The Watched (CSI Reilly Steel #4) (38 page)

It was a pity, because she guessed that from Todd’s point of view the default advancement would only make him doubt his abilities and strengthen the need to prove himself even further. And the fact was he really did deserve it. Granted, he’d gotten himself into trouble while trying to track down Wesley Fisher, but Reilly knew that the best investigators were almost always the ones who were willing to go out on a limb and take chances.

‘I’d kind of wondered if they might have offered the position to you.’
Detective Sampson gave Reilly the same knowing smile she used to get when women at Quantico found out she was friends with Daniel. She didn’t trust that smile.

‘Not likely, my involvement was purely temporary, an emergency stop-gap. Anyway, I already have a job,’ she added, trying to keep her tone light.

‘So, still planning on returning to Dublin then?’ the female detective continued.

‘Why wouldn’t I be?’

Reilly wasn’t going to admit that while here in Clearwater, her intentions had been wavering from time to time, and the emotional intensity of this particular case was making her start to wonder if she even wanted to continue in this line of work anymore.

The Florida climate and lifestyle, not to mention s
pending time with Todd, made the possibility of coming back to the US more appealing, but then the recent awkwardness between them made her think that she should just stay the course with the job in Dublin.

‘
Well, when you do head back, we’ll be sad to see you go.’ Detective Reed’s eyes were filled with genuine warmth. ‘And speaking of going, Detective Sampson and I really should head away. It’ll be nice to finally have a weekend off.’

‘Thanks for stopping by.’
Reilly shut the door behind them. She stayed there for a couple of moments, gathering her composure again.

As she stepped back
into the hallway, she met Daniel on her way to the kitchen. ‘The detectives just stopped by to let us know that the FBI’s been linking Lennox to several old cases,’ she said, trying to sound cheerful, but the bright note rang hollow to her own ears. ‘I’m going to go get dessert.’

She headed for the kitchen before
he could respond. Once there, she opened the refrigerator door and reached for the applesauce, graham cracker and whipped cream concoction that Ivy had brought with her.

She
spooned it into another bowl, more for something to do than any real need.

‘
Everything all right?’ Daniel’s voice pulled Reilly from her reverie and back to the present.

‘Fine.’
She took out bowls and spoons.

‘You don’t look fine.’
He leaned against the counter.

‘Gee, thanks.’
She scowled playfully at him.

‘What is it? The case is over, we saved Todd, Lennox is dead . . .’

She sighed. ‘I know that.’

‘Then what? I heard what the detective said.
Are
you a little peeved that you weren’t offered the job?’

Her eyes widened. ‘Are you kidding me?’

‘Well then, what about the other job?’

‘What other—? Daniel . . .’
Reilly tried for a stern face, but only managed exasperated. She hated when he misdirected a conversation like that, in order to turn it round to what he really wanted to talk about. ‘We’ve discussed this.’

‘
No,’ he insisted. ‘You haven’t been willing to discuss it at all. And I was prepared to let it go if it seemed like you were truly happy in Dublin. But if you’re having second thoughts – for any reason – I don’t see what the problem is.’ Daniel walked toward her, his dark eyes soft. ‘You’d be an incredible asset anywhere you go.’ He put a hand on her arm. ‘You stepped in to help on a case and ended up solving it. You took what could have been a total disaster and saved it. I’ve never been more proud of anyone, ever.’

Reilly shook her head, reminding him of his son’s contribution.
‘Todd figured out Fisher’s identity before I did.’

‘Only b
ecause he found what Bradley was chasing up,’ Daniel countered. ‘And it was the costume you found and the movie you identified that led Bradley to Fisher and ultimately Lennox.’

Reilly
held up a hand. ‘Enough. I get it. I helped – a bit.’

‘
Then I shouldn’t have to explain why I want to hire you.’ Daniel took a step back. ‘You’re not just the best person for a job like this – you’re the only person.’

Later, after everyone had gone home (Todd included) and Daniel had retired to his study to read, Reilly
stood on the deck, watching as the sun disappeared into the gulf, the red-orange rays reflecting off of the darkening water.

The heat rol
led over her, enveloping her in a comforting embrace, and she wondered if she would be able to do without it again, same as all the things she would have to do without when she went back to Dublin.

American coffee . . . corn bread . . . sunshine and blue skies . . . warm sand beneath her feet . . . morning runs on the beach . . . Pittsburgh medium steak . . . dazzling west coast sunsets like this one.

But then there were many good things about Dublin too.

Challenging though it might be, she did love her job at the GFU; loved being part of major investigations, and spending time around her team, especially Lucy, who Reilly knew had come to view her as a surrogate big sister of sorts. Then there was Chris. Reilly didn’t know if she’d ever be able to figure out Chris – or at least where their relationship
truly
stood. It had been so good to hear his voice when he’d called last week. But that was before her . . . involvement with Todd. And Reilly couldn’t deny that on that one night, that connection they’d shared was so far beyond anything she’d broached with Chris. Yet still she had mixed feelings about both men; what they meant to her now, or what they might mean in the future.

If anything.

And then there was her dad. She wasn’t sure how Mike would feel if she told him she was considering a move back to the US. She guessed he wouldn’t be too upset – it was her home, after all. In any case, they both had their own lives and she knew that her father would go along with whatever made her happy.

Reilly sighed, feeling more confused than ever.

She wasn’t sure if she was ready to make a decision, but it didn’t matter if she was or not. She guessed that changes were coming whether or not she felt prepared.

All Reilly
could do was what she’d done all throughout her life. Try to meet head on any challenges that came her way . . .

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