SIUBlues15

Victoria poured herself as well as Nash another cup of coffee from the carafe as they sat at the patio table in her garden. They had gone through two pots as she revealed the details of Cruz Montipinia’s organization and they were just starting on the third when Nash became reflective.

Cruz Montipinia had been more elusive than a shadow. No one in law enforcement had been able to give him so much as a parking ticket. Everyone knew of his existence, but nothing else. Victoria had presented him with the opportunity to ensure Montipinia an extended vacation at the government’s expense. The information alone was invaluable, but her promise of audio and video tapes, log books, computer disks, business transactions and contacts would make the case for him. He only had to arrest him, but even that was easier said than done.

Victoria watched his eyes dance and knew instinctively that he was thinking of bringing Cruz to justice. She was sitting there with Nash Bridges, the SFPD Captain and not the charming Teddy Malone who had been romancing her and it saddened her somehow. Even with all that she had told him, he was going to want more. He needed the proof that she had hidden away. That was the only bargaining card she held. Once she turned that over, she would be nothing more than a pawn. “Cruz is going to be in San Francisco within the week,” she informed him to gain his attention once more. “He won’t stay long. He never does. Cruz says that he only feels safe when he’s on the move.”

“Which is precisely why Montipinia is so hard to catch,” Nash returned as he leaned his elbows on the table. “We usually don’t find out that he’s in town until after he’s gone.”

She folded her hands in her lap as she held his gaze. “I do have one request before I give you this evidence,” she said and saw his expression change to an emotionless mask once more. “There’s someone on the inside. Someone that I want to protect. He’s the one that has been gathering the information and giving it to me to hold.”

Nash sighed heavily. He knew that there had to be a catch. “So who is this Romeo and where does he fit into Montipinia’s organization?”

Her lips pursed slightly at his innuendo. She had hoped that Nash was beyond jumping to conclusions, but, in that case, her association with her informant was better left ambiguous. “He’s Montipinia’s right hand man.”

“Russell Craig?” he asked in shock, then laughed. “You’ve got to be kidding me, lady. That guy’s a stone cold killer just like Montipinia. I find it hard to believe that he’s the one that has been helping you. He wouldn’t betray his boss for anyone. Including you.”

Victoria’s finger began to tap against her hands, the only outward sign of her agitation. “You’re opinion of Russell makes no difference to me, Captain Bridges. If you can’t guarantee immunity in writing as well as protection for Russell, then this conversation is over. You’ll never find the information that I’m offering you and I will disappear without a trace as well.”

His first instinct was to let Russell Craig fry with his boss, but Nash was smart enough to know that his feelings had little to do with what Craig and everything to do with Victoria. His eyes burned into hers as he mulled over her words carefully, but he knew that he couldn’t make that sort of decision on his own. Russell Craig may not be high on their most wanted list, but he was one man that the government wouldn’t allow to walk easily. It sickened him to think of Victoria and Russell Craig together, but he used it to shore up his wounded pride. “Let’s say that I can give you immunity for Craig and protection,” he suggested, his mind focusing on work. “When would I get the documentation?”

The tension in her body ebbed quickly. She had been right about Nash. He wasn’t going to let his personal feelings for her or Russell get in the way of doing his job. “I can have everything for you within twenty-four hours. Sooner if necessary. However, I won’t turn over anything until I have a deal in writing from someone with the authority to make it stick.”

Nash rose from the table and stared down at her for a long moment. He was having a tough time separating his feelings from his obligations. Victoria’s involvement and stockpile of information couldn’t have surprised him more, but her eagerness to throw everything away for Russell Craig made him feel like a fool. “It looks like we’re both good at what we do,” he said softly, then turned and walked out.

* * *

Kellam looked at Nash from across the room. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “She actually volunteered the information?” he asked incredulously.

Nash nodded. “She’s handing us everything we need to take down the largest drug dealer in the Pacific.” That was why he had called the SIU to arrange for his team to meet him at Hayden Kellam’s office. It was such astonishing news that he wanted everyone to hear it. It was too good to be true and his worst nightmare all rolled up into one. It made him feel like a fool for defending Victoria so adamantly. He was grateful that Agent Miller wasn’t there to say I told you so. “I couldn’t believe it either.”

“Wow,” Roger said softly as his eyes lit up. He was even more impressed with Victoria Castle. “She’s either got to be incredibly brave or incredibly stupid.”

“Considering who she’s digging up the information on, that one’s up for grabs,” Nash returned.

“She’s definitely not stupid,” Sarah volunteered. “I’ll bet she has every step of this planned out.”

“She has to know the risks,” Joe interjected, curious as to why Victoria Castle would stick her neck out so far.

“Well, that certain kills her claim that she’s not involved,” Cassidy added.

“That’s what doesn’t make any sense,” Nash returned as he walked the length of the table, then turned. “Victoria is implicating herself just by telling me that she has this evidence, but she’s not asking for immunity herself. Just for her informant.”

“So who is he?” Harvey asked. His boss had a way of dropping bomb shells and he had a feeling that he was about to do it again.

“Are you ready for this?” he asked hypothetically as he leaned his hands on the table. “Russell Craig.”

“What?” Sarah blurted out.

“You’ve got to be kidding?” Harvey followed.

“Who’s Craig to Victoria Castle?” Roger asked.

“I can’t imagine the two of them talking let alone becoming friends,” Joe said with a shake of his head. “Victoria is high class. Craig is just a bag boy with an itchy trigger finger.”

“The woman can’t be that dumb to fall in love with the guy,” Cassidy asserted.

Nash shrugged as he pushed back from the table and resumed his idle pacing. “I don’t get it either. Victoria Castle is an intelligent woman. Maybe she persuaded Craig to get the information for her and felt like she owed him. Or maybe she’s in love with him. Hell, I don’t know. The point is, if we let Craig skate, we’ve got Montipinia tagged and bagged. We don’t even have to build a case because it has been dropped into our laps. All that’s left to do is put the cuffs on him.”

Kellam stared down at his hands clasped together on the table as he listened to everyone speak. “What about the pipeline?” he finally asked.

Roger looked over at his superior. “We can’t get anything about the source,” he admitted. “The truckers either don’t know who’s supplying them or they’re too scared to talk. We still think it will lead us back to Montipinia, but we’re up against a brick wall.”

“It does lead back to Montipinia,” Nash said softly as he replayed the conversation with Victoria in his head. “Victoria said something about Montipinia having a trade route reaching clear across the country. In fact, she mentioned a couple of cities.” His mind raced to pull up the specifics. “Uh, Baton Rouge and Lincoln. She didn’t give me many of the details, but she must have been talking about the pipeline.”

“Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Lincoln, Nebraska are two of the stops that we’ve found,” Sarah supplied with a nod toward Kellam.

“We could use the information that we already have on the pipeline to check out the stuff that Victoria gives us,” Roger suggested, warming to the idea. “At least then we will have some idea of how genuine it is. Do you think that she would be willing to give us part of the information up front?”

Nash shook his head. “I wouldn’t and she’s a pretty smart lady. She probably won’t either unless it’s absolutely necessary. The way things stand, she calls all the shots and that’s just the way she likes it.”

Kellam spoke again. “I don’t like it,” he said simply, then looked up at Nash quickly when he appeared to be about to argue. “It’s too easy. It feels like a setup.”

“I’m willing to risk that,” Nash returned. It was definitely going to take a team effort to see that one through. He needed Kellam and his people for an operation that size.

“So am I,” Joe inserted. “We’ll never get another shot at Montipinia like this.”

Kellam knew that they were right. In the past, whenever they began to build a case against Cruz Montipinia, people and evidence would disappear. He weighed the risk to his people and the SIU team against the possibility of bring in a drug lord. He knew that Nash needed the bust to clear his name. “I’ll start work on immunity for Craig,” he said and heard a collective sigh around the room. “We want to take Montipinia with as few people around as possible. I don’t want this turned into a blood bath, so start working on a plan to get him alone.”

“We may not have any choice,” Nash stipulated as everyone began filing out of the room to do what needed to be done. “Tory said that Montipinia won’t stay put for long. We’re going to have to move fast. Where and when may not be up to us.” He glanced out into the squad room and saw Cassidy heading out. “Give me one minute.” Nash told the vice captain, then had to increase his step to catch up to Cassidy going down the hallway. “Hey daughter,” he said once he caught her arm. “What’s up with you lately?”

“I’m fine Captain,” she said, stressing the title. “How are you, Captain?”

Nash chuckled. “Okay, point taken,” he admitted, then had to stop her when she would have walked off. “Uh, where are you going, officer?” he asked expectantly. He knew that he had her then. “I’d like an update on your current situation,” he told her as his eyes searched her face. Somehow, she had changed inside and that worried him. “I understand that you were the sniper the other night on the Greco bust,” he began just to let her know what he wanted to hear. “Captain Kellam can’t seem to stop singing your praises.” When she gave him a doubtful look, he recanted. Kellam didn’t say much of anything to anyone. “Okay, maybe that’s pushing it a bit, but he did say that you were the best that he had seen in some time.”

“I guess all of those trips to the shooting range with you as a kid paid off,” she stated.

Nash nodded, still trying to read her. “It’s called natural talent,” he told her. “And you’ve got it, Officer Bridges.” He was still waiting, hoping that she would open up to him. There was a time when he would have been the first person she came to. “Several men died that night.”

“And I killed one of them,” she said so that he would get to the point. “I can deal with it Dad.”

“Uh, don’t you mean Captain?” he shot back. He knew that she was simply protecting herself by cutting off any personal relationships. Even with her father. To have personal relationships, you had to have feelings and that was something that she didn’t want at the moment. “Have you talked to the shrink yet?”

“Yes,” she answered succinctly. “I’m cleared for duty.”

Still he waited and nothing. There was something missing in her eyes. It was almost as if that special part of her, that innocence that had her running blind at times, was gone. Finally, he could take it no more. She was his daughter! “Cassidy, I....” He couldn’t even get the words out of his mouth before she walked off. He bit at his lower lip. She would talk about her well-being to her superior, where the questions could not get too personal, but she wouldn’t speak to her father. Now he was really worried.

* * *

Harvey was skimming over the daily reports involving Yong Cha Chon, when Nash stepped up to him and looked over his shoulder. “Uh, you had better be browsing, bubba,” Nash warned him as he gestured to the information on the screen. He definitely didn’t want a repeat of what had happened with Evan.

“Just giving the case a fresh pair of eyes,” Harvey returned, holding up his hands in innocence. “You have my word that I’m not going after this guy on my own.”

“That’s good,” Nash returned as he sat on the corner of Harvey’s desk. “Because I need you on Montipinia. Are you sure you’re ready to come back? How’s Rachel doing?”

“She’s so much better, Nash,” Harvey said, letting the relief show in his voice. “I’m half expecting her to start conning to get back to work soon herself.”

“That’s good to hear,” he told him, then hesitated slightly. “So are the two of you okay?” he asked tentatively. He wasn’t sure if he should be crossing the boss/friend line at that moment considering what had happened with Cassidy. But he needed to know where Harvey’s head was. “Have you talked about the bomb she dropped the other day?”

Harvey shook his head. “Not yet. I figured that she didn’t need that extra stress at the moment. It would be too much like kicking her when she was down.” He thought for a moment. “I’ll tell ya, I’m more concerned about her relationship with Hyun than with Samuel.”

“You’re kidding?” Nash asked in surprise. He wouldn’t have pegged Harvey as a jealous man.

“Think about it. She had a kid with the guy which means there was something there to begin with, then they are torn apart by the fathers who don’t approve? It’s so Shakespeare.”

Nash chuckled at the comparison. “Good point. Kind of makes you wonder if she’s been pining way for this guy all these years.” He knew where he was coming from.

“Exactly!” Harvey sighed. He thought that he had been over dramatizing. He was glad that someone else was drawing the same conclusions.

Nash nodded. “You’re forgetting one thing, bubba.” He waited until Harvey looked at him curiously. “She’s in love with you.”

* * *

Victoria waved back at Steve to let him know that she saw him gesturing with the phone, but she was having a problem with a customer that wanted her exclusive attention. “That’s all very interesting, Mr. Sizemore, but I have no desire to expand my business at the moment.”

“Why don’t we discuss it over drinks?” he suggested as he took her arm to keep her from leaving.

“Thank you for the offer, but I’m needed at the bar.” She tried once more to pull away, but his hand tightened with a bruising grip.

“I’m not use to taking no for an answer, Ms. Castle.”

Victoria looked down at his hand on her arm pointedly, then slowly brought her eyes up to his. “The only thing for sale around here is drinks, Mr. Sizemore, and I think you’ve had enough. Greg!” Her voice barely rose above the drone of music, but the club bouncer was at her side in an instant. “Mr. Sizemore appears to be in need of an escort out,” she informed him, her eyes never wavering from her customer. He finally dropped her arm and held his hands up in surrender. “Remember his face, Greg,” she instructed her employee. “I don’t want to see it here again. Your drinks are on the house, Mr. Sizemore.” Victoria walked away, rolling her eyes at Steve as she approached the bar. “Our clientele seems to be slipping a bit,” she commented, then glanced over to see Greg ushering Mr. Sizemore out discretely.

“That’s the second time this week,” he said in return as he held out the phone to her. “I guess Malone walked away without a scratch. Guys like him usually do.”

She gave him a reproachful look as she took the receiver from him. “I must be getting too lenient on the staff if they suddenly think that they can comment on my personal life,” she returned, then smiled when he gave her a wink. “Victoria Castle.”

“Hello sweetheart,” Nash said casually. “Miss me?”

“I’ve been counting the minutes until I can see you again,” she said softly than closed her eyes. She had to keep it together. She couldn’t blow it now.

“That’s good,” he complimented her on how quickly she picked up on the game he was playing. If everyone thought that Nash was seeing Victoria on a personal basis, it would give them an edge. “I’m coming back into town tomorrow night. Pacifica definitely has something that warrants more attention.”

“Tomorrow night is far too long for me to wait,” she returned as her eyes scanned the people around her to see if anyone was watching, then smiled as if she really was having a conversation about a romantic rendezvous. It was better to be safe than sorry. “I plan on driving up to San Francisco tonight. That is, if you’re ready to make an honest woman out of me and put it down in writing.”

He couldn’t help but smile at how masterfully she handled double-entendres. “I’ve got it in blood,” he assured her. “But what about you?” he asked in return. “Are you ready to make that kind of commitment?”

“More than ready,” she answered with a sigh. At least that was honest enough. “It’s going to be a couple of hours until I get out of here so don’t wait up. I’m going to keep you all to myself for the next couple of days, but then a friend of mine is coming into town on Wednesday. He’s having a party and I promised him that we would drop by.”

“That won’t give us near enough time together, but I suppose that it will have to do. Besides, any friend of yours,” he said and left it hanging.

“I know,” she whispered. “I’ll see you soon.”

Nash pushed the receiver back onto the cradle as he looked over at Captain Kellam. “Montipinia will be here in San Francisco on Wednesday. Victoria has already made arrangements for us to meet at a party he’s throwing. She’s going to be here tomorrow morning with the evidence.”

“Get us the location of where he will be staying as soon as you can,” Kellam instructed in his deadpan voice. “Make sure that you get that invitation extended to include Hernandez as well,” he said as he glanced up at Joe. “Sarah can be your date. I don’t want any of you in there without back up. Cassidy and Roger, I want you on surveillance. We’re not going to have much time.”

* * *

Nash checked his watch, then rubbed his hand over his hair in an attempt to wake up as he stumbled out into the living room. The sound of the lift was enough to roused him from a fitful sleep. He held his gun down at his side as he watched it slowly ascend, then tucked his weapon into the back of his jeans when he saw Victoria inside.

“You do know that this building is condemned, don’t you?” she asked as she threw back the gate and started toward him.

Nash looked around at the empty room. “Why does everyone ask me that?” he asked rhetorically. “Doesn’t anyone think I would notice?” His attention was drawn to the overnight bag that she was struggling to carry. She was obviously so tired that she couldn’t even manage the small case without using both hands. “You look like you’ve had a rough night,” he commented as she stepped up to him.

Victoria stopped as she looked up into his bleary eyes. “Yeah, those pillow creases on your face are real attractive too,” she shot back, then handed him her overnight bag. “I almost fell asleep three times behind the wheel.”

Nash understood in an instant why she had been struggling with the bag. “What do you have in here?” he asked because of the weight. “Bricks or makeup?”

“That’s your evidence, detective,” she said sarcastically. When she saw the couch in the middle of the room, she went straight for it and dropped down onto it heavily. “I must be getting old. I can’t handle these twenty-four hour days anymore,” she commented idly as she rubbed her hands over her face, heedless of what little makeup was left.

Nash was a little surprised that she had just handed the case over to him. She had been so insistent about having Craig’s immunity papers that he had expected her to push the issue before finally relinquishing the evidence. He knew that it wasn’t stupidity, so he had to assume that it was exhaustion that made her absentminded. Still, he wasn’t above looking a gift horse in the mouth. He flipped the latches open on the bag and sifted through the contents briefly before looking over at her once more. “Do you know where Montipinia is going to be staying when he gets into town?”

Victoria squeezed her eyes shut as she tried to remember. “Congressman Johnson’s estate,” she said lazily.

“Congressman?” he returned as he looked over at her. “You’re kidding?”

“Honey, if that surprises you, then you’re in for some real shockers in those files.”

He looked back down into the bag as his mind raced with the possibilities, then he heard Victoria yawn. “I’ll tell you what. Give me ten minutes to shower and change, then you can have the bed all to yourself. I need to get this down to the office as soon as possible.”

“That sounds good to me,” she replied as she leaned her head back and closed her eyes. At that point, she didn’t care where she slept.

Keeping his promise, Nash was showered and changed ten minutes later and on his way out the door. “If you want to have a shower, there’s clean towels on the...” he began, then his voice trailed off when he saw that Victoria had curled up on the couch and was sound asleep already. Stepping back into his bedroom, he pulled a comforter out of his closet, then carefully covered Victoria. When she didn’t even stir, he looked down at her and smiled. He couldn’t remember the last time that he had slept so soundly.

* * *

Nash held his arms open wide when he arrived home a couple of hours later to see his father sitting at the counter pretending to read a magazine as he stared at Victoria who was still balled up on the couch. “I like the way you’re decorating these days son,” Nick said, not even attempting to hide the fact that he was staring.

“Nick, what are you doing here?” Nash returned. “I thought that you were going fishing with some of your friends for the next couple of days?”

He turned slowly to face him. “Charlie had a flat and had to wait for his tire place to open to get it fixed. It just pushed everything back a couple of hours. He should be here any minute.”

“Okay, good,” Nash returned as he poured a cup of coffee. “I don’t want you anywhere around this place for a couple of days, Dad. We’re dealing with some nasty people and I don’t want you getting caught in the middle.”

“Is she one of the nasty ones?” he asked with a smile.

“Nick!” Nash drew back in shock, then chuckled at his father’s comment. It seemed that the older his father got, the bolder he became.

“Looks like a really interesting case, son,” he teased.

“All right. You’re outta here,” he declared. A moment later the buzzer sounded from downstairs. “Perfect. There’s Charlie now.”

Nick shuffled over to grab his jacket and gear before heading for the lift. “Make sure you keep good notes on this one son.”

“Get outta here!” he said again, then tossed a wave in his direction. “Have a great time Nick.” When he saw his father turn, he knew that he was about to get another suggestive remark about having a great time himself. “Don’t say it!” he warned, then chuckled when his father left without another word.

Nash looked over at Victoria still sleeping deeply. He can’t say that his mind hadn’t traveled down the same road as his father’s, but Tory was definitely in a hands off mode. He was more than tempted to take a shot at changing her mind, but he was fairly certain that his friends and her friends wouldn’t get along.

* * *

Victoria moaned appreciatively when she smelled the strong aroma of coffee, then her sleep fogged mind finally registering the fact that she wasn’t alone and her eyes flew open. When she saw Nash smiling back at her waving a mug of coffee under he nose, she relaxed once more. “How long have I been asleep?” she asked, then covered her mouth when she tried and failed to stifle a yawn.

“About six hours,” he returned.

She was a little confused when she saw the blanket covering her, then shoved it aside without another thought as she swung her feet to the floor and gratefully accepted the coffee from Nash. After taking a sip, she glanced over at him as he sat down on the couch beside her. “I hope that I didn’t say anything out of line this morning,” she said carefully.

“You don’t remember?” he asked a little surprised.

“I barely even remember the drive,” she confessed. “I’m not exactly at my best when I haven’t had any sleep.”

He smiled devilishly. “Well, I thought the comment about my apartment building looking like a whore house from hell was a little out of line.”

Her eyes grew wide as she gaped at him. “I didn’t,” she said in a hushed voice.

“No, you didn’t,” he returned, then chuckled. “You did manage to get in a couple of good shots before you zoned out, though.”

She shook her head as she took another sip from her mug. “I’m not surprised. I’ve been known to carry on entire conversations and not have a clue what I said the next day.”

“That’s a dangerous thing to do considering the kind of information that you possess.”

“Tell me about it,” she returned, then shook her head as she turned slightly to face him. “That’s one of the reason’s I live alone. After I reach a certain point, I can’t trust my mouth to stay shut,” she said as her eyes scanned the room which was totally alien to her. With a jolt, the memory of the evidence she had been carrying against Cruz Montipinia popped in her mind. “Where’s my overnight bag?” she asked urgently.

“Relax Tory. You gave it to me this morning. It’s already at the office with the so called intelligence agents going over everything.”

Her eyebrow rose quizzically. “You don’t care too much for intelligence agents, I take it?”

“No, just one in particular,” he answered cryptically as he studied her face. “Everything you gave us looks good so far,” he said, hoping to lead the conversation to why she had risked so much to gather the information on Cruz Montipinia.

“Do you have those papers for me?” she asked when the thought occurred to her. Her brain was still moving in slow motion. She should have gotten them last night. She shouldn’t have given him the files before she received it. How stupid was she?

“Right here,” he returned with a sigh as he reached into his light weight jacket and pulled out folded papers. “There’s one for you and for Craig,” he said, watching her profile as she discarded her coffee mug and quickly scanned the documents. She read through every line of the paperwork for Russell Craig, then barely glanced at her own. Interesting, he thought, but that still left the question as to why. “I know that you and I haven’t exactly been seeing things eye to eye lately, but we need to put on a show.”

“What kind of show?” she asked suspiciously.

“We want word to get back to Montipinia that you’re dating someone steadily. What I need to know from you is where we should go so that the right people see us. We only have a couple of days.”

She shook her head again. “That might not be such a good idea,” she said cautiously. “Cruz likes to have things a certain way and one of the things that he expects is to have me with him whenever he’s in San Francisco.”

“You mean he’s your lover,” he translated as a emotionless mask descended over his features.

Her eyes darted over his face. Where had that comment come from? she wondered. “Sometimes, yes,” she returned. “Look Nash, I’ve never painted myself as a saint. I’m far from it, but I don’t have to make excuses for my life to you or to anyone else. I’ve made some wrong choices and I’ve had to live with them. Don’t sit there in judgment of me. You have no right.”

“I’m not the one judging you, sister,” he said as he stood up. “You’ve already done that yourself. The shower is in through the bedroom and there are clean towels in the cabinet behind the door,” he told her. “We leave in half an hour.”

* * *

Rachel laughed at stories from Harvey’s day as she finished off a deliciously gooey cheeseburger from her favorite restaurant that he had smuggled in. “Alright Leek,” she began as she wiped each of her fingers with a paper napkin. “Now that you’ve got me sufficiently sedated with my favorite junk food, what’s the bomb going to be?”

A smile toyed with the corners of his mouth. “You know me way too well, woman,” he told her, then chuckled. He grew serious quickly as he thought about the topic that he needed to broach with her. “I hate to even ask, Rach, but I need to know about you and Hyun Chon.” He looked over at the lilacs he had given her, trying to collect his thoughts. “I know it’s probably none of my business, but I’ve been wondering what would happen if this guy shows up out of the blue. I mean, you did have a kid with him. It’s only understandable that there should be some connection.”

Rachel’s eyes narrowed as she listened to him drone on. “Are you trying to tell me that there’s something between you and Anna?” she shot back, deliberately misunderstanding him. She knew that wasn’t the case, but she couldn’t believe that he had asked that question.

“What? No, absolutely....”

“I mean the two of you do have a kid together, after all. That must mean that there’s something going on between you.”

“All right, all right. Point taken.” Harvey shook his head as he sighed heavily. “Man. Can’t you just say no once in awhile?”

She laughed at him, then grabbed at her side. That was a problem that she was having around him. He loved to make her laugh and anything other than small shallow breaths was painful. “It’s probably really wrong of me to say this, but I’m starting to like your insecurities,” she teased. “Flowers and fast food? You definitely know how to win a girl over.”

“That’s cold, McCabe!” he told her with a look of shock on his face. “Sometimes I think that you live to torment me.”

“It’s definitely a perk during the day.” She tried not to chuckle, but it slipped through anyway, making her grab at her side again.

“Serves you right,” he told her.

She started to chuckle again, then grew serious quickly. “Okay, stop,” she ordered, trying to get her giggles under control. She took a steadying breath, then looked into his eyes. There was something in the depths that told her he hadn’t been joking. “You’re serious?” she asked just to make sure.

Harvey nodded. “I think it’s a fair question. I just want to make sure that there aren’t any doors left open to the past.” It was the uncertainties that always plagued him. Once he believed, there was nothing that could shake that belief. That was how Bonnie had been able to dupe him so easily. Because he had wanted to believe again. “Do you still have feelings for Hyun Chon?” he asked point blank.

“I think I’d like to hear the answer to that myself,” the shadowy intruder said before stepping into the light.

Rachel couldn’t stop the sharp intake of breath, but it didn’t matter. She was so numb from what she was seeing that her chest wound didn’t even phase her. “Hyun,” she whispered. “I can’t believe you’re here.”

* * *