Rob nodded but didnt say anything. The lights of the dashboard gleamed in the corners of his glasses. It wasnt like him, this silence. He was usually much more talkative when she came home, even if she had been spending less and less time home as the cases progressed.

Everything alright? she said, trying to draw him out. The tunnel lights strobed across the car.

Rob leaned back against the headrest and gave a tired sigh. Yeah, everythings good. Long day at work. He paused.

Want to tell me about it?

He shrugged, as if there wasnt much to say. This marketing campaign is just giving me fits. Thought it would help us hit our quarterly target, but right now were not attracting enough new clients to compensate for the expenditure, so its starting to look like a sinkhole.

Im sure youll get it sorted out, she answered with an optimistic smile. You always do.

Well see.

The silence dripped and pooled.

Cologne smells nice, Harley said, trying a new angle. Whered you get it?

You bought it for me last Christmas.

Oh. The words stung. She had forgotten. Well, apparently I have good taste.

He was silent for several moments. Then he said, So, how long are you back for?

She paused, deciding how best to answer this. Im not sure.

He looked at her, his face puzzled. I think thats the first time in six years Ive heard you use those words. Im not sure. Who are you and whatd you do with Harley Cole?

His boyish grin reminded Harley of the first time shed met him, at a pickup game of volleyball back in their Harvard days. They had dated briefly in college and kept in touch off and on for the next decade, but it wasnt until they later reconnected over a burglary case Harley was working that the magic happened. A conversation about the case led to late-night drinks, then to a conversation about all the failed relationships theyd both been through since college, then finally two months later to Rob kneeling in the surf off Nantucket with a ring that had been in his family for three generations.

It was everything shed wanted when she left her small hometown way out in New Mexico: a new life where nobody felt sorry for her because of her past, a beautiful house, a devoted husband, and a career capable of absorbing her relentless energy. Everything had been going well until she transferred to the BAU. Theyd had a number of fights about the time she was away…but maybe now, with her conduct under investigation, she and Rob could get on the same page about their future.

That wasnt too much to hope for, was it?

Robs smile faded as he waited for her answer.

The truth is, she began tentatively, I was put on leave. There were some questions about how we acquired the evidence we used to arrest Kavers, and