At least that was how Harley excused her almost complete lack of a social life since being transferred from the Chelsea, MA, field office to the BAU four years earlier.

She was just wondering how long she was expected to participate in the celebration when Lloyd Jeffers, the Unit Chief, stepped out of his office.

Basking in the afterglow? he said.

Lloyd was middle-aged and balding, with a girdle of skin around his neck thick enough to function as a brace. He was Harleys opposite in many ways: mild where she was intense, diplomatic where she was reckless, deliberate where she was decisive. If she was a jalapeῇo, he was a scoop of mashed potatoes. Still, he showed up on time and the agents liked working for him, so that was half the battle.

Honestly, sir, Id rather be looking through the next case file.

Lloyd chuckled, spinning his wedding ring with his left thumba nervous tic that always signaled bad news. Sometimes you need to know when to slow down, enjoy the simple things.

Her husband of six years, Rob, had said the same thing to her numerous times before. It just wasnt the way she was wired.

She said, I enjoy knowing John Kavers wont be putting little girls into shoe boxes in his attic anymore.

The Bureau Chief seemed to understand he wasnt going to persuade her. He sighed, troubled. About thatcould you come to the office for a moment?

There was a sudden rigidity to his face. Despite his mild manners, he could be firm when he needed to be. He wouldnt have earned his position otherwise.

Harley went along, supposing this was more a formality than anything else: a mistake in the case report she had filed, a little bit of paperwork that needed cleaning up. But when she saw the Pope standing to the left of Lloyds desk, his arms crossed, she knew this had to be serious.

The Pope was what the agents called Cameron Pope, Lloyds superiorand a true Washington bureaucrat if Harley had ever seen one. It was rare for him to make an appearance, and it was never good news.

Pope gave her a cool nod, which she returned with equal stiffness. They had a history, she and Pope. He had never wanted her on the Unitin fact, she had been transferred against his wishes; apparently even a bigwig like Pope couldnt tarnish a sterling record. It was an open secret in the Unit that he was harder on the women than the men, though it was anyones guess why. Maybe he just liked seeing them crack.

Hes going to be waiting a long time if he thinks he can crack me, Harley thought.

Lloyd offered Harley a chair. She shook her head, not interested in the subservient posture of sitting while Pope stood, and Lloyd shrugged and leaned back against his desk.

Youve been working here what two years? Any vacations in that time?