She raised the bed so she was sitting upright, then turned to Brodie. “You look good.”
“I feel great.”
“Ready to return to duty?”
“Maybe tomorrow.”
“I probably shouldn’t be surprised that a case I work with you ends in a hospital.”
“Better than a three-volley salute and taps.”
She had no reply, and they sat in silence awhile. Then Taylor said, “I spoke to David, over video. He’s still very weak but doing a little better every day.”
“Good.”
Taylor looked across the room at the bouquet of flowers, which had wilted. “Who are those from?”
Brodie didn’t reply.
Taylor nodded. She knew who they were from.
Brodie swung his legs over the side of the bed, then eased himself off.
“Are you supposed to be walking?”
“Let’s find out.” He shuffled over with his IV pole and sat in a chair next to Taylor’s bed.
They looked at each other. Taylor said, “I spoke to Colonel Dombroski. He told me that he considered your resignation a rash decision, made under the stress of a tough assignment.”
“I’ll put it in writing.”
“Scott…”
“This job doesn’t suit me.”
Taylor laughed.
Brodie said, “I’m serious.”
“I know. That’s why it’s funny.” She suggested, “Take your medical leave in the Caribbean.” She added, “That’s what I’m going to do.”
He didn’t reply.
They were both quiet for a moment. Then Taylor said, “I’m putting in for a transfer back to Quantico.”
Brodie looked at her. “Good.”
Taylor was waiting for him to say something more, so he added, “Don’t partner with Brad Evans.”
“I’m partnering with you.”
Brodie did not respond.
She continued, “You had your reasons for resigning. But the fact is you stayed on the case on your terms.”
“Which is why I can’t go back to theirs.”
Taylor thought a moment, then said, “You want to know what Colonel Dombroski said to me? He said that he dreaded to think about what would have happened if he had assigned a different team to this case. He’d never say that to you, but he said it to me, and I’m telling you.”
