Chapter 14: Startling News


Hoover Building

Friday, 25 March

4 p.m.

Myles headed out of the Bullpen, battle-weary and bone-tired. The last seventy-two hours had been spent in a grueling "search and destroy" case involving a terrorist cell and a couple of mid-sized private jets headed for the Supreme Court building. We never get into a routine, he thought as he waited for the elevator. His tie was draped over his shoulders, having been discarded some eighteen hours earlier. We go for a month with nothing big, then spend the next six weeks putting out one wildfire after another.

Fortunately, he now had something to look forward to at times like this besides an empty house and his own thoughts. Because Elizabeth had started consulting for the Bureau three months ago, and had a fair clearance rating, he now had not only someone waiting "at home" for him, but someone with whom he could "debrief" a bit. It gave him a sense of closure he'd often had trouble with in the past.

"Myles." Ted Garrett's voice echoed down the hallway from the doorway of his office.

"Yeah, chief?"

"There's something I think you should see before you leave. Come into my office, please." The big man had a strange look in his dark eyes, one that had Myles unsure if this was good news or bad.

When the tall agent reached his supervisor's office, Garrett motioned him into a chair. "This just came in from the AUSA's office. Marty Pavone called personally." He handed Myles a blue folder.

Myles read the short message on the front of the file, and looked up at his supervisor in shock. "This…is this accurate? A solid confirmation?"

Garrett nodded. "The report came into Marty's office from the prison a half hour ago. He's in the process of letting everyone involved know about it. But he faxed this to me first because he thought you might want to be with Elizabeth when she finds out."

"Yes… yes, I should be there." Myles got to his feet. "Thanks, Ted."


&
Dillingham Residence, Georgetown

Friday, 4:30 pm

It was a beautiful afternoon, and somehow he knew he'd find her out back in her garden; it was one of the many interests they shared, and he knew that's where he'd be if he'd had the choice.

He watched her fondly as she transplanted a flat of petunias into the border of one of her flowerbeds, the pink flowers offsetting the white-cream of daffodils already blooming. She was dressed in faded jeans and a wide-necked sweater that dipped off one shoulder as she leaned over to pat the soil around the new plant. Her hair was loose and cascaded halfway down her back, and the light breeze stirred it around her as if of its own will. Something sparkled as the afternoon sun added its light to hers, but he dismissed it as the light catching her hair.

Sensing his gaze on her, she turned, a smile lighting her face. "It's about time you all polished off the bad guys and they let you escape back into the light. I was about to send out a search party." When he didn't answer, and didn't step toward her, she stood, adjusting the sweater back correctly, and came over to him. "What is it, love? What—?"

Just then, her cell phone rang. "It's Marty Pavone." She slipped an arm around Myles' waist as she answered the call. "Hi, Marty, what's up?"

He watched her face as Marty explained why he'd called; her face went from brightly animated to almost deathly still in seconds, and he couldn't read what she was feeling. He tightened his hold around her shoulders and waited for the call to end.

After a few moments, she ended the call and replaced the phone at her hip. She looked up at Myles, and he nodded. "Ted told me just before I came over here," he said quietly. "Let's go sit down."

He led her over to the small deck and sat her down on the step, then joined her and took both of her hands in his. "Are you all right?"

"I…yes…I just…" Elizabeth looked up at him, her green eyes wide. "It's just a shock, is all. I mean, we were waiting for… are they sure about this?"

"Yes," he replied, a light coming into his expression, "I called the prison myself on my way here. Graham had a meeting with his lawyer about another appeal, and something set him off. The guard had to shoot him before he killed his attorney. Graham was pronounced dead in the prison infirmary a short time later."

She sat back slightly, her breath coming out in a short sigh. "All this time. It's just… I had adjusted to the fact that it would be September before he was gone from our lives for good. Now, I guess it's just taking a few minutes to sink in that he's really gone."

Myles drew her close and placed a kiss at her temple. "I know the feeling. But I don't plan to dwell on it for very long. Do you still have that green silk dress?"

"You mean the one I wore the night that…? Yes. Why?"

He smiled. "Because if you'll give me enough time to go home and grab a shower, then meet me there at seven, I plan on taking you out on the town, including finding a tango club. I think it's time to overcome all of it, once and for all."

Elizabeth stared at him for a moment. "It doesn't feel right to be celebrating a death; even Graham's."

He stroked her cheek, and his voice was firm. "We're not celebrating his death; we're celebrating our life, and the release of one more fear."

She smiled brightly. "How did I ever survive without your genius in my life?"

Myles laughed. "We can discuss that later. You just go pull out that dress. I've missed it."