Sergeant Abigail (Abby) Laurens transfers to the BAU after an operation in Iraq goes horribly wrong and she loses the one man she's ever truly loved. Desperate to escape her guilt she throws herself into her new position but when someone comes back...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
.
Abby jumped as Lawrence gasped awake, taking an overly dramatic deep inhale.
"Jesus, Tom, what the hell was that for!"
"I was breathing!" She just continued looking at the road ahead, "Are we there yet?"
"No. We're still like half an hour away, we've only just gone through Springfield."
"See any little yellow characters?" Tom tried to joke. Abby stared at him, not laughing. "Just a joke, Abby."
"Lawrence -"
"Lawrence? Am I in trouble again? Thought you'd kidnapped me for fun."
"I didn't kidnap you and I'm really not in the mood!" Her voice shook but it wasn't with rage, she was utterly terrified. "You know I never wanted any of this. I just wanted to join the Army, I just wanted to do what my dad did; I just wanted to help people. And I wanted to make him proud." She cried.
"Abby I was just-" Tom said seriously but kindly.
"Joking, yeah I know. I'm done being mad at you, I'm done being mad at everyone because it doesn't matter. You know what? In the end it really doesn't fucking matter. I never asked to be sent on that mission, I never asked to become the target of a terrorists rage. I just did as I was told. And now, somehow," she laughed humorlessly in disbelief, "I am running away from my friends, my boyfriend, a job I love and a proper decent life because somehow it has become my responsibility to protect them!" Tom stayed silent. "Figures. The one time you're speechless..."
"I'm sorry. That you somehow got dragged into this. I know it won't help, it'll probably just make it worse but I'll say it anyway, it really was - as far as I know - nothing personal; you were just in the right place at the wrong time."
"As far as you know what does that mean? Tom please, I'm dead either way, just tell me what is in that book."
"I really can't explain it. You just need to read it - dead either way? What are you talking about?" Abby could hear a genuine fear in his voice.
She sighed. "I need your help."
"With what?"
"When I found out Hall had escaped from prison, I called an old friend from the Army. Captain Woodbridge, British Army, remember him?" Tom nodded, "He was my other CO at Fort Jackson in South Carolina, he trained me alongside Moore. He was the reason I got to liaise with the BA on my first tour. He also owes me a favor, don't ask, can't explain. He said he could help get me out safely."
"Get you out where?"
"Back to Iraq."
Abby glanced over at Tom, who looked utterly and completely dumbfounded; to the point his mouth was hanging open.
"Okay, no you're going to have to catch me up because what the fuck?"
"I know what Hall is planning, why do you think I'm screwing the plan my team and I made and driving us straight to the book? He's going to kill me." She held her hand up to silence him, "But he's not going to do it himself. Did you forget what I do for a living, Tom? I'm paid to predict the next moves of psychopaths. Once he finds that book, Hall is going to kill me but this is personal to him, very personal. He is going to make sure he is somewhere that he has full control, and control to Hall means fear; terrifying someone into conformity. So he's going to want to bring this whole situation full circle. Do you get what I mean?"
"Yes." Abby raised an eyebrow. "No."
"He's going to make us choose; you or me."
"And he's going to make the other do it." Lawrence finally caught on.
"Exactly. Which is why, no matter what happens, you have to make sure it's me."
"What?! You're asking me to kill you!"
"No, I'm telling you to shoot me again. You did it before, enough to make everyone believe it was intended to kill me. With a bit of acting on my part and a bit of behind the scenes magic, it'll be just like the real thing." She looked over and saw his skeptical expression, "Tom. You have to do this. It is the only way for this to end. And even if I did die, it would still be the only way to keep my team safe. You know it's not just Hall we have to worry about, he has eyes everywhere. Including the FBI."
"Abby I..." He looked at her, "You've made your mind up already haven't you."
"A covert plane leaves for Iraq in two weeks, with or without me."
"And Spencer? Your team? Your family, Abby!"
"First of all, I don't speak to my mom or brother, and David will be fine - he'll probably suspect it anyway." Her eyes went dark, "And do not talk about my team."
He sighed. "Alright, I'll try not to miss."
"Tom, no matter what happens, no matter what Spencer says to you, no matter who comes knocking on your door - you cannot tell anybody. Anybody. Ever."
"And you? What about you?"
"What about me? I said I'm going back to Iraq -"
"No, Abby. What about you? How are you going to cope?"
She bit her lip trying hard not to cry. She knew what happened to Spencer when Emily did the exact same thing and how much it broke him. She realised the hardest thing about that situation wasn't her death, it was her return. She was willing to sacrifice her chance at a life of happiness for his life full stop.
"I'll be fine."
Tom looked at her. He didn't believe her, not for a second.
"Okay. Tell me the whole plan."
. . . . . . . . . .
and that my loves, is a wrap.
but fear not, for by the time you read this, the sequel will be ready to go. i actually had the idea for the sequel before i even had the clear plan for this book.
i just want to say thank you. so much. im sorry, i know i have been probably the worst at updating it; i have been through A LOT as this book has progressed but it brought back my love for writing and for that i will always be grateful. thank you for the love and the support.
