A familiar, gruff female voice sounded on the other end. "Hello?"

Nicky paused. Her voice was thick in her throat. She'd called so many times; the operator, Martha, would recognize her voice. "Hi there, I was calling to ask if any information had come up in a case--"

"Its you again," Martha said. "I'm sorry, sweetie, but there's still nothing new. The case has been cold for years, darling… you know that.

Nicky closed her eyes. This was a call she made every week. She'd called ever since she left her hometown and went into the FBI academy. At this point, it was more of a compulsion than anything. Dr. Graham had mentioned something about that once. He suggested that Nicky making the calls was her way of latching onto hope, because sheand the FBIhad already exhausted every possible lead as to what had happened to Rosie Lyons. The case was colder than the Appalachian Mountains. But Nicky just… needed to call.

"Okay, well... thanks." She hung up.

She headed back into the living room, where she kicked off her shoes and sat on the couch with her cell phone.

Another dead end, as always. But at least it helped keep Rosie's memory alive.

Just as Nicky was about to get up and pour another drink, her phone buzzed. She frowned at the name on the screen. It was late for her boss, Eric Franco, to be calling her, but she picked up.

"Chief, what's going on?" Nicky asked.

"Lyons, you holding up okay?"

Nicky paused. Of course she wasn't. Senator Gregory's daughter was dead, and Nicky had done nothing to stop it. Hell, maybe she even caused it if Frank saw her come up to the cabin. Nicky would never know, because the only two people who truly knew what went on in that cabin were dead.

A thought slithered into Nickys mind. Maybe I should just quit. I couldnt save Masie. Maybe Im not cut out for this anymore…

"Fine, Chief," she said. Im disappointed. But moving on.

"Good. Get some sleep and come in early tomorrow." He paused. "We need to have an important meeting. Its about the case.

Dread filled Nicky's gut.

What about it?

There was a long pause on the other end that made Nickys palms grow sweaty.

Just make sure youre in, Chief said. And get some sleep.

CHAPTER TWO

Anxiety grew in Nicky's chest as she stepped into the elevator at work, squinting against the morning light before the doors closed. In only a few short minutes, she'd find out what the chief meant by "important meeting." She didn't feel overly optimistic, and she hadnt been able to shake the thought growing in her head like a malignant tumor. The thought that shed lost her competency as an agent.