“Yes!” she said, still disgusted. She sat back in the chair, keeping her butt on the edge, while letting her shoulders fall back against the cushion.

“If you say that to anyone else, you might consider clarifying.”

Val let that thought simmer, and then she closed her eyes, her shoulders sagging. “Shit.”

“You’re not going to forgive Sawyer?” I asked.

“God, no.”

“What keeps you there, Val? I know it’s your condo, but that can’t be all there is to it.”

She lifted her arms before letting them slap to her thighs. “That’s it.”

“Lie.”

“Well, now,” she said, sitting up and crossing her arms, “look who is honing her craft.”

“More like common sense,” I said. “Now, if you’re going to be a bad friend, shoo. I have work to do.” I shuffled papers, pretending to be disinterested.

“I can’t forgive him,” she said, her voice small. “I’ve tried. I could have forgiven anything else.”

“Really?”

She nodded.

“Have you told him that?”

She picked at her nails. “Pretty much.”

“You need to tell him, Val. He still thinks there’s a chance.”

“I’m dating Marks. Sawyer still thinks I’m hung up on him?”

“You are married to him.”

Val sighed. “You’re right. It’s time. But I warn you, if I put down the hammer and he doesn’t budge, you might have a new roommate.”

I shrugged. “I’ll help you pack.”

Val left with a smile, and I opened my laptop, input the password, and began scrolling through my emails. Three from Constance marked Urgent caught my eye.

I directed the mouse to the first email and clicked.

AGENT LINDY,

ASAC MADDOX REQUESTS A MEETING AT 1000. PLEASE CLEAR YOUR SCHEDULE, AND HAVE YOUR CASE FILE IN HAND.

CONSTANCE

I opened the second.

AGENT LINDY,

ASAC MADDOX REQUESTS THE MEETING TO BE MOVED TO 0900. PLEASE BE PROMPT, AND HAVE YOUR CASE FILE IN HAND.

CONSTANCE

I opened the third.

AGENT LINDY,

ASAC MADDOX INSISTS THAT YOU REPORT TO HIS OFFICE THE MOMENT YOU RECEIVE THIS EMAIL. PLEASE HAVE YOUR CASE FILE IN HAND.

CONSTANCE

I looked at my watch. It was barely eight a.m. I grabbed the mouse and clicked through recent documents, printing the new intel I had accumulated. I grabbed the file folder, snatched the papers off the printer, and ran down the hall.

“Hi, Constance,” I said, winded.

She looked up at me and smiled, batting her long black lashes. “He can see you now.”

“Thank you,” I breathed, walking past her.

Thomas was sitting with his back to me, staring at the gorgeous view outside of his corner office.

“Agent Maddox,” I said, trying to sound normal. “I’m sorry. I just saw the email…s. I brought the case file. I have a few more—”

“Have a seat, Lindy.”