Searching for Cate by Marie Ferrarella Read Free Book Online Page B

her foot. Looking at the tall, slightly rumpled agent, she shook her head. “God’s not finished yet.”
    Mike did his best to imitate a leer as he spread his hands before him. “Any time you want to sample the goods, Graywolf…”
    They’d known each other ever since she’d joined the field office some six years ago. And had been friends for almost as long.
    â€œDeath would be preferable.” Taking off her jacket, she draped it over the back of her chair. Her blond hair was caught back in a clip and worn up, her style of choice while on the job. “Besides, I have something really special at home.”
    â€œBrag, brag, brag.” Tommy Hawkins came up behind her, munching on another doughnut, a plain glaze. Tiny bits of sugar broke off, marking his path from the common room. In his late fifties, widowed with one estranged son who lived on the opposite coast, Tommy seemed to be counting the days to retirement. And dreading it. “Morning, Beautiful.”
    She gave him her best deadpan expression. “That’s sexist, Tommy.”
    â€œThat’s observant,” he corrected, then winked broadly at her. “I won’t tell if you won’t.”
    A smile curved her mouth. “You win again.” She indicated the doughnuts both men were consuming. “What’s the occasion?”
    â€œI didn’t ask,” Tommy said. “That way, nobody can tell me they’re not meant for everyone.”
    Mike wiped his lips and tossed the napkin into the basket by Lydia’s desk. “New girl—excuse me, woman, brought them.”
    â€œShe trying to bribe us?” Tommy asked.
    â€œWorks for me,” Mike responded. “Wouldn’t mind having another.” He glanced toward the common room. From here, he could just barely see into it. The large box of doughnuts was on a table near the rear of the room.
    Lydia looked in the opposite direction, toward Assistant Director Aaron Sullivan’s office. She could see a poised, young blonde in a teal-blue suit sitting in the chair beside Sullivan’s desk. The new special agent. Her new special agent if she were to believe Sullivan. The A.D. had said the young woman would be working with them. And specifically, she would be taking Patterson’s place. Her partner had put in for a leave of absence shortly after he’d been wounded. It was his second time and he thought that perhaps it was an omen that he should reevaluate his career choice. Over the years, they had come to work like a well-oiled machine. She’d known him longer than she’d known Lukas. Although the time interval since he’d left had been short, she already missed him like crazy.
    Welcoming his substitute, even his temporary substitute, was not going to be easy.
    Lydia looked back at the men she worked with. “Anyone know anything about her?”
    Tommy shrugged, finishing his doughnut. “Just that she’s a transfer from San Francisco.”
    Lydia sighed. “Which means she’s probably a hotshot, or thinks she is.”
    Santiago laughed. “And we all know that you’re the only hotshot around.”
    Playing along, Lydia patted Mike’s face. “And don’t you forget it.”
    All three saw Sullivan rising from his chair. He’d be summoning them soon. Tommy straightened his jacket, but it still looked wrinkled. “Time to make nice, Lydia.”
    Plucking her own jacket from the back of her chair, she slipped it on again. “Yeah.”
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    Instinct had Cate glancing over her shoulder a second before the three people entered the assistant director’s inner office.
    These would be some of her new co-workers.
    They looked friendly enough, she decided. The woman seemed to be sizing her up. Undoubtedly wondering if she was going to be competition. Well, she’d put the special agent’s mind at rest soon enough. She had no desire to compete on any level,