A little while later, they were back at the hospital, standing outside Taryn’s room. Kylie had been examined as soon as they’d brought her in and then she’d been taken straight up to her mother. The reunion brought tears to Thea’s eyes.
“This never gets old,” Jake said. “This is what we live for.”
“Yes, but it’s not an entirely happy ending,” Thea said. She moved away from the door. “I’m worried about Russ Buchanan. He won’t give up his family without a fight. I’m afraid Taryn is in for a rough time if he sues for sole custody.”
“She may have some leverage,” Jake said. “One of his former clients swears he was hired by Buchanan to harass Reggie. We think he’s the one who ran her car off the road. His testimony will give Taryn some ammunition in a custody fight.”
“I hope so. After everything she and Kylie have been through, they deserve a little peace.”
They moved down the hallway toward the elevators.
“Buy you a cup of bad coffee?” Jake asked.
“Thanks, but I’m on my way to see Reggie. Rain check?”
“I’ll be heading back to Jacksonville in a couple of hours. Our work here is done.” He punched the down arrow button. “What about you? When will you go back to DC?”
“I’m not sure. Reggie will need some help when she gets out of here. I thought I’d stick around for a few days.”
“Maybe I can drive down on the weekend,” Jake said. “We haven’t had our talk yet. Or better yet, come see me in Jacksonville. I’ll show you around the office. Let you get the lay of the land.”
She frowned. “Why do I need to get the lay of the land?”
“There’s an opening on my team. I’d like you to come work with me again.”
“I don’t know, Jake. That’s a generous offer, but I’ve got my own work. What I do is important, too.”
“I know it is. I don’t see any reason you can’t do both.” The elevator door opened. He ignored it. “I left once without asking you to come with me. I’m not about to make that mistake again. Just think about it, okay?”
The door slid closed. Neither of them reached for the button.
Thea drew a deep breath. “Did you mean what you said? I could do both jobs?”
“Yes. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
“Then I don’t have to think about it. This may surprise you, but I’ve been considering a move for quite some time.”
“You always manage to surprise me,” he said.
“I have a lot of unfinished business down here. I never would have admitted this before, but I’d like to be closer to my mother.”
“You both deserve a second chance.”
“Yes, but Reggie isn’t my only unfinished business. I need to find out what happened to my sister and to somehow make peace with my grandmother.” She slipped her hand in his. “And then there’s you, Jake.”
The tender gleam in his eyes was like the light at the end of a very dark tunnel.
Keep reading for an excerpt from Chasing the Violet Killer by R. Barri Flowers.