggling. She loved when her big brother included her in his jokes.
Then suddenly everything was moving fast. Loud sounds, Carina screamed, and they were upside down.
Lucy went to sleep, or so she thought at the time. She awakened fast, to a loud noise as their van was hit again. She looked around and no one was moving.
She thought her family was dead.
An involuntary moan escaped her throat.
“Hey, Lucy?” Sean sat up, pulling her up with him and holding her close. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Don’t do that. Tell me, princess. What happened?”
“My family thinks I’m scared of driving because I was in the car accident. I don’t remember anything about it, really, just the noise. And everyone was fine, though Carina had a broken rib, I think. Or maybe it was Patrick.” She glanced away. “Maybe there was more to it, but I really don’t remember. That shouldn’t stop me from driving. It’s silly.”
“Early childhood trauma impacts us far greater than anything else,” Sean said.
“Now you sound like a shrink.”
“We’ll get you through it, okay? Let me help you.”
Sean needed to help people. Especially her. He wanted to be the one to fix everyone’s problem, and that was endearing and noble, even when he was frustrating.
“I don’t remember anything.”
“Look me in the eye and say that.”
“Stop.”
“Why don’t you trust me?”
“You know I trust you.” She trusted Sean more than anyone, but that didn’t mean she could just talk about this.
Sean didn’t say anything. But he didn’t move, either. He was waiting.
