2
More than anything right now, Reid wanted to take off. To return to Jessie. Instead, he followed Megan’s gaze as she watched York march toward the security guard, her shoulders drooping. Reid finally processed the fact that she’d cut her waist-length hair to her shoulders, leaving it curly. It was still blond as he remembered and seemed as soft as the last day of Fowler’s trial, when Reid had crossed the boundaries of professional ethics and moved a stray strand from her face.
Right after the deputies took hold of Fowler to transport him to a federal prison, he turned on Megan, spewing threats in an angry, almost visceral tone. She’d sought comfort from Reid as she’d done every time her fears had taken over in the six months between the robbery and Fowler’s trial. They’d spent a lot of time together, and the comfort soon turned into feelings for each other. But she was a witness, and he was a professional. No matter how much both of them had wanted to pursue their feelings, his ethics stopped him from crossing that line until the case wrapped up.
On the final day of the trial, he didn’t have to worry about ethics anymore. So when she complained of a headache, he’d rubbed her shoulders and told her how he felt about her. It had lasted until his supervisor caught sight of them in the conference room and had taken him aside to say if Reid wanted a career at the FBI, a relationship with a witness—even a former witness—was out of the question. An agent who wanted to advance in the Bureau would never do such an unprofessional thing.
Man, Reid had been conflicted. He’d wanted to be an agent since he was a little boy, and he struggled to decide his course of action. In the long run, he’d said goodbye to Megan, hurting her in a way he’d never thought he was capable of doing. He didn’t have his priorities right. Hadn’t for years. Losing his wife Diane showed him what was most important.
I’m sorry for hurting you. For being such a jerk back then.
He bit his tongue to keep from blurting it out. From seeking forgiveness he didn’t deserve. He shook his head too, as if physically warning himself to stop the direction of his thoughts. The last thing she needed right now was for him to mention the day he’d told her his job was more important than her.
As if feeling his eyes on her, she turned and studied him like she would a bug she planned to annihilate under her shoe.
Keep the attention on Fowler.That’s what they needed right now.
“I’m surprised you thought I’d be the one to tell you about Fowler’s release,” Reid said.
“Why? Because you got what you wanted from me to advance your precious career and ran the other way?” She skewered him with a defiant yet challenging stare.
Ah, another personal jab. One he had coming, but one he wouldn’t defend himself against and send them down a personal rabbit hole. “That’s not what I meant. The Justice Department should notify you of Fowler’s release.”
A tinge of remorse flashed on her face, and that added to his guilt. “I haven’t heard anything from them, so when I saw you, I thought maybe they changed procedures.”
“They didn’t contact you?”
“No, but they have my home phone number on file, and I spent the night here.” She glanced at her daughter’s room again. “If I was the only one involved, I wouldn’t be as worried, but I have Ella to think about.”
He shifted his gaze to the sleeping child, who was definitely younger than his daughter. Maybe five. Megan’s messy divorce from a local news anchor had made all the news, and he knew she had a daughter. But this child’s gaunt face and bald head left little resemblance to Megan. She seemed very sick. Chemotherapy had taken a toll. A big one.
He had to look beyond the sickness—as he had with his wife, Diane—to find the person before chemo erased her health. Maybe her pert little nose resembled Megan’s.
“She looks so peaceful,” he said.
“Wait until she wakes up and finds out I didn’t get Boo-Boo.” Megan shook her head. “She’ll be anything but peaceful.”
“Boo-Boo?”
“Ella’s bear.” She aimed a soft smile at her daughter. “She insists on taking him to every appointment. I was in a hurry to get to the emergency room yesterday and forgot him.” Her voice died off, and she paused. Drew in a breath. “I stopped to get gas on my way to get him and spotted Fowler. I don’t know what I’ll do when she wakes up and I don’t have the bear. He’s gotten her through so many rough days, and she counts on him.” Tears pooled in Megan’s eyes, washing over the pain and uncertainty.
So much like the trial, when testifying frightened her, and he’d helped her work through her despair. Maybe he could do the same thing now.
He opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, a sudden resolve tightened her face, and she lifted her shoulders.
“She may want Boo-Boo, but as long as Fowler’s free, I’m not leaving her at risk.” She’d turned into a fierce protector over the years and didn’t need his help coping anymore.
He gave her a sympathetic smile. “I have a daughter too, so I completely understand.”
Megan responded with a flat look. One that held a message. She didn’t want to hear anything about his personal life. She only talked with him because she was afraid of Fowler.
Exactly what he deserved and he would keep the focus off himself. “Is there someone you can call to pick up the bear?”
“I won’t risk sending anyone to my house with Fowler on the loose.”
“Dad,” Jessie’s voice came from behind. “Is everything okay?”
Reid spun. Jessie and Mary were standing behind him. He hadn’t heard them approach. He let out a breath and put on a smile for her. “I’ll be done in a minute, Bug. How about waiting near Tommy’s door for me?”
