Page 7 of Girl, Bound

‘State of mind? Whatkind of hippy bullshit is that?’ Mia's teeth chattered, her patience wearingthin. ‘Hurry up, would you? I'm turning into a goddamn popsicle.’

Martin grinned. ‘It’sonly been an hour.’

‘Seems like enough tome.’

‘I went fishing lastMarch,’ Martin said. ‘Didn’t come home until April.’

Mia's eyes nearlyrolled out of her skull. She tugged her jacket tighter, a futile attempt atwarmth. This was retirement, she supposed. Endless hours of nothing, punctuatedby brief moments of excitement. Still, it beat the alternative. Chasing downmurderers, staring into the abyss day after day. Maybe freezing her ass offwasn't so bad after all.

Martin continued,‘Anyway, what’s up with Ella? That woman’s a problem-magnet. I’ve never knownsomeone get themselves into so much crap.’

‘You’re not wrong. Sheneeds to calm down.’

‘She needs to gofishing,’ Martin said as he cast his line back into the waters. ‘Or maybe shelikes the drama. Some people thrive on it.’

The thought hadcrossed Mia’s mind once or twice. Maybe the rookie was a closeted drama queen,always searching for the next problem to spend her energy on. But Mia knew Ellalike the back of her hand and the problems that came her way never seemed to beof her own doing.

Mia wrapped her hoodaround her face. ‘Ella thinks someone is killing people who wronged us.’

'I know. You told me,'Martin said. 'Personally, I think the girl is off her rocker.'

They'd had thisconversation before, gone round and round until they were dizzy withpossibilities. At the end of the day, Martin didn’t share Mia’s suspicion, andshe understood why.

‘I know. It’s just…’

‘You work withmurderers,’ Martin interrupted. ‘Hang around snakes long enough and eventuallysomeone’s gonna get bit.’

‘Aren’t you worried?’Mia asked. ‘People close to me and Dark. That includes you, you old fox.’

Martin’s mouthstretched a hearty laugh. ‘Tough as old boots, me,’ he said. ‘Besides, I'venever done a damn thing to upset you. Pretty sure I'm safe.’

Mia found relief inMartin making the claim. They’d been over this before, but it always helped tohear it from his own mouth again. The man was ex-military, ex-FBI, not tomention he still had strength on his side.

Mia nodded, but theunease remained. ‘I know. But I can't help it. First Carter, then Trevor. Badthings come in threes.’

Another fish escapedMartin’s clutches, then he set his fishing rod down in defeat. ‘Bad things?’ helaughed.

Mia corrected herself.‘Okay. Tragic things.’

‘Seems a stretch,’Martin said. He reached into his bag beside him and pulled out a blue can.‘Beverage?’

‘It’s nine-thirty.’

‘It’s five o’clocksomewhere.’

Mia’s phone buzzedlike a hornet trying to escape her pocket. She pulled it out and squinted atthe screen. The name William Edis stared back at her.

The boss, theold-turned-new FBI director, the man who’d dragged her through the muck of theFBI trenches for twenty-odd years.

She hesitated, herthumb hovering over the answer button like a judge's gavel. This was supposedto be her time with Martin, a chance to breathe air that didn't reek ofcorpses.

But the job, thatcruel mistress, never could resist sinking her claws in.

Martin, everobservant, cocked an eyebrow. ‘Duty calls?’

‘Maybe,’ she said.

‘Well, don't let mestop you.’ Martin motioned for her to answer.

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