She told herself not to think about it. She had a flight that evening from Washington National to Logan, where Rob would pick her up. He would only be expecting her to be home for a few days (that had been the pattern ever since she was transferred to the Quantico office), so she wondered how he would feel when he learned she was home indefinitely.

Hes been telling me I need to be home more, she mused. It was, in fact, the very thing theyd argued about three days earlier, the last time theyd spoken. It had been radio silence since then.

The question was, would he still be happy to see her?

CHAPTER TWO

Shivering in the brisk November air outside Logan Airport, Harley watched the cars arriving at the Delta terminals with a sense of unease. She hadnt seen Rob in nearly three weeks, and she knew her long absences were taking a toll on their marriage, which was a problem she didnt know how to solve. Being put on leave for breaking the rules was just the icing on the cake.

Rob, a branch manager at a local credit union, believed in paying your dues, climbing the corporate ladder, doing as you were told even when you knew a better way. Harley believed in getting results. His methods might have helped to keep a stable income and advance his career, but Harleys job involved dealing with those who had no use for the rulebook, solitary sharks that only entered the stream of society when they were on the hunt.

Still, facing the prospect of an internal investigation, Harley couldnt help but wonder if there was some value to Robs approach.

A nearby car horn pulled Harley from her thoughts. Recognizing the silver Camry stopped on the far side of the median, she wove through several lanes of sporadic traffic, dragging her suitcase behind her. She tossed the suitcase in the back seat.

Wasnt expecting you back so early, Rob said, smiling faintly as she climbed into the car. His dark hair was combed neatly to the side in a style Harley hadnt seen him wear before. The scent of his cologne was different, too.

Looking for something familiar to hold onto, Harley leaned across for a quick kiss, a ritual of theirs. He met her halfway. Harley thought she detected a moments hesitation.

Youre just imagining things, she chided herself. Besides, considering how your last conversation went, should it really come as a surprise if hes a bit cool? Youll have plenty of time to smooth things out.

Settling into her seat, her mind returned to what hed said. Thought Id take a little vacation after closing the case, she answered, deciding he didnt need the full truth right out of the gate. She would take her time, decide the best moment to share the difficult news. She didnt want to start the week on a low note.