Page 37 of Shadows of Before

Will was shocked. “You’re not going back to policing?”

“Not after what happened. Too much baggage. And Annie worries, anyway. She never pushed me to leave the force, but I know she was concerned. For years. Since we were in college.”

“He’s right. It’s better for both of us. It’ll be fun working together if he stays on in the fall.”

Diego cocked his head. “You know, I’ll bet Jackson would jump at the chance to have you work with his kids.”

“I probably won’t have time for that. I’ve been asked…” He told his friend about Holden Patterson and the PI job.

“You’re done with the Secret Service?”

“I got too much baggage there, too.”

Annie smiled. “Boy, this guy here will be glad to have you in Westwood again.”

Katie thought,I know the feeling.

* * *

Will got up early the next day, anxious to call Holden, but he waited until a decent hour.

“Hey, buddy,” Holden answered. “I hope this crack of dawn phone call is good news.”

“Don’t shit me. You get up early like me. And yes, it’s good news. When do we start?”

“Yesterday.

Will hooted.

“I’ll text you the list of things you have to do.”

“I’ll keep you apprised of my progress.”

“I’m so glad you’re on board, buddy.” Holden sounded…grateful.

“It’ll be great working with you again.”

“Yeah, for me, too.”

By the time Kate got up, he’d studied the list and tentatively planned his day.

She crossed to him and kissed him. “What are you so hard at work at?”

He explained his call.

“Feel free to do whatever you need to today.” She went to the pot and poured coffee, then sat across from him at the counter. “I have to go talk to my dad some time, anyway.”

“Want me to come with?”

“I think you’d complicate the visit. Let me see the list.”

He passed his phone over.

“Huh. You’re well over 25, have more than the three years’ experience in law enforcement. What doesbe a principal in the business entitymean?”

“It means I run the organization in Syracuse.”

“You qualify for that. What will you do first?”

---