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  “Thanks. I can’t deny I’m excited at the prospect. I’ve been hearing about his unit for years. The best of the best, and all that. How you get all the best cases…”

  “Oh, that we do,” he said wryly. “The best of the serial killers. The craziest of the crazies.”

  “Doesn’t sound too different from some of my cases in Florida.”

  “I’m sure your experience was a factor in John’s decision. And for the record, he’s had a lot of applications ever since the position became available.”

  “So it’s true? He only has so many spots in his unit?”

  “Yes. Only way to get in is if someone leaves.”

  “Who left?” The minute the words were out of her mouth, she knew.

  Andrew’s brother, Grady.

  “Oh. I’m so sorry. Andrew, are you all right with me taking the job?”

  He nodded. “That’s the only reason John called me. He doesn’t make it a habit of discussing new hires with anyone else, but he wanted to make sure both Mia and I knew he’ll have a place for Grady when he decides to come back. If he comes back.”

  “Do you think he will?”

  “I have no idea. He’s not very communicative these days. Mia wanted to take some time off and spend it with him, but he told her not to come. Said it was a bad time.”

  “What would he do if you just showed up?”

  “I don’t know. I’ve thought about doing just that, but I hate to put either of us in that situation. You know, him not wanting me there, me being uncomfortable forcing myself on him. I think we’re just going to have to wait for him to come around, and pray that he does.”

  Andrew tore a small piece of the napkin that sat under his glass.

  “Nothing can screw you up like your family, you know that?” He wasn’t really expecting an answer. “I couldn’t help but draw parallels between Paula Rose and Brendan. Both betrayed the people who loved them the most, and all but destroyed their families. Poor Shannon got a triple dose. Her grandfather, her grandmother, her sister.” He looked up at Dorsey with tired eyes. “Some family, eh?”

  “And the scariest thing is that compared to some other families I’ve seen, the Randalls look like the Waltons.”

  “You know it’s going to be worse,” he told her. “Some of the cases we get are so gruesome they never even make the news.”

  “John said.” She nodded. “I’m going to meet with him in two weeks-to make sure I know what I’m getting into, he said. I couldn’t tell if he was kidding or not. I can’t imagine there’s anything he could say that would make me change my mind. Then I’ll only have a few weeks to settle up my old cases as best I can, pack up my stuff, and move.”

  “Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help,” he said.

  “Maybe you could suggest a good place to live. I’ll be looking for an apartment while I’m up there.”

  “My complex always has a few openings. It’s well located, the rents aren’t astronomical, and the maintenance people are available 24/7. Just let me know which days you’ll be around, and I can take you on a tour.”

  “That would be great, thanks. But do they allow dogs?”

  “In some apartments, they do.” He drained his glass. “You have a dog?”

  “I’m thinking I might get one, once I get settled.”

  “Big dog, small dog?”

  “Don’t have a preference. I figure I’ll go to a shelter and I’ll know the right dog when I see it.”

  “That’s exactly how I picked out my last dog.”

  “You didn’t mention you had one. What kind?”

  “He’s a retriever mix, but I don’t have him anymore.”

  “What happened to him?”

  “He went with my ex-girlfriend.”

  “What?”

  “He sort of belonged to both of us. When we broke up, well, only one of us could have him.”

  “So you let her take him?” Dorsey’s eyebrows raised in surprise. “Didn’t you like him?”

  “I loved him.” Andrew didn’t look the least bit sheepish at the admission. “But she did too, and it would have been harder for her to give him up. She was transferred shortly after we broke up, so it was good for her to have the dog. You know, something familiar she cared about in a new city, with a new job.”

  He tried to make light of it. “Apparently she found me easier to give up than the dog.”

  “Amazing. You let her have the dog…” She shook her head. “When my ex and I broke up, he took our dog. I just came home from work one day and bam-no dog.”

  “Bastard.”

  That he really seemed to mean it made Dorsey smile. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” He smiled back. “Maybe when you’re ready, I can go to the shelter with you. Just to look.”

  “Sure. Just to look.”

  The ringing of his cell phone interrupted them.

  He looked at the number of the incoming call, then frowned.

  “Shields. Yes…” He fell silent for a moment, listening to the caller. “All right. When-”

  He made a face.

  “Sure. I’ll give him a call when I’m ready.” He hung up, looking decidedly unhappy. “Slight change in plans.”

  “That was John,” she guessed.

  Andrew nodded. “He’s sending a plane to Charleston. It should be arriving in about an hour.”

  “Destination?”

  “Alaska.”

  “Alaska.” She sighed. “I always wanted to go there. What’s the case?”

  “You ever hear of Robert Hansen?”

  “Sure. The ‘big-game hunter’ who took women into the wilderness, released them, and told them to run. Then he’d hunt them down like animals. I heard he killed at least seventeen women that way, though the number is probably higher.”

  “Looks like there’s a copycat.”

  “Damn.” She frowned. “I wish I could go.”

  “And I wish I could stay.” He reached across the table for her hand. “I wasn’t really ready to leave.”

  The waiter returned with the check, and Andrew handed over his card.

  “I was hoping we’d have a little time to ourselves, get to know each other a little better.” His thumb slid under her bracelet to touch her old scars. “I was thinking we’d go over to that park on the way into town and watch the swans for a while. Maybe take another bottle of champagne with us. Just to celebrate…things. Maybe talk about something other than work and dysfunctional families.”

  “I would have loved that. It sounds very romantic.”

  “I was thinking it might be.” He was clearly disappointed.

  “What time does your plane leave?”

  “It leaves when I get there.”

  “Well, who knows how long it will take you to drive from here to Charleston? If there was an accident on the highway, you’d be delayed, right? A flat tire? They’re not expecting you to be there within the hour, are they?”

  “No. And I won’t be driving. John left one of the agents he brought with him to Beales here to help tie up loose ends. I’m supposed to call when I’m ready to leave and he’ll pick me up.” He drummed the fingers of his free hand on the table, a slight smile on his lips. “You know, on second thought, I probably have a little time.”

  “Good.” She smiled, then turned to look for their waiter. Catching his eye, she motioned him back to their table.

  “We’ll have another bottle of champagne. And we’d like that to go, please…”

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  MARIAH STEWART is the bestselling author of numerous novels and several novellas. She is a RITA finalist for romantic suspense and is the recipient of the Award of Excellence for contemporary romance, a RIO (Reviewers International Organization) Award honoring excellence in women’s fiction, and a Reviewers’ Choice Award from Romantic Times magazine. A native of Highstown, New Jersey, she is a three-time recipient of the Golden Leaf Award and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the New Jersey Ro
mance Writers, of whose Hall of Fame she is an honoree. Stewart is a member of the Valley Forge Romance Writers, the New Jersey Romance Writers, and the Romance Writers of America. She lives with her husband, two daughters, and two rambunctious golden retrievers amid the rolling hills of Chester County, Pennsylvania.

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