Just that she was killed in her home while her husband was away on business. The ex-boyfriend was the only real lead and the cops dismissed him in pretty quick fashion. I did find out later that his alibi was airtight, though.
Nothing else? Duran asked.
Nothing that Ive been told.
Duran nodded and then managed a cordial smile. So aside from pitching grown men from their porches, how has retirement been treating you?
Like hell, she admitted. It was great for the first few weeks but it got old fast. I miss my job. Ive taken to reading an insane amount of true crime books. Im watching far too many crime shows on the Biography Channel.
Youd be surprised how often we hear that from agents in their first six to twelve months after retirement. Some of them call begging for some sort of work. Anything we have. Even paperwork of bullshit wiretaps.
Kate said nothing but nodded to indicate that she could identify.
But yet you didnt call, Duran said. If Im being honest, I expected you to. I didnt think you could just drop it so easily. And this little incident proves me right.
With all due respect, Kate said, did you call me down here to slap me on the wrist over this or to rub my nose in how I cant outgrow my old job?
Neither, Duran said. I was looking through your files yesterday after I got the call from Richmond. I noticed that youve been asked to testify at a parole hearing. Is that correct?
It is. Its for the Mueller case. Double homicide.
Is it the first time youve been contacted about work since you retired?
No, she said, pretty sure he already knew the answer. I had an assistant to an agent call me about two months after I retired to ask questions about a cold case I last worked on back in 2005. Some of the guys in records and research have reached out a few times about my methodology on some older cases, too.
Duran nodded and reclined back in his chair a bit. You should also know that we have instructors at the academy using some of your earlier casework as examples for coursework. You left your mark here in the bureau, Agent Wise. And honestly, I was rather hoping youd be one of those agents who started calling up to see what you could do to help even after you had retired.
Are you saying you want me to start assisting with some cases, then? Kate asked. She did her best to keep the hopeful tone out of her voice.
Well, its not that cut and dried. We were thinking of perhaps bringing an agent or two with an exceptional track record to work on cold cases. Nothing long term or full time, mind you. And when we have discussed it, your name was the only one that kept coming up in unison. Now, before you get too excited, please know that this is not an immediate thing. We still want you to relax. Take some time off. Real time off.
I can do that, Kate said. Thank you.
Dont thank me yet, Duran said. It could be a few months. And Im afraid Im going to have to revoke the offer if you go back home and start beating up men much younger than you on their porches.
I think I can restrain myself, Kate said.
Again, Logan couldnt help but let out a little muffled laugh from beside her.
Duran seemed just as amused as he got to his feet.
Now if you truly are going to assist, Im afraid we have to revisit one of the less spectacular parts of the job.
Assuming he meant paperwork, Kate sighed. Forms? Documents?
Oh no, nothing like that, Duran said. Ive scheduled a meeting to get this going. Figured it would be the best way to keep all channels up to date.
Ah, I hate meetings.
Oh, I know, Duran said. I remember. But hey what better way to welcome you back?
Logan chuckled beside her as they got to their feet and followed Duran out of the office. For Kate, it all seemed eerily familiar.
***Really, it turned out not to be a bad meeting at all. There were only three other people waiting for them in the small conference room at the end of the hallway. Two of them were agents, one a male, the other female. As far as Kate could tell, she had met neither of them before. The third was a man who looked vaguely familiar; she was pretty sure his last name was Dunn. As Duran closed the door behind them, one of the agents got to his feet and instantly extended his hand.
Agent Wise, Im so pleased to meet you, he said.
She took his hand awkwardly and shook it. As she did, the agent seemed to realize that he had made a small spectacle of himself.
Sorry, he said under his breath as he quickly returned to his seat.
Thats fine, Agent Rose, Duran said as he took a seat at the head of the table. You arent the first agent to be floored by the presence of near-legendary Agent Kate Wise. He said this with a bit of sarcasm and cut a thin smile Kates way.
The man she thought was named Dunn stood out from the other twoboth clearly younger agents. He was a supervisor of sorts; it was clear from his stoic expression to his finely pressed suit.
Agent Wise, Duran said, these two agents are Agent Rose and Agent DeMarco. They have been partners for about the last seven months, but only because myself and Assistant Director Dunn have had problems finding a place for them. They both come with their own set of unique strengths. And if you do end up taking the lead on this case in Richmond, one of them will likely be assigned to work with you.
Agent Rose still looked embarrassed but refused to break his concentration. Kate couldnt remember the last time someone had been so visibly shaken to meet her. It had been somewhere around the next-to-last year of her career when someone from Quantico had ended up working with her for a day in the labs. It was humbling but also a little off-putting.
I should add, Assistant Director Dunn said, that Deputy Director Duran and I are the ones that have pushed for this program to bring recently retired agents in. I dont know if he has told you yet, but your name was the first that came up.
Yes, Duran agreed. Needless to say, wed really appreciate it if you kept it under wraps for now. And, of course, knock it out of the park.
Ill try my best, Kate said. She was beginning to understand that there was now a bit of pressure being applied here. Not that she minded, really. She usually operated better under pressure.
Great, Duran said. For now, do you want to go over the details of this case as you understand them?
Kate nodded and instantly fell back into her old role. It was as if she had never missed a day, much less a year. As she filled them in on what was going on in Richmond and how she had gotten involved, Agent Rose and Agent DeMarco held steady eye contact with her, perhaps studying her to see how they might work alongside her.
But she didnt let that distract her. As she went over the details of the case, she felt as if she had stepped back in time.
And it was far superior to the present she had been living.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Three hours later, Kate and Logan were sitting at an outdoor table beneath a canopy at a small Italian restaurant. Logan was eating a meat-packed sub while Kate was eating a pasta salad and enjoying a glass of white wine. She did not drink often and almost never before five in the afternoon, but this was a special occasion. Even the mere idea of a reality where she might once again become active within the bureau was cause for celebration as far as she was concerned.