Page 28 of See How They Hide

“I’ll follow up first thing in the morning,” she said. “But some tests take time, not because they’re dragging their feet. You’ve been working this case nonstop for more than a week, Matt. Come to the house for dinner. Chris made his famous steak chili and homemade corn bread. And Lizzie would love to see you.”

Matt had been friends with Catherine and her husband, Chris, since Catherine and Matt went through the FBI Academy together fifteen years ago. He’d been the best man at their wedding and was Lizzie’s godfather. Their friendship had ups and downs over the years, and the last two years had been particularly rocky for many reasons. But they were working through it and they’d always worked well together.

Matt couldn’t help but think that Catherine would never have invited him if Kara were in town. Catherine and Kara did not get along, even before Catherine found out that Matt and Kara had a personal relationship. Over the last few months they had developed a manageable working relationship, but the tension was constant, and it bothered Matt that Catherine always seemed to be waiting for Kara to make a mistake that could be used to push her off the team.

“Do you have other plans?” Catherine asked pointedly.

“All right, I’ll be there.”

Catherine smiled warmly, pulled out her phone. “I’ll text Chris and let him know. It will benefit both of us to put this all aside for the evening and come back fresh in the morning.”

Maybe that’s what Matt needed—a break.

“I have to talk to Ryder, then I’ll head down there.” Catherine and Chris lived in Stafford, about thirty minutes south of Quantico. Matt lived in the opposite direction, but he had an overnight bag and would stay in the Quantico dorms. They were in the midst of a partial hiring freeze and could only train enough agents for replacement. There was a whole wing of vacant dorm rooms. Kara had been living in one for the last several months—when she wasn’t at his place.

Matt found Ryder in his large cubicle talking on the phone. He waited until the analyst was done, then said, “I’m going to leave in a few minutes. Any news?”

“Balls are in motion, but it’s near end of business in Colorado so nothing will happen until tomorrow. I have Michael and Kara on a flight first thing in the morning, and Agent Stewart will meet with them when they arrive.”

“Good. Now, go home.”

“I will. I’ll be late tomorrow—I have a meeting at headquarters with the head of Cybercrimes. They might have something for us. They’ve been tracking a hacker in Colorado, but that’s all I know right now. They were very interested in what we had.”

“Be careful with them,” Matt warned. “Cybercrimes likes to play games, and if this hacker is connected to these murders—either because he helped the victims or maybe turned on them—then we need to know everything they know.”

“Understood, sir.”

Ryder left and Matt shook his head.Sir. He’d tried for the last year to break Ryder from that habit, and sometimes it worked—but more often than not, it didn’t.

He finished work so he could go to Catherine’s with a clear conscience. He considered calling Kara, but she and Michael were working, and his call would be personal. Instead, he sent her a text message.

Wish you were here. Heading to dinner at Chris & Catherine’s. Call when you’re settled in for the night. XO.

He missed her. But work came first and Kara would be upset with him if he wanted to casually chat when she was in the field.

Matt hadn’t realized how much he’d needed a night off.

He and Chris sat in the heated sunroom with a glass of whiskey and a college basketball game on in the background. At one time he would never have missed March Madness; now, it was April and he didn’t even know who had made the final four until they turned on the television.

“Dinner was great, buddy. Thanks,” Matt said. “I know it’s cliché, but Lizzie has grown too fast. I can’t believe she’s twelve. Wow. She’s an amazing kid.” He sipped his drink. “I need to get down to Miami and visit my brother and his family. I’ve only seen the new kid twice, but she’s a cutie.”

Matt’s brother, Dante, was a doctor like Chris, though Dante was a pediatrician and Chris a pediatric surgeon. He had been married for ten years and had three young kids. Matt wouldn’t be surprised if they had more.

“Did you take Kara down to visit?”

“Not yet.”

“You seemed serious about her.”

Chris had met Kara a couple of times, but they hadn’t really socialized.

“I am.”

“Then why not introduce her to your brother?”

“I wanted her to come down for Christmas, since we both had the time off. She went to visit her grandmother in Washington.”

“And?”

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