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CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

I t was Murphy’s Law that they’d ended up at the gate next to the one Melody Scanlon was flying out of, and that her flight was delayed. They’d separated as soon as they’d spotted the issue. Cas headed to a bar that overlooked the general area. Delilah nursed a coffee at the gate. She’d removed her wig and blazer before they’d gone through security.

Delilah caught the kid staring at her once and had forced herself not to smile or interact even though that was her instinct. The older woman beside her must be Nicole’s mother. Grandma was reading the kid a book as she clutched the teddy to her chest.

After Melody’s flight boarded and Grandma hurried away, Cas came over and sat next to her. He took her hand in his. Kissed her knuckles.

“She’ll be okay.”

“I hope so.” Delilah swung to face him. She couldn’t dwell on it. Not anymore. She’d done her best to get Nicole to change her mind, but it hadn’t worked. “Any news on Holtz?”

Cas shook his head. “Not that I’ve heard.”

Nothing was going the way they wanted it to.

His cell rang, and she watched him grimace before he answered it. “I have to take this.” He fished earbuds out of his pocket and slipped one in before answering. “What’s up, boss?”

There was a short pause. “No, immediate updates. Nope. Pretty much status quo as this morning. Still waiting for the data searches to come up with something to place suspects near the murders and bombing. Awaiting DNA back on the Clarence Carpenter murder and anything they got off the IED. The Scanlon kid is on a flight to New Orleans to visit her dear old daddy. I assume that means Scanlon will stay put in his hometown for a few days, which is good news.”

He covered his earbud and winced when the gate agent started the boarding process. Delilah saw him flick on the mute button until he spoke again.

“If you want me to come in to debrief, I can make it in about 90 minutes.” He pressed mute again as whoever was on the other end of the call replied. “OK. Cool. I’ll be in tomorrow. Oh, yeah, you’re off to the wedding this weekend. I forgot. Have a good time. I’ll call you if there are any developments.”

Delilah felt her eyes getting wider and wider, but she held her tongue until he ended the call.

He took the earbud out of his ear and slipped it into the case in his pocket. “What?” he said without meeting her gaze.

“You said your boss gave you permission.”

“No, I didn’t.”

“You let me assume…”

The gate agent was calling for every zone, and the gate was almost empty now.

Still, she stopped him joining the end of the line by catching his arm. “You risked your job to be here today.” She wasn’t sure how to feel about that. “This job means everything to you.”

He gave her a soft, sad smile as they both stood. He cupped her face. “Not everything. You are not the only one willing to sacrifice the job for someone they love.”

She followed him onboard unable to speak.