Page 5 of Already Lost

“It’s a short journey,right over the D.C. border in Maryland,” Rondelle explained. “The oppositedirection from your last case, but you’re still in luck with how close it is.And yes, now would be good. It seems like time is of the essence with this one.As it is with them all, really.”

Laura bit her lip,thinking. That was good luck. She would be close enough by that she could rushback if someone needed her at home – if there was something wrong with Lacey,or if Chris and Zach did end up meeting after all. Not that there would be alot she could do about it after the fact, if Zach was dead.

But on the other hand,she’d be far enough away and busy enough that she could easily make excusesabout not being able to see either of them. Maybe she’d be even luckier andthis would be a long case, one that kept her away all week. She wouldn’t wantit to take much longer and keep her away from Lacey, but a whole week withoutmaking things up to put them off…

“Sure,” Laura said, eventhough he hadn’t told her anything about it yet, because it was a good enoughreason to get out of the sticky situation she was in and she wasn’t about tolook a gift horse in the mouth. “I’ll be there. I just… I have Lacey, so I haveto get her home to her father first. Can you give me an extra half hour?”

“I can,” Rondelle said,though he sounded grudging with it. “Get her back safe. Don’t speed.”

“I won’t,” Laura said,half a smile in her voice because Rondelle pretended to be so gruff but,underneath it all, he was clearly a softie, really. She hung up, turning backto the sofa to tell Lacey to get ready.

But Lacey was not on thesofa. She was standing near Laura in the kitchen, with her hands on her hips, asulky look on her five-year-old face.

“You said we were goingto get ice cream,” she said, her tone accusatory.

“We are, baby,” Laurasaid, already starting to reach for things. Her keys on the counter. Marcus’number in her phone book so she could let him know she was on the way back. Shetried not to feel her heart throbbing painfully in her chest at the thought shewas letting Lacey down. Parents had to prioritize work sometimes – that was acommon thing. Especially as an FBI agent, her family had to accept that shesometimes had to go into work at odd times.

This had been the bestsolution to all of her problems – so why did it feel like she was the worstmother in the world?

“I heard you,” Laceysaid, stomping her foot. “You’re going to work and I’ve got to go back toDaddy.”

“And we can get ice creamon the way,” Laura said, grateful that Rondelle had said that last line aboutdriving slowly – maybe she could pretend it really took her that long to getthere if she fitted in an ice cream break. Lacey probably didn’t realize it,but right at that moment, she could have asked for a pony – and Laura wouldhave stopped to get her one of those along the way, too. Anything to try tomake it up to her. “Now, go on, let’s get your stuff.”

Laura mentally checkedoff all the things she needed to do before arriving at HQ, and how long it wasgoing to take, as Lacey traipsed off to find her bag in her room. It was a goodthing that, knowing today was the day Lacey needed to go back home anyway,Laura had helped her pack away most of her things this morning.

Right now, Laura thought,there was so much going on in her head that for once, she was actually lookingforward to taking on a case – especially knowing she’d be able to lean on herpartner, Nate, while they were out there.

CHAPTER THREE

Laura strode down thecorridor towards Nate, nodding at him as she did. He pushed away from the wallhe’d been leaning on and stood up straight, rubbing a hand over hisclose-cropped black hair as he waited for her to catch up. He looked like hemight have been waiting for a while.

“Hey,” he said, his voicelow as she approached.

“Sorry,” Laura replied.“I had to get Lacey back to Marcus.”

Nate shook his head. “Iget it. To be honest, I thought you might tell Rondelle you didn’t want thecase.”

“And let you be partneredwith some rookie instead?” Laura flashed him a wan smile. “I’ve done thatenough lately to not want to put anyone else through it.”

Nate’s returned smile wasequally weak. It was still a little bit of an awkward topic – the time Nate hadspent away from her after he declared he wanted to transfer and not be herpartner anymore. At first it was because she wouldn’t tell him her secret – andthen when she caved and told him about her psychic powers, she thought she’dlost him for good. Having him back now meant the world, and Laura wished shehadn’t said anything – she didn’t want to jeopardize things now they were backon relatively stable ground.

“Shall we head in?” Natesuggested, which was an absolute relief. Laura nodded, letting him go first toknock on Division Chief Rondelle’s door.

“Come in,” he shoutedfrom inside, and they did as they were told.

Rondelle was behind hisdesk as always – Laura often thought that it was entirely possible he’d beenfused in place, it was so unusual to see him anywhere else. Or maybe he’d beenchained to the room somehow by invisible bonds. Whatever it was, she’d yet tofind a time of day or night when the older man, with his graying hair and shorterstature, wasn’t in his office.

“Good to see you’vedecided to stop gossiping in the corridor and come in,” Rondelle said, andLaura took a breath. Clearly, the Chief was in a bad mood. “I’ve got yourbriefing here.” He tossed a folder towards the far end of his desk rather thanwaiting for one of them to come and take it from his hand, going back towhatever paperwork he was working on immediately.

“Is there anything weneed to know?” Nate asked hesitantly, sharing a sideways glance with Laura. Shetried to subtly signal to him not to poke the bear, but it was too late.Rondelle looked up with a frustrated sigh.

“Read it yourself,” hesaid. “You’ve got a nice drive ahead of you and you both have eyes, ears, andmouths. One of you can read it out loud to the other. Go on – you’ve alreadywasted enough time.”

Laura didn’t need to betold twice – she made a beeline for the door before Rondelle could startyelling.

She wanted to say somethingto Nate badly, but remembering Rondelle’s comment about gossiping in thecorridor and realizing he must have heard them talking before, she held hertongue all the way down to the elevator. Only once the doors slid shut did sheturn to Nate with wide eyes and let it out.

“What was going on withhim?” she asked, shaking her head.

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