Page 122 of Critical Doubt

"I'm sure. You look tired, too."

"The adrenaline rush has finally receded. Have I missed anything while I've been going over and over the same facts for the past hour?"

"A few things. Mason Wrigley was officially arrested at the hospital and informed of the failed plan. He's not talking. He requested a lawyer."

"He's going to need a good one. He was right in the middle of this."

"Hank Morgan will spend the night in the hospital and then go to jail. He's facing homicide charges for Vance and his security guard."

"I'm sure he thinks the killings were justified, because of what Vance did in Afghanistan."

"Well, he'll get to tell his story to a jury," Parisa said. "Todd Davis is talking up a storm now. Once he realized Leo Romano was alive, and he'd been sold a false narrative, he was much more interested in making a deal. He was probably lucky that they decided to cut him out at the last minute. He wasn't involved in the theft of the weapons or the shootings, and he'll probably face much less severe charges for his part in the conspiracy."

"I hope the same will be true for Paul."

"I also checked in with your friend Abby. Paul is awake and he's also talking. We sent an agent down to Chesapeake Beach to take his statement and to officially put him under arrest."

"That must have been difficult for Abby to see," she said, her heart going out once more to her friend.

"She told me that she understands Paul could be in trouble, but she's glad he's going to live. Beyond that, she isn't sure what's happening with their relationship, although he's very apologetic and remorseful."

"She doesn't owe Paul anything. I hope she takes her time in deciding what she wants to do."

"So do I. By the way, I also removed her security. I don't believe she's in any further danger, and she was fine with that."

"Thank you for taking care of all these details, Parisa. I know there's a lot to sort out."

"This case has a lot of layers to it," Parisa said. "I suspect Ryker will be riding an emotional roller coaster for a while. Are you going to be riding with him?"

She wished she knew the answer to that question. Ryker had told her he loved her, but that had been in the heat of the moment.How could she hold him to it? How could she even believe it?

But she wanted to believe it. She wanted to believe there was a chance for them. But she just didn't know what would happen when everything settled.

"Savannah?" Parisa gently prodded.

She shrugged. "I don't know. We'll see."

"If I can just give you one word of advice?"

"Can you really stop at one word?" she asked lightly.

"Geography. That's the word. But you're right, I can't stop. Don't let geography be the deciding factor. You could work closer to the Chesapeake Bay. You could work here."

"Oh, yeah, Agent Paxton is my greatest fan."

"He's not so bad when you get to know him. At the end of the day, you made a big case. You kept a truckload of weapons from being sold to terrorists. You helped unravel an illegal arms network. Trust me, by the time he's done telling his bosses about it, you will have been his secret weapon."

"I can live with that. I'm not looking for praise or a promotion. I got into this because I wanted answers for Abby. Unfortunately, those answers are going to make her lose her husband for the second time."

"Well, maybe she can take solace in the fact that he wanted to provide for her."

"Maybe." She paused, wondering why Ryker was taking so long and hoping he hadn't pulled another vanishing act on her. "Ryker is still in the building, isn't he?"

"I'm here," Ryker said, coming up behind her.

Relief ran through her. "Oh, good. I was afraid you'd bailed again."

"Nope. Not this time."

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