Last Words by Mariah Stewart

Author:Mariah Stewart [Stewart, Mariah]
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780345500182
Publisher: Random House
Published: 2007-02-27T23:00:00+00:00

Mia shrunk back from the bright sunlight as she stepped outside the municipal building.

“Should have brought my shades.” She raised her hand to shield her eyes.

“You don’t have to walk me to the car,” Annie told her. “Go on back inside.”

“It’s okay.” Mia joined Annie on the sidewalk. “I want to. It’s the least I can do, after you pulled yourself off another case to look at this one, especially on a weekend. I owe you big time, and I’m sure Beck appreciated it.”

“And you’ll pay up, one of these days. But what’s with Pratt?” Annie frowned. “I sensed hostility there.”

“I don’t know. I’m guessing she’s a mama who resents her kids’ problems being foisted back onto her.” Mia shrugged. “And she probably watches too much TV. Thinks the profiler should be able to show up and pull a list of names out of her butt.”

“Don’t I wish I could,” Annie said. “Damn, but that would make all our jobs easier, wouldn’t it?”

“Yeah, no more long, drawn-out, boring investigations. Just, ‘Hey, it’s either Tom, Dick, or Harry. Let’s get DNA and see which of them did it.’ Sorry she seemed to be picking at you.”

“Not the first time, won’t be the last.” The two women reached Annie’s car. She unlocked it and dropped her briefcase onto the backseat and her handbag onto the front passenger seat. “Thanks for the hospitality last night. It’s been a long time since we’ve been able to visit with one another. It was good to have some time to chat.”

“It was. Let’s not wait so long between visits.” Mia gave Annie a hug.

Annie got into her car and slammed the door, then rolled down the window. “Mia, if there’s something bothering you—”

“There isn’t.”

“…or if you just want to talk about anything, you know I’m always here for you, right?”

“Thank you. I appreciate that.” Mia pushed back the lump that was beginning to form in her throat.

“Just don’t ever hesitate, okay?”

“Okay. Thanks, Annie, but I’m fine. Just a little tired.”

“Then take some time off. When was your last vacation, anyway?”

Mia shrugged.

“That’s how agents burn out, Mia. I’ve seen it happen too many times. Don’t let it happen to you. You love your job too much, honey.”

“I know. I’m fine, really.” Mia backed up so that Annie could turn the car around.

Mia waved good-bye, then stood in the parking lot and watched Annie leave. When the car had disappeared, she stuck her hands in the pockets of her light jacket and walked back into the building, her head down. She could talk to Annie if she had to, she knew that. But what could she say? Forgive me for not knowing that my brother was going to kill your fiancé? The fact that Dylan hadn’t been the intended target really didn’t matter. Brendan had set out to murder his own flesh and blood. How do you get past that?

And why, she asked herself for the thousandth time, why hadn’t she seen it coming?

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