“I’m teaching a six-week seminar in England starting in April. Catherine and Lizzy are joining me. I lecture twice a week, then we’re going to do things as a family. We’ll be back Memorial Day weekend, and Catherine’s boss has given her a sabbatical through June 1. I’m asking you to leave her alone until then. Let her make her own decision.”

Matt hesitated, then he nodded. “I told her to take the sabbatical.”

“I know you did, and I think that might have helped. We both want what’s best for her. Just sometimes—what we think is best differs. She needs me, Matt, to keep her level. You know how she gets when she works a case. You know how dark it is inside the minds of these people. If she’s going to continue going there, she has to have a secure, a safe, home base.”

“That’s exactly what I want her to have, too.”

Chris nodded. “I’m glad you came. Come out when you’re ready. Fair warning—Catherine’s mother is here.”

“I’ll avoid her as best I can.”

“Good idea.”

Chris left Matt alone in his office. Chris was right—about so many things. He was a good man, and if anyone could help Catherine get through the pain and grief of losing her sister, it was her husband.

Matt pulled out his cell phone. He was both surprised and disappointed that he had no messages.

He wanted to talk to Kara. Just to make sure she got back to LA in one piece. Just to hear her voice.

He called her cell phone. Immediately, a recording sounded.

The number you have reached has been disconnected or is no longer in service. If you believe you reached this recording in error, hang up and try again.

Matt looked at his phone. The name Kara Quinn was on the screen. He’d been calling her at this number all week.

Had she lied to him? Told him what he wanted to hear? That they could see each other down the road? Maybe that’s why she was such a good undercover cop. Because Matt didn’t know what was real and what was fake.

Angry, he deleted Kara’s dead number from his phone, left Chris’s office, grabbed another beer and was about to join the birthday party for his goddaughter when his phone rang.

For a moment, he thought it was Kara. He glanced at the number. Tony’s private line.

“Costa,” he answered.

“Enjoying your weekend?”

“Trying to. I’m at Lizzy’s birthday party.”

“Good—you need to unwind.”

“Why do I feel this call is just going to tighten me up again?”

“Hardly. It’s good news, of a sort.”

“I’m all for good news. Shoot.”

“I just got off the phone with Sergeant Popovich with LAPD. I talked to him on Thursday when I sent him the commendation for Detective Quinn’s file.”

“I’m glad. She was an asset.” The commendation from a high-ranking FBI director would go a long way in smoothing things over with the local FBI. Even though Matt was angry at how he and Kara had left things personally, she was an outstanding cop. He would do whatever he could to ensure she didn’t have any FBI trouble in Los Angeles. He owed her that much.