Walter grinned. “Yet the sparks flew. I must admit, I enjoyed the show, even if I couldn’t let on.”
“Why couldn’t you? You could’ve saved us from worrying.”
“Because then you wouldn’t have worked so hard at your relationship. Also, I had to comb the regulations to ensure there were no repercussions.” Moose butted his hand. Walter resumed the ear rubbing.
“Well, I appreciate that. Though it would’ve been nice to know how you felt.” All the time he’d spent, wondering and worrying about him and Bo getting found out, all the precautions they’d taken. For nothing?
“Now, Lucky, you don’t expect me to play favorites among my team, do you?” Walter raised one bushy eyebrow.
“No. Not you.” Damn it.
“Yet I’m about to.”
“What?”
“Please hear me out before you say anything. I understand my recent medical problems were induced, but it’s made me face reality. I’m not a young man. I’m past retirement age, and well, it’s time for me to pass the torch.”
“Nah, you got a lot of good years left. What will we do without you?” Oh, God. The SNB without Walter wouldn’t be the same. Nor would Lucky.
“Yes, and I’d like to spend those years puttering around the house, getting in my wife’s way. Or maybe seeing the world. I’ve been invited to visit Nice. I’m told it’s beautiful this time of year.”
Lucky grimaced. Visiting Nice meant visiting Victor. Between Walter and Victor, Lucky had no secrets. “If all that hadn’t happened, would you have allowed O’Donoghue to replace you?”
“I’ll be honest with you. O’Donoghue wasn’t my first choice, and without urging from the powers that be, I’d never have agreed to name him my successor.”
“Why not?” After the way Walter had sung the man’s praises?
“Because my best agent didn’t trust him, and I’ve learned to pay attention to his instincts.”
“Then who would you have named?” It had better not be Keith, uneasy truce or no.
“You, Lucky. You were my first choice.”
What the fuck? Oooo-kay. Not what Lucky expected. He rubbed at his neck, his insides twisting together like a bucketful of snakes. “No disrespect, Boss, but me wearing a suit and tie? Spending all day in a conference room? Besides, the rest of the team would go ape shit.” Lucky shuddered.Please let Walter not insist, please, please, please.
Walter shrugged. “Maybe they would, maybe they wouldn’t, but in the end, they’d accept my choice and they’d respect you for the job you would have done.”
“Would have done?” Lucky didn’t let out a relieved breath yet, but some of his anxiety lifted.
“Yes. Though I would love to see you fill my shoes, it’s not your way and not how you operate. After seeing the fine job you did with Bo and Loretta Johnson, you’re too valuable to the department as a trainer to lose.”
Whew! “Please tell me you’re not planning on naming Keith.” Keith would likely make Lucky’s life a living hell. But he’d better not mess with Bo or Johnson.
“Actually, he and I had a very enlightening talk the other day.”
Lucky pictured his career swirling down the drain. “You know me and him don’t get along.”
“Yes, I do. I also know he passed work off on others that he should have done himself. Not the action of a good leader. Yet he’s bright enough to realize he’d be unpopular and out of his depth. He made a suggestion that, I must admit, has a lot of merit.”
No telling who the little asswipe recommended, though apprehension swept through him. Something Keith said the night he’d invaded Lisa’s house. “Who?”
“A man who’s made his mark in the department and proven himself time after time. He’s smart, has impeccable integrity, and best of all, he’s managed to endear himself to the department without compromising his impartiality, mostly.” Walter had spoken so highly of Bo all those years ago, the day Bo and Lucky met.
A sinking feeling hit Lucky’s stomach. “Who?”
“A remarkable young agent named William Schollenberger. I believe you know him.” In all the years Lucky’d known Walter, he’d never witnessed such a playful smile. ‘Bout time the boss relaxed some.
But Bo? Job pressures. Dealing with suit and tie types? “He’s not ready.”
