Page 64 of Close Match
Mom reaches over and squeezes her hand. “Well, I for one am glad not to be taken for granted.”
Linnie nods rapidly.
Is this what I’m going to feel like if something happens to Ev? So broken that the mention of the good memories brings nothing but pain? Tossing back the rest of my drink, I stand to get something a little stronger. On my way back around the table, I see Linnie’s eyes are latched on the glass. Her lips are compressed together slightly. In part to divert her attention, and truly because the idea of any of them driving in the District truly scares the hell out of me, I find myself saying, “There’s no way we can do DC in one day because I refuse to get up that early.”
“Also, it’s unlikely you won’t take her by to see Shaun at the office,” Mom says brightly.
I roll my eyes as Linnie’s eyes snap up, excited instead of tragic.
“You know the NCIS office looks nothing like the show,” I warn.
“Neither is backstage at a Broadway show and people still want to visit it,” she says wryly.
“But backstage for you has Simon Houde,” Mom says dreamily.
Ev shakes his head while I remind her, “He’s young enough to be your other son!”
She waves me off. “Semantics.”
I groan. My mother has a massive crush on Linnie’s brother-in-law. “So, we have a deal?” I ask. If I’m going to DC tomorrow, I need to shore up tonight mentally.
“Wait? Are you serious? I couldn’t take you away from your work, Monty!”
I wave it off as no big deal when the reality is that it’s going to drive me to drink. Being back in the city aggravates my nightmares. But the pleasure that washes over her face makes it worth it.
“Just tell me when you want to go and I’ll be ready,” Her face is flushed with excitement.
“We’ll leave tomorrow at ten. Dress nice, but wear comfortable shoes. We’ll be doing a lot of walking.”
* * *
Linnie’sstill somber as we walk out into the sunlight from the Holocaust Museum. “I’d always wanted to see it, I just never had the time.”
“It’s not something you can put into words. It’s something you have to experience,” I say honestly.
She lifts a shaky hand to her stomach. “Those videos, Monty. Who would ever…” Her voice trails off.
“One thing I learned in my years in law enforcement was that understanding the criminal mind is fascinating.” Linnie’s head whips toward me. “Not because of what it does, but because what makes it twist and do something so off-kilter. Take you, for example.” Linnie stops while we are walking.
Indignantly, she glares at me. “Are you trying to say…”
I steamroll over her. “You could have someone with a perfect life on the outside, but what would make you fall apart on the inside? What could drive you to do something crazy? The insane? The foolish? People have tried scientific study during a criminal’s life, and even after their death, and I don’t know if they’ll ever get it right.”
“Any theories?” We resume walking to where the car is parked. We have to drive over the Anacostia River and get on base to get to my old office. Shaun agreed to get us both in. “Listen, she’s part of your family. Happy to give her a quick tour.” I didn’t mention how much that statement weirds me out when I can’t get her out of my thoughts.
Or my dreams.
A glance at my watch tells me traffic won’t start to pick up for at least another two hours. “Come on. We can discuss this in the car.”
We reach the lot where I parked the Jag. After we slide in, I pick up where we left off. “Greed, insanity, or revenge. So far, those are the three main reasons I’ve seen criminals commit the acts they do.”
Linnie’s thoughtful as we zip down South Capitol Street. “So what you’re saying is that anyone has the capacity for certain crimes with the right incentive.”
We pull up to the Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling Main Gate when we’re stopped by a MA who I know damn well would have no problem shooting us if we posed a threat. I should—I helped train him when I was still at sea. “I need your ID“
Reaching into my back pocket, I present both of our IDs to the guards while I patiently wait for the dogs with the other to do a walk around of the car.
Linnie’s eyes get huge. “Holy shit,” she whispers. “This is what you had to go through every day?”
