Zermatt had come through big-time.
And the Forensic Instincts team was elated.
Ryan had been the one to contact Caitlin and tell her the good news. She’d wept and wept for joy, and then followed his instructions to call Hutch and reveal her location.
FI’s policy was consistent: let the FBI take the credit. All Casey and her team wanted was Caitlin at home where she belonged.
Epilogue
The McKay Residence
East 236th Street
Woodlawn, Bronx, New York
Thursday, March 30, 6:35 p.m.
The entire Forensic Instincts team—including a still-weak Casey, who had been permitted this one short momentous visit by her surgeon—plus the entire McKay family were sandwiched in the entranceway of Maureen and Colin’s house immediately after SA Barkley’s text to Maureen.
Maureen’s eyes had filled with joyous tears as she peeked out the window. “They’re here!”
The words were barely out of her mouth when Kennedy shoved her way past everyone, flung open the front door, and raced outside.
“Mommy!” She bypassed Barkley and leaped into Caitlin’s arms, sobbing the word over and over and shaking violently as she held tight to her.
“Oh, baby.” Caitlin squatted down to hug Kennedy closer, tears coursing down her cheeks as she rocked her child to and fro. “Oh my God, I can’t believe I’m holding you again.”
Kennedy nodded fervently, finally leaning back to study her mother’s face. “You’re really okay?”
“Thanks to Special Agent Barkley and the FBI, I am.” As instructed, Caitlin omitted any mention of FI, Aidan, or Terri. Instead, she dashed the tears off her face, trying hard to bring herself under control. “And so are you. Aunt Maureen obviously took wonderful care of you. You look tired, but otherwise great.”
As Caitlin spoke, Maureen hurried forward to embrace her, closely followed by the entire McKay family, most especially Ryan, who hugged her tightly and murmured something touching about Shane in her ear. The rest of the FI team hung back, aware that, ostensibly, they’d never met or spoken to Caitlin.
Caitlin followed their instructions, focusing completely on her family, pausing only to thank SA Barkley again. “I can’t begin to tell you how grateful I am,” she said to him.
Barkley smiled. “That’s my job, Mrs. Walsh. I’m so very glad the Bureau could make this reunion a reality.”
Casey stifled a grin. Barkley might be content with the way things had played out, but Hutch had definitely not been. At home last night, he’d plagued Casey with questions about FI’s behind-the-scenes activities, including who they’d worked with to “help” the Bureau solve this case, as well as how they knew where Caitlin had been hiding.
But this was one secret that would remain as such. The Zermatt Group would continue to exist under a veil of secrecy.
Casey had given her husband a sunny smile and assured him that the team had no idea where Caitlin had been hiding. And that whatever assistance the FBI had received, it hadn’t come from Forensic Instincts.
As angry and frustrated as he was, a hint of admiration flickered in Hutch’s eyes. “You know what, beautiful? I’ll deny it if you repeat that I said this, but you and your team managed us quite nicely. You pulled off this coup. No one else knows that, but I do. Granted it was definitely done illegally. But you covered your asses and got the desired results. You’re good. Very good.”
Casey had closed the subject by showing him just how good she was—not professionally, but personally.
And all was right with the world.
Ryan waited until the celebration had moved to the living room, where Kennedy was sitting close to Caitlin on the sofa, and everyone was talking, laughing, and chowing down on his mother’s numerous desserts.
Then, he put his long-awaited plan in motion.
He came up behind Claire, who was standing to bring in the next tray of goodies.
“Go ahead and deliver that,” he said. “And then come with me.”
Claire shot him a puzzled look, but she did as he asked.
