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

knew someone else.” Kate shook her head. “I don’t know where that trail leads. In fact, I’m not sure I’m ever going to know. Carol Whitman has been arrested for helping her son. Given what her father has done, I’d be surprised if she served any time at all. They’ll figure out a way to make it disappear, just as Carol did for Theo.”

“You’re right. They won’t touch her.” Walsh held her gaze. “Will you be okay with not knowing?”

“I’d be crazy to flesh this one out. Going after one of our own? I might as well submit a letter of resignation now. Forget censure.” Kate stared off into the distance for a moment. “On the one hand, I feel like I got my answer. There wasn’t a chance in hell Carol Whitman could do what she did for Theo and not have an expert or two in her corner. Then I remembered something Jonathan Surrey said to me about being okay with not getting your man.”

“But we did get him,” Walsh added. “We got Theo Bishop.”

“Yeah. We did. That’s what I’m trying to remain focused on. Bishop can’t hurt anyone else. I have to be okay with that. I don’t like not knowing the full story, but even if I did, what good would it do me?”

“You’re finally taking someone’s advice, huh?” Walsh smiled. “No, I hear what you’re saying and it’s the right call.”

“Is it the call you would’ve made?” She asked.

He raised the corner of his mouth in a crooked smile. “Does it matter what I would do?”

Kate held his gaze and saw something in his eyes. The silence between them was enough for her to know his answer. “Well, I need to stop by Fisher’s office and talk to him about the hearing tomorrow.”

Walsh got up from the chair. “You’ll get through it just fine. We’re all in your corner, Kate.”

“Thanks.” She followed him into the hall where he continued to his office and she headed to see Fisher. Outside his door, Kate began, “Hey? Can I take up a little more of your time?”

Fisher still stood at his desk and prepared to sit. “Of course. I have a feeling I know what this is about. You go before the Board tomorrow.”

Kate sat down. “Partly, but I’m ready for that and I’ll accept whatever they decide to do. To be honest, I fully expect to be censured.”

“Just to be clear, whatever the result, it will not end in your dismissal from this post. And if I have anything to say about it, you won’t receive the written reprimand at all.”

“I appreciate that, but I know what I did, and I know it was wrong.”

“Regardless, we’ve all made mistakes, Reid. In the grand scheme of things, yours pales in comparison to some I’ve seen go before the Board. Ruby Ridge, Waco. A lot of those guys were issued Letters of Censure and forgive me for saying so, but the shit that went down there? Way worse than tailing a colleague because he was trying to get dirt. Even Scarborough’s hearing was BS if you ask me.” He raised his hands. “Aside from that, what else did you want to talk about?”

“You asked me what I thought about Surrey,” Kate replied.

“And you said that you didn’t feel one way or the other.”

“That’s not entirely true. I get that he’s very good at his job. He’s an excellent profiler. But more than that, I learned something about myself during this investigation.” She paused for just a moment. “We almost didn’t get him. Bishop, I mean. And I’m not sure I would’ve been okay with that.”

“I’m not sure any of us would’ve been okay with that,” Fisher replied.

She nodded. “No, but Surrey said a few things to me, particularly about my personality. My work ethic.”

“What are you getting at, Reid?” Fisher reached for a toothpick and placed it between his lips.

“I think I was wrong about suggesting Surrey was just okay. To be honest, I could absolutely stand to learn a thing or two from him. And not just as it relates to profiling. He seems to have learned how to compartmentalize. To keep his personal life separate. I don’t think I’ve figured that out just yet.” She inhaled a breath. “But I’d like to. If you want my opinion on whether I think Surrey would be a good addition to this team, I’d like to say that, yes, I wholeheartedly believe he would be a great addition to our team.”

Fisher smiled. “That’s very good to hear.” He pulled up in his chair. “Then I assume you’ve spoken to Scarborough about your feelings?”

“Well, no not yet.”

“Oh.”

Kate noticed the look on his face as though he’d revealed something he shouldn’t have. “What is it?”

Fisher shook his head. “Nothing. I’m sorry…I…you should talk to him.”

“Yeah. Okay.” She stood up and looked more confused than ever. “Thanks.” Kate headed straight for Nick’s office and walked inside. “What the hell is going on?”

Nick peered up from his computer. “I’m sorry?”

“I just came out of Fisher’s office. I told him what I thought about Surrey and he said I should come talk to you. What the hell is going on, Nick?”

“Christ.” He walked to his door to close it.

“You’re scaring me. What’s this about?” she added.

“Sit down.” Nick perched on the edge of his desk while Kate took a seat. “I’ve been kicking around an idea and I mentioned it to Fisher when we got back from Mexico to get his thoughts.”

“What idea? And I’m sorry, but we live together. You didn’t think to come to me first?” Kate gripped the arms of the chair with white knuckles.

“It’s just an idea and I needed to ask him if it was even possible. There was no point in mentioning anything to you until I had all the facts and could speak to you with some certainty.”

“Just say whatever you’re going to say, Nick. Please.”

“I wasn’t prepared to do this here. Not here.”

She waited with a stone