Jessie stepped over to the poster on the wall and gave herself a quick going-over in its reflection. She looked reasonably professional considering the day and hour. Her shoulder-length brown hair was loose but tidy. Her green eyes were well-rested, which she suspected would change once Ryan came home. Shed been able to maintain her trim, athletic figure through the recent injuries, though she knew she wasnt back in tip-top shape yet.

Come in, Decker called out, drawing her back into the moment.

Jessie opened the door. She wasnt surprised to find the captain standing up, dressed in the same attire he wore on a weekday afternoona jacket, tie, and starched dress shirt. She couldnt tell how long hed been awake because he looked perpetually worn out, with wrinkles near his eyes and bags under them. The few hairs on his head looked tired and wilted. Even his body, with its concave chest, seemed to fold in on itself. Despite all that, he appeared alert. Tall and skinny, his posture was painfully erect, highlighting his sharp nose and beady eagle eyes, which missed nothing.

Thanks for making the time, Hunt, he said, gesturing for her to take one of the weathered chairs opposite his desk. How are you feeling?

Tired, Captain. Very tired.

Im not surprised to hear that, he replied. But I meant physically. Hows your shoulder? And the burns?

He was referring to injuries Jessie had suffered before shed quit the force. Much of her lower back had been badly burned a few months back while rescuing a woman from her burning house, when a man whod abducted her and then intentionally released her had come back to finish the job. Only weeks later, her left shoulder was dislocated in a life or death struggle with her ex-husband, the same attack in which Ryan had been stabbed and Hannah nearly killed.

Both are much better, she assured him. The burns dont hurt anymore, though the doctor says itll be another year before they heal completely. Im still in rehab for the shoulder but it doesnt affect me except when I try to get something off the top shelf or do a power lifting session.

Youre very funny, Hunt, Decker said, not laughing. That should serve you well when Hernandez leaves the hospital. Please let me know what I can do to help. We can have officers stop by to check on him, even just to share war stories. Plus, I know you have security concerns about some of the people you put away reaching out to do harm.

There are almost too many to keep track of, Jessie conceded.

If it helps, weve been keeping an extra close eye on former police sergeant Hank Costabile and on Andrea Robinson, Decker said. You probably heard that Costabile was just sentenced to seven years in prison. And Robinson is still safely incarcerated in a psychiatric prison ward.