by Robin Mahle
She squeezed her hands into fists but couldn’t move her legs. Quinn was inside his apartment; she was sure of it. “Just knock on his door. Tell him you know. He won’t have the guts to stop you.” It didn’t matter that people more powerful than Quinn could hit back. She’d stop them too if that’s what it took.
Her lips began to quiver as she stared at the building. In her head raged a war. A battle of right and wrong, of self-preservation or self-destruction. “You’ll destroy everything,” she whispered. “Nick won’t understand.” Tears welled and as they spilled down her cheeks, she wiped them away with a harsh hand. Kate took in a full, deep breath. “No. Just stop. You have to stop now. He’s not worth it.”
She stepped inside the car again and eyed the building. Kate dropped her head into her hands and sobbed. “I can’t. I can’t do it. He’ll leave me. He’ll never forgive me.” After a few moments, she slowed her breathing and worked to calm herself. A final glance at the building and Kate drove away.
The evening appointment had been a special request. The return to D.C. left Kate clear on what she needed to do. And now, she had arrived.
The door to the office opened as Kate sat in the waiting room. “Agent Reid? Come on in.”
Kate stood from the couch. “Thank you for seeing me tonight. I’m sure you’d rather be doing something a little more interesting on a Saturday evening.”
“Not at all. Please come inside and take a seat.” The doctor closed the door behind her and returned to her desk.
Kate sat down and labored to find comfort on the overstuffed chair.
“It’s okay, Agent Reid. You can relax in here.” The doctor placed her elbows on top of her desk. “So tell me, Kate. May I call you Kate?”
“Sure.”
“Why are you here?”
Kate looked down at her feet and shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t seem to be handling things very well.”
“What kind of things?” the doctor pressed on.
Kate thought on the question for a moment. “My life hasn’t been easy, Doctor. While I try not to talk about it, try not to dwell on it, my past is always there, waiting for me to bring it into the present again. And I’ve noticed it has a tendency to affect the decisions I make in my life and in my job.”
“Can you elaborate?”
“How much time to you have?” Kate laughed.
“However much you need.”
Right,” she continued. “Well, okay. Recently, as in just the other day, I had my gun aimed at a man. A kid, really. And my team, who was right behind me, I almost—I almost made a mistake that could’ve resulted in their deaths, and my own.”
“I see. That sounds like a very serious mistake if that’s what it was,” she replied.
“Oh, there’s no doubt about that. I was pulled out of the situation and into another one and in that split second, everything could’ve changed.”
“This other situation must weigh on your mind,” the doctor said.
“Very much so, yes.” Kate sighed. “Then today, I made a decision that went against my better judgement.”
“And how did that go?”
“It’s why I’m here with you now,” she replied.
“Of course. Kate, I’ve read your file. All of it. There’s a lot to digest. But there’s still one thing that’s bothering me. You didn’t answer my question and that is why are you here?”
Kate’s eyes reddened and she tucked her hair behind her ears. In a frail and fractured voice, one she hadn’t known still existed inside her, she continued. “I’m here because…I need help.”
The doctor smiled and nodded. “Okay then. Let’s talk.”
THE END
About the Author
Bestselling author Robin Mahle lives in Virginia with her husband and two children. Her Kate Reid mysteries have drawn praise for grabbing hold of the reader and refusing to let go. That same intense, fast-paced style of storytelling can also be found in the brand new Remy Fontaine thrillers.
You won’t want to miss the small-town cop with the unique gift in the Riley Thompson series. And don’t forget Allison Hart, a sharp-witted P.I. from the Sunshine State!
With powerful leading ladies and action-packed thrill rides, Robin hopes to continue taking readers on roller-coaster adventures that will leave them breathless.
If you enjoyed Ms. Mahle’s work, please share your experience by leaving a review on Amazon.
Also by Robin Mahle
All the Shiny Things - A Kate Reid Novel (Book 1)
Law of Five – A Kate Reid Novel (Book 2)
Gone Unnoticed – A Kate Reid Novel (Book 3)
Blackwaters – A Kate Reid Novel (Book 4)
Endangered -A Kate Reid Novel (Book 5)
The Pretty Ones - A Kate Reid Novel (Book 6)
The Last Word – A Kate Reid Novel (Book 7)
Deadly Reckoning - A Kate Reid Novel (Book 8)
To the Bone - A Kate Reid Novel (Book 9)
The Kill Season - A Kate Reid Novel (Book 10)
Edge of Mercy - A Kate Reid Novel (Book 11)
See You Again - A Kate Reid Novel (Book 12)
Last Seen - A Remy Fontaine Thriller (Book 1)
Deep Blue Surrender - An Allison Hart Novel (Book 1)
Lethal Passage - An Allison Hart Novel (Book 2)
Between Dark and Light - An Allison Hart Novel (Book 3)
Sea of Lies - An Allison Hart Novel (Book 4)
Force of Nature - A Riley Thompson Thriller (Book 0)
Behind Her Eyes - A Riley Thompson Thriller (Book 1)
Bad Beat - A Riley Thompson Thriller (Book 2)
State of Denial - A Lacy Merrick Thriller (Book 1)
Shadow Rising – A Lacy Merrick Thriller (Book 2)
First Target – A Lacy Merrick Thriller (Book 3)
Ghost Nation - A Lacy Merrick Thriller (Book 4)
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