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“Hold it.” Kendra held up her hand. “I’m not about to involve Lynch in a complicated situation like that. It’s not as if anything world shaking is going to be decided by—”
“It would be world shaking to all those athletes,” Tricia interrupted soberly. “It might be world shaking to those countries who sent them.” She made a dismissive gesture. “But you’re right, you shouldn’t be involved in this.”
However, Tricia hadn’t mentioned who should be involved in her planning, Kendra noticed. Not a good sign. “And I’m not saying I don’t want to be involved in your career. It’s very important to me. Suppose I go to Phoenix and visit you after I get done with my therapy sessions?”
“That would be great.” Still no commitment.
Kendra would definitely have to mention something to Lynch. She jumped to her feet. “In the meantime, let’s go ahead with getting the duties you promised Olivia out of the way. I’m not great with computers, but I know enough about dog training from you and Olivia to get a couple lessons in today.”
“I thought you were going to class?”
“I was, but it was just a fill-in until I could take over my regular schedules down the road.” She smiled as she added lightly, “And that was before I knew one of my best buds was going to take off for Arizona. My kids would agree that we couldn’t afford to shake the world of those athletes who are trying to do a little world shaking of their own…”
***
Two Days Later
Pine Valley Memorial Service
Pine Valley, California
“It’s terrific, isn’t it? The Bureau did a pretty good job setting it up. You’d never dream all the pain and agony that took place here.”
Kendra turned in shock to see Metcalf staring at the names of the victims on the flower-trimmed list posted at the arched doorway that led to the outdoor seating area.
“Yes, you would.” She took a step closer to him. “All you’d have to do is go down the hill and see the crater and it would all come back to you. What are you doing here, Metcalf? I wouldn’t think you’d ever want to come back here.”
“I don’t, but I lost friends here. I had to say goodbye. I didn’t get a chance that day. I turned away for an instant and they were gone.” His lips twisted with pain. “And I didn’t realize until Lynch showed up at my front door how much I needed to do that.”
“Lynch?” She instinctively looked around the area. “Lynch brought you? Where is he?”
“He’s waiting in his car in the grove. He tends to attract attention whenever he shows up at a Bureau function. He didn’t want to take the spotlight away from the victims or families. He said this was for me.” He looked at Kendra. “He told me I should never waste the opportunity to tell someone goodbye if I got the chance. They might not know it, or remember it, but I would. It kind of made sense.”
“Yes, it does.” She blinked hard to stop her eyes from stinging. “And he should know. There have been a lot of goodbyes for Lynch.”
“I guess there have.” Metcalf straightened his shoulders. “And I’ve got a few to say now myself, so I’d better get to it. Have you already been in?”
She nodded. “I’m an outsider, remember? I just came to pay my respects to Cynthia Strode’s family. She was the only one I really knew.”
“I knew all of them,” Metcalf said thickly. “I liked Cynthia a lot.” He turned and walked toward the arch. Then he suddenly turned back to look at her. “And you’re not an outsider. Neither you nor Lynch could ever be an outsider. For God’s sake, the two of you helped bring that monster down.” Then he was walking under the flower-bedecked arch and down the aisle toward the visitor seating.
She watched him for a moment and then turned and walked toward the pine grove. Lynch saw her coming and got out of the Lamborghini to meet her.
“You ran into Metcalf?”
“Yes, I should have offered him a lift myself. I never thought he’d want to come.”
“It was no bother. You were busily getting yourself ready to draw yourself into your cocoon, and I thought you might need the time to yourself.”
“Into my cocoon?” She looked at him inquiringly. “What are you talking about?”
“After you go through one of these particularly violent episodes, you need to go dormant for a while. The healing process strikes different people in different ways. You withdraw and go back to your music therapy clients, where you won’t have to confront violence.” He smiled. “Usually, it means I’m jettisoned out of your life for a while because I remind you too much of things that go bump in the night.”
“Really?” She raised her brows. “How immature you must think me.”
“No, I just realize we all have different coping mechanisms,” he said quietly. “I respect yours more than you believe.”
“And what are your coping mechanisms?”
