“Thanks, LT. For everything. It’s been the honor of a lifetime to work with you and this squad.”
“It’s been an honor to have you. Keep me posted on your dates.”
“Will do.”
While she was truly happy for Matt and Olivia, she’d have an opening to fill that would require her attention on something other than an active investigation, which was always annoying but came with the job.
“What was that about?” Freddie asked as they walked toward the morgue.
“Matt gave me notice that he’s moving to Boston with his girlfriend.”
“Oh wow. Well, good for them.”
“That’s what I said, too. Now we need to find someone to take his spot.”
“You’ll figure that out. You always do.”
“I hate change.”
“No, really?”
“Don’t be sassy, young Freddie, when I need to pay you a compliment.”
“Can’t wait to hear this.”
When they were loaded into the SUV and on the way to Arlington, she said, “I talked to Jesse. He received a lead on his sister after he appeared on some of those podcasts you recommended.”
“No way. That’s awesome.”
“I hope so.”
“Why do you sound concerned?”
“I’m worried about him being fleeced somehow.”
“He’s a U.S. Marshal. He can handle himself.”
“In any other situation, I’d agree. This is different, but he’s taking fellow Marshal Memphis Rose Costello with him, so that makes me feel a little better.”
“What if this is it, though? What if, after all these years, he might actually find her?”
“I know. It gives me goose bumps just thinking about it.”
“I can’t imagine how he must be feeling.”
“I know, elated and filled with dread at the same time. I’m just hoping for the best, no pun intended.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Jesse was indeed elated and filled with dread. Sam’s change in tone after hearing the details hadn’t been lost on him as a fellow law enforcement officer. Every day in their work, they heard about elaborate scams that victimized some of society’s most vulnerable people. And while he’d never describe himself as vulnerable in the regular course of business, this situation was an obvious exception.
Jordan was his soft spot and had been since the day she was born—and especially since the day she disappeared without a trace.
He and Memphis had decided to drive to Kentucky because it would be easier for her than slogging through airports on her injured leg.
She’d urged him to go without her so he could get there more quickly, but that wasn’t an option. They’d have to make frequent stops so she could move around, which was also fine if it meant having her with him on this journey that would’ve taken nine to ten hours if they’d driven straight through.
He’d traveled through life as a loner, but now he was reliant upon a dynamo of a woman who made even the bad days a little brighter and the good days magnificent.
