Page 67 of All He Takes

"That's the plan." Ken finished his wine. "Now it's your turn."

"You don't wanna know about that stuff," Nicky said, shaking her head. "Not really."

"I do."

Nicky took a breath. "Five years from now, I'd like... I'd like to have closure."

Ken blinked at her, then nodded. "Closure. Okay."

"On the Rosie case. I want to be able to move on. I don't want to be like everyone else. I want to be able to finally close the case, move on with my life, and know that she's okay. And even if she’s not okay… I need to know that, too. Closure, I guess that’s all I really want.”

Ken was silent for a moment. He reached across the table, taking her hand and squeezing it. "I think you can do it, you know. I know you can."

Nicky was silent. She wanted to believe him. She wanted to believe in herself. The past few months had been too much, and she had been exposed to too much—she felt closer than ever before, yet still so far away. But she had to keep trying, like she would for those missing girls.

Just then, Nicky's phone started buzzing in her purse beside her. "Ah, sorry, I thought I turned that thing on silent."

Ken gave her a look. "Go on, Lyons, I know you want to check it."

She bit her lip, feeling sorry. "Are you sure? We're--"

"Lyons. You forget how well I know you at this point. Answer the phone."

Nicky laughed. They really did feel like partners, in more ways than one. She fished her phone from her purse, expecting it to be work.

But it was the prison.

Nicky's breath caught. With all the chaos of the Harrison Smith case, she hadn't given much more thought to Felix Anderson and the man she'd asked to become an informant on him. Nicky had needed to focus on more pressing matters, and now she was trying to relax--but here was the prison, calling her. Maybe it was good news.

"Go ahead, take it," Ken said.

"Sorry. I'll make it up to you!" Nicky stood up.

"I'll take you up on that," Ken said with a laugh, spreading his arms on the back of the booth.

Nicky ran out of the restaurant and landed on the warm street of downtown Jacksonville. The salty ocean air filled her nostrils, mingling with the scents of restaurants, cars, and exhaust fumes. She could hear the sounds of honking horns and voices calling out to one another, but it was better than taking a private call in the middle of a restaurant.

Nicky quickly answered it. "This is Agent Lyons."

"Agent Lyons, this is Brad Barker from the Fillmore Institution," he said. "Do you have a moment?"

"Of course," Nicky said.

"Fred Garrison, one of our inmates, says he has news for you. He wants to talk."

"Right now?" Nicky's pulse had never been louder.

"Yes, ma'am. Is it a bad time?"

Nicky looked back into the restaurant, where she saw Ken sitting there, waiting for her. She bit her lip. She could put this aside for one night, go in there and continue her date…

Or she could seize the chance for answers. If Ken really did care about her and understand her, then she knew he’d understand this, and how important this was to her.

"Now’s perfect. Put him on."