Chapter 28
Chapter 28
S ix Months Later
H ome. The word had taken on a different meaning in the months following Leo’s time in the cabin. He was back in the states after his latest assignment in Cairo, back in his crummy apartment, back in his uncomfortable, lonely bed. But he wasn’t home.
He had done his best to make his living situation better. The night he left Esther in Buffalo, the night her father and mother showed up at the hospital, relieving him of watch, he flew back to DC with every intention of getting so drunk he would forget everything. Everything that happened the day Esther was shot, everything that happened after, basically everything that happened in his entire life.
But as he walked through the airport, intent on grabbing a cab and heading to the liquor store within walking distance of his house, he stopped short and backed up, his attention caught by a title at an airport newsstand. Home Building 101. Huh. Wouldn’t hurt to give it a scan. He picked it up and grabbed a cab, not noticing until he lay in bed that he had told the cabbie to take him home, minus the booze.
The next morning he woke and cleaned his hovel of an apartment. He did four loads of laundry and took out the trash. He could only locate two fitted sheets, but at least they were clean. That night he went out and bought another book, Home Design for Beginners.
He began physical therapy the following day. Two weeks after that he was cleared of desk duty and resumed his former job.
In the interim, all these many weeks later, his apartment remained immaculate, his laundry caught up. He hadn’t taken a drink, had kept his nose clean and showed up for every commitment on time. And he had never been more miserably alone and jaded.
He tossed his jacket on the chair, opened the fridge, and stared at its miserable contents. Despite doing a better job of being a grownup, his food-seeking skills had not improved. His refrigerator remained stereotypical bachelor fare, but Leo reasoned it was the fault of his job, which took him out of the state and often out of the country for long stretches at a time. He reached for a jar of jam, intending to make peanut better and jelly, when the voice spoke.
“PB&J, what are you, twelve?”
He slammed the door closed and swiveled to face the room. Cameron Ridge sat on his couch, ankle propped casually over his knee.
“You’re actually trying to turn into the old man,” Leo accused, resisting the urge to press his hand to his heart.
“If I’m lucky,” Ridge said casually. He uncrossed his leg and sat forward, propping his forearms on his thighs. “How you doing, Leo?”
“Minus the heart failure, I’m good.”
Ridge grinned. “I’ll take the heart failure as a compliment.”
“You would,” Leo said. He grabbed the jar of peanut butter and a spoon, deciding to bypass the jam and bread. He plopped onto the couch across from Ridge and swallowed his mouthful of peanut butter. “What’s up, pretty boy?”
“Is that any way to speak to your superior?”
Leo froze. “I don’t work for you any more.”
“No, you don’t,” Ridge said. “You know why I used to hate you, Leo?”
“Jealousy?” Leo guessed, somewhat hopefully.
Ridge laughed. “No. It was because you were lazy, sloppy, entitled, selfish, reckless, and a hot head. And those were your finer qualities.”
“Is that why you took Cassie?” Leo asked, bringing up the oldest and biggest resentment.
“Yep. I didn’t love her, but I liked her, and it was better to date her for a month than see her wasted on you.”
“And everyone thinks you’re so nice,” Leo said, sticking the spoon back in the jar for another scoop.
“I am nice. I’m also a pretty good boss, which is why I’m here, because one of my employees is not performing up to par. I’m pretty sure you know which one.”
Leo shifted uncomfortably. “Esther?” Would it always hurt to say her name?
Ridge nodded.
“What’s wrong with her? Don’t tell me she’s not performing well because I won’t believe it. She’s too focused.”
“You’re right. She’s too focused. Know what I found yesterday morning when I arrived at work?”
Leo blinked at him, unwilling to say it.
“You know, I kind of pride myself on being the first one there and the last one to leave. Like the captain of the Titanic. So imagine my surprise when I walked in and found Esther at her desk.”
“She beat you?”
“No, she never left from the night before, worked all night. I don’t even think she realized night had passed.”
“Oh,” Leo said, a sinking feeling vying with a bloom of hope in the pit of his stomach.
“It’s the third time it happened since she returned from Quantico.”
“But that’s only been three weeks,” Leo said.
Ridge gave him a knowing smile. “Look who has her schedule memorized.”
Leo cleared his throat. “I keep tabs. She was the job, I like to make sure she’s okay.”
“She’s not okay.”
“I’m not sure that’s my responsibility anymore,” Leo said.
“Amelia cut her hair,” Ridge tossed out and Leo gasped as if he’d been stabbed. “And the rumor around the office is that a guard asked her out.”
“Did…did she go?”
Ridge shrugged.
Leo’s heart thudded, but he couldn’t, wouldn’t inflict himself on Esther again. “You should get someone else, someone better suited.”
“There’s no one better suited, no one who knows her as well, knows how to handle her. We’ve all made our strides and she’s settling in nicely, but it’s not the same and you know it.”
“You said yourself all the reasons I’m a screwup,” Leo said, miserable to have to admit the truth in front of his former rival.
“No, I said you were a screwup, were. The man you were under my roof was not the same kid I knew back in the day. And, not to get all blubbery on you, Lieutenant, but I kind of like the new Leo. Good guy, this one, conscientious, protective, a team player, way more humble, willing to admit when he’s wrong or ask for help. He’s the kind of guy I need on a permanent basis.”
“Are you offering me a job or hitting on me?” Leo demanded.
“I’ve lost so much sleep since the baby arrived, it’s hard to tell,” Ridge said, smothering a yawn. “The point is I’m offering you an opportunity here to do what you do best.”
“Babysit?” Leo said, aiming for snide and falling short.
“Handle with care. And occasionally I might stick you in the field with Ethan. Boy’s getting tired of being our lone runner, and you two seem to have a flow together.”
Leo twirled the spoon in the container without really seeing it. “I’ll think about it.” He glanced back up at Ridge, but too late. The room was now empty.