Ryan didnt reply. He looked guilty now.
Everything was starting to make sense to Riley. This whole thing had happened before, and she felt stupid for not having expected it.
Ryan was between girlfriends, and he figured Riley would do under the circumstances.
He didnt really care about the girls at all not even his own daughter. They were just a pretext for getting together with Riley.
Riley clenched her teeth and said, I think youd better leave.
Why? Whats the matter? Youre not seeing anyone, are you?
As a matter of fact, I am.
Now Ryan looked genuinely perplexed, as if he couldnt imagine why Riley would take an interest in any other man.
Then he said, Oh my God. Its not that cook again, is it?
Riley let out a growl of anger.
She said, You know very well that Blaine is a master chef. You also know that he owns a nice restaurant, and April and his daughter are best friends. Hes terrific with the girls everything youre not. And yes, I am seeing him, and its getting pretty serious. So I really, really want you to get out of here.
Ryan stared at her for a moment.
Finally he said in a bitter voice, We were good together.
She didnt reply.
Ryan got up from the couch and headed for the door.
Let me know if you change your mind, he said as he left the house.
Riley was tempted to say
Dont hold your breath.
but she managed to not say it. She just sat still until she heard the sound of Ryans car pulling away. Then she breathed a little easier.
Riley sat there in silence for a little while, thinking about what had happened.
Jilly called him Mr. Paige.
That had been cruel, but she couldnt deny that Ryan had deserved it.
Even so, she worried what should she say to Jilly about that kind of cruelty?
This motherhood thing is tough, she thought.
She was about to call Jilly down from her room to talk about it when her phone buzzed. The call was from Jenn Roston, a young agent shed worked with on recent cases.
When Riley took the call, she could hear the stress in Jenns voice.
Hey, Riley. I just thought Id call and
A silence fell. Riley wondered what was on Jenns mind.
Then Jenn said, Listen, I just want to thank you and Bill for you know when I
Riley was on the verge of telling her
Dont say it. Not over the phone.
Fortunately, Jenns voice faded without finishing her thought.
Even so, Riley knew what Jenn was thanking her for.
During the case theyd just finished, Jenn had gone AWOL for most of a day. Riley had persuaded Bill that they should cover for her. After all, Jenn had covered for Riley in a somewhat similar situation.
But Jenns delinquency from her job had been due to the demands of a woman who had once been her foster mother, but who was also a master criminal. Jenn had stepped outside of legal boundaries to take care of a problem for Aunt Cora.
Riley didnt know exactly what it had been. She hadnt asked.
She heard Jenn make a slight choking sound.
Riley, Ive been thinking. Maybe I should just turn in my badge. What happened before might happen again. And it might be worse next time. Anyway, I dont think its over.
Riley sensed that Jenn wasnt telling her the real truth.
Aunt Cora is pressuring her again, Riley thought.
It was hardly surprising. If Aunt Coras hold was strong enough, Jenn could serve as a real resource from inside the FBI.
Riley briefly wondered
Should Jenn resign?
But she quickly told herself
No.
After all, Riley had had a similar relationship with a master criminal the brilliant escaped convict Shane Hatcher. It had ended after Blaine had shot Hatcher, almost fatally, and Riley had captured him. Hatcher was back in Sing Sing now, and he hadnt spoken a word to anybody ever since.
Jenn knew more about Rileys relationship with Hatcher than anybody except Hatcher himself. Jenn could have destroyed Rileys career with the knowledge she had. But she had kept quiet out of loyalty to Riley. Now it was time for Riley to show the same loyalty to Jenn.
Riley said, Jenn, remember what I said to you when you first talked to me about this?
Jenn was silent.
Riley said, I told you wed deal with this. You and me, together. You cant quit. Youve got too much talent. Do you hear me?
Jenn still said nothing.
Instead, Riley heard the beep of her call-waiting service telling her that she had another caller.
Ignore it, she told herself.
But the beep came again. Rileys gut told her that the other call was something important. She sighed.
She said to Jenn, Look, Ive got to take another call. Stay on the line, OK? Ill try to make it quick.
OK, Jenn said.
Riley switched to the incoming call and heard the gruff voice of her team chief at the BAU, Brent Meredith.
Agent Paige, weve got a case. Its a serial killer in the Midwest. I need to see you in my office.
When? Riley asked.
Already, Meredith grumbled. Sooner if possible.
Riley could tell by his tone that this really was an urgent matter.
Ill leave right now, Riley said. Who else are you putting on the team?
Thats up to you, Meredith said. You and Agents Jeffreys and Roston did good work together on the Sandman case. Take both of them if it suits you. And all of you get your asses right over here.
Without another word, Meredith ended the call.
Riley got back on the line with Jenn.
She said, Jenn, turning in your badge isnt an option. Not right now. I need you on a case. Meet me at Brent Merediths office. And hurry.
Without waiting for an answer, Riley ended the call. As she dialed the number of her partner, Bill Jeffreys, she thought
Maybe another case is just what Jenn needs right now.
Riley hoped so.
Meanwhile, she felt a familiar heightening of her own alertness as she hurried to find out what the new case might be.
CHAPTER FOUR
About a half hour later, Riley pulled into the parking lot at Quantico. When shed asked Meredith how soon he wanted her there, shed heard real urgency in his voice
Already. Sooner if possible.
Of course, when Meredith called her at home, time was almost always running out sometimes literally, as in her last case. The so-called Sandman had used sand timers to mark the hours that would elapse before his next brutal murder.
But today, something in Merediths tone told her that this situation was pressing in some unique way.
As she parked, she saw that Bill and Jenn were also just arriving in their own vehicles. She got out of her car and stood waiting for them.
Without exchanging many words, the three walked toward the building. Riley saw that, like her, Bill and Jenn had brought their go-bags along. None of them had needed to be told that theyd likely be flying out of Quantico in short order.
They checked into the building and headed toward Chief Merediths office. As soon as they got to his door, the burly, imposing African-American man burst out into the hallway. Hed obviously been notified of their arrival.
No time for a conference, he growled at the three agents. Well talk and walk.