Kenzie knew she should've told Patrick about her moving to DC, especially in person. But, every time she tried to, her mouth would get dry, and nothing would come out. Unfortunately, she was just hoping that he would eventually find out from other people, even if she hated that it was coming from others.
She smiled at Wylie, who pulled back out of a hug. "Thank you."
"You're so welcome," he replied. "Oh, I'm gonna miss you so much."
"Me too." She raised the box. "This is sweet."
She walked over to her desk and placed it into her bag. Kenzie quickly glanced up. Patrick was walking over to her desk. Shit.
"What's with all the hugging?" he asked. "You leaving today?"
"Tomorrow." She looked up at him. Anxiety filled her stomach. "You still mad at me?"
"Do I look mad?"
"A tiny bit."
"Well, maybe I am."
"Look, I'm sorry about the way you found out, but Patrick, I need to do this. For Lilly. Just be happy for me."
"I am happy for you. I'm just a little sad for me because you're leaving. I'm not mad about it. I just feel a little slighted because I was the last to know."
"You know why I couldn't tell you. It's hard. We've worked together for a long time. We've done... other things."
"So stay. Don't go. Don't break up the team." Her shoulders slumped down. He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I'm kidding. I'm kidding." He chuckled as she hit him on the shoulder. "I'm happy for you. You know I'm happy for you. You deserve this."
"Thank you."
"All right, people, gather up," called out Abbott. The two sat down next to each other in the bullpen. He had a letter in his hand. "This letter was sent to Chief Agent Shultz by US mail, arriving an hour ago.
"Remember Greta DeJorio?" he read. "That was me. To honor Greta's memory, I will start killing again very soon and very publicly. And you, FBI simpletons, still won't catch me. Ask yourselves– do you understand 752 598 H is M key O?"
Patrick turned to Kenzie. "Interesting."
"Uh-huh," she hummed absentmindedly.
"Greta Dejorio was murdered five years ago in Miami Beach, Florida, and the FBI team down there worked the case hard, but nobody was ever charged," Abbott explained.
"She was a prominent socialite, so the Bureau got beat up a lot in the press at the time," Fischer continued. "Dejorio's body was found in the trunk of her burnt-out car on a remote dirt road in the Everglades."
"Why was the letter sent to Austin, not Miami?" Kenzie asked.
"We assume it's because the chief was running the Miami office of the Bureau at the time."
"Perhaps this guy has a grudge against her," Cho suggested.
"There's nothing in the letter to prove it's from the actual killer," said Kenzie.
"That's true," said Abbott. "But if this unsub kills again and brags about outwitting the Bureau, it could be a PR nightmare. The chief is throwing everything that we've got at this. Leave and transfers are canceled. Everybody who is here now is working on this case and no other until we get results."
"Wait, no transfers?" Kenzie repeated. "I-I 'm supposed to leave for DC tomorrow."
Abbott sighed. "I'm sorry, Kenzie. No exceptions." Kenzie slumped in the seat. "Cho, Fischer, get a team together, head down to Miami. Start by finding and debriefing all of the original investigators." He turned Patrick. "And, Jane, any read on this code or whatever it is?"
YOU ARE READING
I Bet on Losing Dogs - Patrick Jane
Fanfiction"I bet on losing dogs, I know they're losing, and I'll pay for my place by the ring, Where I'll be looking in their eyes when they're down, ...
