Page 17

Present day

Bend FBI office

“You two looked like the perfect couple,” said Agent Keaton, eyeing what Noelle assumed were photos of her and Derrick on his laptop.

“We were very happy,” said Noelle.

Agent Rhodes was watching her with a small frown on his face, and she felt as if he knew every thought in her brain. “You don’t seem like someone who’d want the political life in their future,” he finally said.

“I’m a detective now. I’m a different person than I was in my twenties,” said Noelle. “After Derrick died, I took a hard look at my life and decided to go in a new direction. Before that I was more than happy to have politics as our goal.”

“Our goal?” asked Rhodes.

“Our goal,” Noelle said firmly.