Edge of Mercy (A Kate Reid Novel Book 11), Robin Mahle [freenovel24 .txt] 📗

23

Kate turned off the alarm on her phone and pulled up to the edge of the hotel bed. It was 5am and the pace of this investigation had caught up with her. Nevertheless, she was certain this was a means to an end. Understand the family dynamics of the Bishop’s and she would figure out who had helped him slip into Mexico City. What she knew without a doubt was that it had been someone with money and influence. Manipulating national security data was no easy task. The risks alone would warrant a high price tag.

As she prepared to leave the room, Kate hoped it would be for the last time and staying another night wouldn’t be necessary. That all depended on how cooperative Dr. Hilgard would be.

Downstairs, Surrey hovered over the vast buffet, snatching up every sugary carbohydrate in sight before tossing on a few sausage links and eggs on the plate for good measure.

Kate approached him. “I see you subscribe to the notion of a hearty breakfast.”

He turned to her. “I eat what I want. I don’t have anyone to impress. Morning.”

She nodded and ladled a heaping serving of oatmeal into a bowl. “Morning. Did you sleep well?”

“Not really. I don’t like traveling. Working in the Denver office means I don’t usually have to.”

“Well, that would change if you worked at BAU. Just saying.” Kate filled a paper cup with coffee and took her tray to a nearby table. She emptied a couple of sugar packets into the coffee while Surrey sat across from her. “I don’t know what time Dr. Hilgard will get in this morning, but I would suggest we arrive as soon as we can. I have no idea if we’ll get pushback or if he’ll just take off.”

“If he does that, then we have ourselves a real problem. I don’t think he’ll be that stupid.” Surrey sipped on his coffee. “Getting there early means we can get the hell out of here and I can get back to my office.”

“So that’ll be it? You don’t want to see this through?” Kate asked.

“I was brought in to observe. I’ve done that. I have nothing to contribute to your ongoing investigation. I wasn’t here at the beginning and the time it would take to get fully up to speed, you’d probably have found him by then.”

Kate pursed her lips. “I see.”

“You’re disappointed?” He studied her. “Why? The whole purpose of my being here was to learn your style.”

“Hey, I don’t care what you do. My job is to find Theodore Bishop and I’ll do that with our without your help.” Kate shoved a spoonful of oatmeal into her mouth.

He grunted. “Look, Reid, no offense. I’m not one of those gung-ho agents who will stop at nothing to get his man, or woman. I’ve been at this for too long and I’ve learned that those guys? They burn out. They end up losing everything important in their lives for the sake of the one case they couldn’t solve. I already lost a wife and a daughter because I neglected them. I learned the lesson, albeit, too late. I do the job and do my best, but I won’t risk it all for a criminal or some psycho killer. Because I’ll tell you one thing, Reid, there will always be another one right around the corner.”

Maybe this wasn’t going to be a good fit after all. Kate opened her phone and scrolled through it while she ate so she could end this topic of conversation. Every member of her team looked at investigations as she had. Get the unsub at all costs. At least, she thought they had. Wasn’t it Fisher who initially suggested they leave this in the hands of the FBI international office in Mexico City? If she hadn’t pursued this avenue, she would be sitting in her office working on some consult and reading resumes for Quinn’s replacement.

Kate had subscribed to Nick’s school of thought. Then again, Nick had chosen to make the move to Quantico to get out of the field, to slow down. That was what he told her. Things hadn’t turned out that way, though. He’d been hands-on during every investigation they’d handled since her arrival. She began to wonder if that was because she was involved. Now Nick had paid the price for his management style. If he hadn’t gone to Rio…

“You ready to go?” Surrey tilted back the paper cup to get the last drop of coffee inside.

“I’m ready.” Kate gathered her dishes and returned her tray to the counter. She pulled her coat off the back of the chair and reached for her bags.

Surrey returned with a to-go cup. “For the road. You sure you don’t want to take a coffee or something? Who knows when we’ll get the chance to stop for food or drink again?”

“I’m fine.” She started toward the lobby doors.

Surrey followed. “Well, I can see I plucked at a nerve. Hey, I didn’t mean to piss you off, Reid.”

“You didn’t. I just want to get this over with. Same as you.” Kate pushed through the doors and made her way to the rental car. “I’ll drive.”

“All righty.” Surrey raised his brows and stepped inside the passenger seat. “This should be a fun day.”

Kate pulled the car to a stop in the visitor parking lot of the hospital. “I don’t know if he’s here yet, but I say we go in and wait.”

“Whatever you say,” Surrey stepped out of the car.

Kate retrieved the warrant from her bag and headed toward the hospital’s main entrance. It would now be the third time she had visited this hospital and it was starting to feel like everything relating to Theodore Bishop originated here. “What is it about this place?” She said under her breath.

“What’s that?” Surrey asked.

“Nothing. It’s just déjà vu. But as they say, third time’s a charm.” She pushed inside and approached the information desk.

“Agent Reid. You’re back,” said the man behind the desk.