Shattered (Michael Bennett #14)(27)

I said, “Ready for a little dinner?”

Mary Catherine sat up in bed and faced me. “Oh God, I wish I could. I’ve got to make the 8:30 train.”

“What? Why? You’re not staying the night?”

“I’d love to, sweetheart. But this was all I could work out. I missed you so badly, I just needed to see you for a few hours. I’m volunteering in Chrissy’s class tomorrow. Seamus is spending the night, but I told him I’d be back at the apartment.” She caressed my cheek with her hand. “I hope you’re not sorry about the short visit.”

I didn’t answer. I kissed her. What a woman. I doubted I had another round of lovemaking in me. At least not for a couple of hours. But I was ready to give it a try.

We ended up snuggling for half an hour until my fantastic dream came to an end.

As we got dressed, Mary Catherine asked me if I’d found out anything new about Emily Parker’s murder.

All I could do was shrug. I told her about some of the interviews and about Michelle Luna’s murder, that I felt useless for not connecting any of it to Emily.

Mary Catherine said, “I never would’ve guessed about Emily’s personal life. She was always so proper. Goes to show how little anyone knows about other people.”

“I’ve been surprised by some of the revelations. It doesn’t change the fact that she was murdered. Or the fact that I desperately want to find out who killed her. I’m still not sure how the FBI would react if their management knew I was here and working on the case.”

“I thought you said your FBI contact seems like a decent guy.”

“Bobby is working hard and hasn’t really disappointed me yet. I just wonder if he has the backbone to stand up to his bosses if they disapprove of me helping.”

Mary Catherine hugged me and said, “Whatever happens, I hope you can find peace. The kids and I just want you back home. As soon as you can make it.”

“No one seems to want me here. It’s nice to know I’m wanted somewhere.”

“Don’t get me wrong. I want you to find Emily’s killer first. I know you will. You always do. Then you can come home to an epic feast and party.”

I chuckled. “It sounds like you’ve been reading more of those historical novels about Rome. You sounded like Caesar just then.”

After another passionate kiss, I had to introduce her to the ugliest rental car of all time. She made her train with less than three minutes to spare.





Chapter 34



I had contemplated getting on the train with Mary Catherine, but in the end, I let her go home to our family. It was after nine by the time I dropped my car back at the hotel. I was a little down. Seeing Mary Catherine for a few hours was wonderful, but it also reminded me of what I was missing while I was here.

Even though the kids didn’t make as much of a fuss over their father as they got older, I knew they missed me. I got texts from them all through each day. Just little notes to make me smile. But it also made me miss them. Trent kept me abreast of his plans to attend the ceremony meant to recognize his writing achievement. Juliana said she loved me. Shawna sent me a string of emojis that I think said she missed me and loved me. I thought civilization had moved on from hieroglyphics.

As soon as I stepped into the lobby, I noticed a couple in their thirties, wearing business attire. They seemed out of place as they tried to lean casually on the vacant concierge desk. Their glances at the face of each person who walked through the lobby left little doubt they were looking for someone, and even less that I was the one they were looking for.

Then they noticed me and seemed to take turns watching. I decided to have a little fun and take my time in the lobby. At the very least I’d be wasting someone else’s time. Maybe some FBI agents or more DC cops.

I took a long moment to select a chocolate chip cookie from a tray. I enjoyed stoking my observers’ anxiety as I prolonged my gaze at the cookies. It gave me a second wind for the night.

I guess I took too long because the couple started marching across the lobby directly to me. Based on how they were dressed, I wasn’t too worried about some kind of armed ambush. Although, in all honesty, I had sort of let my imagination run wild with conspiracy theories. There was no telling what someone might do to get me out of town.

I turned to face them. I stood tall and placed my right hand on my hip as a signal that I was willing to draw a gun in self-defense. It was a quiet threat understood by most people in the parallel universes of crime and punishment.

The man, in a blue sport coat, hung back. The woman walked to about ten feet in front of me and stopped. She turned to one side and nodded. I wondered if that meant Grab him.

But it didn’t. Then I saw why they were being so cautious. A shorter, older man dressed in a very nice designer suit and flashy blue tie strolled toward me. He had a slight limp. I recognized him immediately.

The man called out, “Hello, Detective Bennett.”

I said, “Senator Wellmy, nice to meet you.” It wasn’t really nice to meet him, but when I was younger, Seamus taught me how to be polite. Some of it had latched onto me over the long years.

“Always nice to see a constituent down here in Washington.”

“I didn’t vote for you.”

The senator was clearly used to being disparaged. He didn’t miss a beat. “You’re still of value to the constituency.”