Page 57 of Shadow of Fear
Their banter reminded Dev of his childhood with his brother and sister. And with Kinsley. He didn’t often argue with her, but he remembered hiding his real feelings by making sure she didn’t think he liked her. Stupid boy things, like pretending she had cooties and germs. Or watching her all the time, then looking away when she caught him. Acting all tough and mean when all he wanted to do was be nice to her.
In some respects, he was doing the same thing right now, only more subtly. Or at least he thought he was being subtle. Maybe to Kinsley he was still behaving like a teenage boy.
Sierra shoved the gloves in a plastic bag she’d gotten out of one of her pockets and stood. “I don’t have a bag big enough for the bed, so no one touch it. I’ll send one of my assistants back to bag it. Any questions?”
“Yeah,” Reid said. “Is there any hope that the DNA process has been sped up in the last few years?”
“We do have rapid DNA for buccal cheek swabs, but in this case? No, nothing has changed. We still have to manually isolate the DNA before running it on a standard PCR machine.”
“Kind of figured that.” He shoved his hands into his pants pockets. “But thought I’d ask, just in case things had changed since I retired from the bureau.”
Sierra turned to Dev. “Time for me to get a look at that drone that was spying on you.”
“Spying?” Jessie glanced up at her father. “Dad, are we in danger here?”
Reid rested his hand on her shoulder. “Do you think I’d let my favorite little princesses be in any danger?”
“Princess?” Jessie stuck her finger in her mouth and mocked gagging. “Ella might be a princess still, but I’m way too old for something like that.”
Reid gave a sage nod. “Oh, yes. Nine years old is very mature, but remember in royal families you can be a princess your entire life.”
Jessie’s eyes narrowed as she studied her dad. “Is that true or are you just making it up?”
Reid held up his hand. “Scout’s honor, bug.”
“Okay, then I guess I can be a princess still.” She jumped up and flung her arms around Reid’s waist. “Which is a good thing, because I do still have that princess dress Megan picked out for me, and I really do like wearing it.”
Reid gave her a fond look, then focused on Sierra. “I’ll make sure no one goes inside the dog crate, and we’ll wait for your assistant to pick up the bed.”
“Thanks, so much for your cooperation.” She turned her attention to Jessie and Ella. “And to the two of you for being such great assistants. You were a big help.”
“I want to solve crimes when I get older.” Jessie’s expression turned serious. “Maybe even do what you do.”
Reid’s mouth fell open. “You never told me that, bug.”
“Because I knew you wouldn’t like it.” She stuck out her chin. “But it’s what I want to do.”
Dev had no idea that coming by here was going to cause Jessie to reveal her choice of careers to Reid. But she’d just turned nine, and she probably would want to be a lot of different things before she was old enough for a career.
“Then when you get older, if you still want to do that, you can come see me for a tour of our lab.” Sierra patted Jessie’s shoulder and headed for the door, her tennis shoes thudding on the old wood floor.
“Catch you all later.” Dev took off after her.
Reid followed them outside onto the large, wraparound porch and addressed Sierra. “You do know I’m going to do my best to change her mind about the career she wants to have, don’t you? She might be young and could change her mind over the years, but law enforcement in any capacity isn’t an easy career, and I want her to know that.”
“Figured as much, but please know I’m a worthy adversary.” She laughed and jogged down the wide steps.
Reid had left the door open, and Jessie came barreling out to fling her arms around Dev’s waist. “I forgot to say thank you for saving Bandit last night.”
Heat rushed up his neck at her extravagant display. “No biggie.”
“You’re my new hero.” She looked up at her father. “Sorry, Dad. You’re my hero, too, but he rescued Bandit.”
“I’m not bothered by it at all,” Reid said, his tone sincere. “Rescuing Bandit is definitely worthy of hero status.”
“Besides.” Jessie smiled up at him. “You’ll do something before the day is over to take your place back. That’s just who you are.”
Reid ruffled her hair. “Maybe I will. Maybe I won’t, but either way I love you, and I know you love me. That’s all that matters.”
