Hides the badge and gun better, she said to Morgans raised eyebrows. Dont want to alarm anyone.

A soft breeze, still tinged with rain, blew down the street carrying the scent of cherry blossoms with it. They were miles from the Tidal Basin, but it seemed like all of D.C. smelled like cherry blossoms in the spring. It was a hopeful smell, one that promised sunshine and sweetness.

When was the last time Morgan had allowed either of those things into his life?

The school was a four-story red brick Italianate building with a long set of steps leading up to the entrance. There were quite a few couples making their way down the sidewalks and up the central staircase to the entrance. Morgan and Danielle blended in. Just another set of parents coming to the assembly. He looked around for someone who didnt, someone looking nervous or out of place.

Tie your shoe, Danielle said under her breath as she stopped on the sidewalk.

He turned to her. What? His shoe wasnt untied.

I said, tie your shoe. Or pretend to. We need a plausible reason to stop here for a moment and my shoes dont have laces.

Ah. He knelt down and untied and retied one of his shoes.

Do the other one, she said.

He complied. What are you looking for?

Hutton. She swiveled around, scanning the people going up to the school. Her eyes narrowed.

You see something? Morgan asked as he stood.

Maybe. She nodded her head toward the parking lot. Theres a guy sitting on the bench over there. Everybody else is hustling in. Hes not moving.

Do you think its Hutton? His heart kicked up a notch and his mouth went dry. Were they about to confront Lexas killer? Was the man who had tricked her and taken her life sitting on a bench waiting to go into a school to see his daughter get a certificate? Lexa would never get to do something so ordinary and mundane. If Hutton was the murderer, he took all that from Lexa.

Morgans hands clenched into fists.

Maybe. Hes got that hood up. It makes it hard to see his face. Lets stroll over that way and check him out. Emphasis on stroll. I dont want to spook him.

They made their slow way over toward the parking lot, looking pretty much everywhere except at the man on the bench. From inside the school, a chime sounded and an announcement was made. It was hard to make out the exact words, but the gist was the all-school assembly was starting.

The man rose and began walking toward the school, his face fully visible for a moment.

Its him, Danielle said out of the side of her mouth. She changed the angle of how they were walking so they would intercept him, unbuttoning her jacket as they went. She unclipped her badge from her belt and held it up. Cole Hutton. FBI.