Page 166 of Smoke Screen
And, hopefully, she’d be part of it.
She met Phin’s gaze, grinning like a kid on Christmas morning. He set his hand over hers and squeezed.
So good.
She turned back to Zeke. “I’m glad the Thompsons are getting closure on this. I feel terrible for them.”
Ash shook his head. “They should feel terrible foryou.”
“They do,” Zeke said, leaning forward and meeting Maddy’s eye. “He told me that today. I know he’s a politician, but he sounded sincere. I think they have genuine affection for you. He said he’d call you tonight. He wants you back ASAP.”
They wanted her back. Two weeks ago, simply hearing those words would have sent her to a state of euphoria. A former president and First Lady wanted her.
What greater compliment could there be?
How about the one where they supported her when the FBI suspected her of theft?
Maddy took a sip of her tea and set the glass down, running her finger along the side where condensation dripped.
She had decisions to make. And soon.
“You know,” she said, still running her finger up and down, up and down, up and down. “I believe he’s sincere. I just …”
She lifted her gaze to Phin, then to his mother.
These people had helped her. Had given her security when she needed it. Oddly, no matter what happened between her and Phin, she’d always feel connected.
“You just what?” Phin asked.
“I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but I’m not sure I can go back there. It’s strange. I know they care about me, but they put me on leave. I understand it, but it also feels like they didn’t stick by me. Not the way you all did. Is it wrong to feel that way?”
“Honey,” Lynette said, “you can’t help what you feel. All you can do is follow your instincts. You have every right to be disappointed in them.”
Buoyed by Lynette’s approval, Maddy sat a little straighter. “Thank you, Lynette. That means a lot to me.”
“So,” Phin said, “what do you wanna do? Quit? Just walk away?”
Yes, actually, she thought she might.
Good Girl Maddy would, for once, do what she wanted, rather than what others expected.
You go, girl.
“I haven’t fully decided yet,” she told Phin. “But I might. I want to work where I’ll be appreciated. I know that sounds naïve —”
“It’s not,” Rohan said. “It’s admirable. Frankly, you deserve that.”
“I can reach out to Kayla,” Phin said. “She’s got a ton of contacts in the art world.”
“If you have any interest in consulting,” Zeke said, “BARS could use you. Liv is coming on board full-time, but I’d like to have more support for her during busy times.”
Consulting?
ForBARS?
What wouldthatentail?
If it meant going on recoveries, like she’d done yesterday, forget it. She didn’t have the fortitude for that.
