Page 34 of Winter's Heart
Perhaps the only silver lining from Tammy’s death was how all the staff at the Institute had come together.Everyone had been shocked to hear of Tammy and Antoine’s deaths, and at first they had milled around in the corridors, speaking in outraged tones, but unsure what they could do to redress the situation.Then, Russell Morgan had rallied them all, asking for their support to help free Nikki and Jacob, and every single one of them had answered the call, hoping to right a wrong.No one wanted this to happen again to another hard-working scientist who was only doing his or her job.And so they had all come to fight the tyranny of injustice, and it’d touched Nikki’s heart forever.
Around a month after Russell's rent-a-crowd had freed her from the FBI, Nikki held a hugethank youparty in her backyard.She went around and expressed her gratitude to every single person who had turned up that night.But she saved her special thanks for the five big men who had put their own safety at risk and tackled an armed FBI agent on her back porch.And Reshma Siram, of course.The conservation analyst seemed to come out of her shell more these days, now talking openly to other staff in the lunchroom, no longer hiding in her office, and she had made quite a few new friends in the past few months, Nikki being one of them.Nikki found Reshma had a wicked sense of humor, to go along with her intelligent mind and demure personality, and she wondered why she’d never noticed it before.
Russell had started a new trend, a monthly morning tea held in the main auditorium so that there was room for everyone to attend.It wasn’t compulsory, but he asked that they try to find the time to come, so they could gather in memory of Tammy and Antoine.It was a lovely method of bringing people together, and Nikki had noticed many folks from different sections beginning to talk to others they would never normally have dealings with.Russell was opening the channels of communication, and Nikki hoped things would stay that way.Russell had also recently established a scholarship in Tammy’s name at Seattle University, for two students per year to be fully paid to study environmental science with a major in marine science.It would by no means bring Tammy back, but at least her legacy would continue, hopefully for a long time to come.
“You okay, babe?”A warm hand landed on her shoulder.
Jacob’s touch shook her out of her thoughts, and she welcomed his gentle contact.He always insisted on coming with her when she visited the cemetery, walking her up to the gravesite, but then leaving her in solitude to contemplate her friend in peace.He remained unobtrusively by the car, but she knew he watched her like a hawk.
Jacob’s protective instincts remained on high alert, even though the Swedish police had captured the two gunmen who’d tried to kill her.The FBI were still struggling to figure who was responsible for giving the order to murder two scientists in cold blood and make an attempt on a third—it seemed likely it was some high up official in the Chinese fish company, but Diàoyú was stonewalling them, and the Chinese government were doing nothing to force the issue.With no authority in China, the FBI could do only continue to appeal to the Chinese government to allow them access to the company.From the little Studebäcker would reveal in his two short phone calls to Jacob while he was recovering in hospital, the unnamed state senator had no knowledge of the assassins hired to kill Nikki, his role had been to stop Nikki from testifying, not to kill her.So, they may never find the culprit.Even though the hitmen would spend the rest of their lives in a Swedish jail, the true killer had got away with murder and would remain free, perhaps forever.
The one consolation to all the death and greed, however, was that two months ago the judge had passed his ruling on the Diàoyú case.After only half a day of deliberation, the judge had declared that the Chinese company had broken most, if not all the regulations laid down by the Norwegian government to protect the fjords, and ordered them to halt trading immediately and dismantle every single fish farm.It’d been a huge win for the environment, and Nikki had cried when she’d heard the result.The lawyers told her that her testimony played a large role in the judge’s decision.It’d never bring back her friends, but at least Nikki felt some vindication for everything she’d been through.It’d all been worth it to stop that greedy, callous company from raping and pillaging the pristine marine habitats anymore.
Nikki lifted her chin to look at Jacob and gave him her hand so he could help her up.“Yes, sorry.I’m still so mad, that’s all.”She got to her feet.Winter was fading to spring here in Seattle, but that wind had razor-sharp icicles for teeth.
“I know.So am I.”He pulled her into his embrace, and she drew warmth and strength from within his arms.She didn’t blame Jacob for his overprotectiveness; she continued to jump at every loud noise and constantly checked that her doors and windows were locked.It was just human nature to remain on edge after the terrifying things they’d seen and done.Perhaps they should both see a counselor before this skittishness became a habit they couldn’t break.
Nikki pulled back from Jacob’s embrace so she could glance at her phone to check the time.“Oh, gosh, you’re going to be late for your meeting.Quick, let’s go.”She’d been mulling over Tammy’s grave for longer than she realized.
“I’m sure Studebäcker will wait.He was the one who contacted me, after all,” Jacob replied with a wry smile.The director of the FBI had called Jacob out of the blue a few days ago, saying that he’d be in town on business and requesting a meeting.Jacob was pretty sure the man intended to offer him a job.He had it on good authority—from Mårten, who’d told him Chief Superintendent Rydberg was dropping not-so-subtle hints that the FBI had been in touch and were possibly headhunting Jacob—but she knew he was going to play it cool, nonetheless.
Jacob tucked her under his arm, and they ambled back to her car.
“Will you take the job if he offers it to you?”
“Don’t know yet?”Jacob replied.“Depends on what he proposes.There’d be lots of training involved if I were to become an actual FBI agent.And that might mean time away from you.”He glanced down at her.“I’m not sure I’m up for that.”
She wasn’t sure she was up for it either.This fledgling romance was stronger than even they’d both dreamed it could be, but it was still in that honeymoon phase where neither could bear to let the other out of their sight for long.New recruits had to endure a rigorous five-month training regime at the FBI Academy in Quantico before they were allowed into the service, which was too long to be apart.
There was also the problem of Jacob’s bullet wound.His leg was still healing, and while he could walk with almost no trace of a limp now, it’d be a few more months before he would trust it to chase down a fleeing felon, or attempt a high-intensity training course.
“Maybe he’s got something else in mind for you,” Nikki surmised.“You were a cop, after all.You already have plenty of skills.”
Jacob grimaced at her past-tense use of the word, but said nothing.His trip back to Sweden a few weeks after he was discharged from hospital hadn’t been the most pleasant of experiences.It was as he feared.He’d more than overstepped the boundaries of protocol by fleeing the country without permission, and he was already on suspension without pay before he even made it home.If Jacob hadn’t quit, he would’ve most likely faced another inquiry and a possible dishonorable discharge.It didn’t make one iota of difference that both Jacob and Mårten had been cleared of any misconduct in the first investigation, on their mission to protect Tristan.The Special Investigations Division would not let Jacob get away with it a second time.Even Biträdande Poliskommissarie Runar Staaf, who’d been the one to set Jacob on this path initially, couldn’t shelter him from this giant fuck-up, not that it seemed he wanted to.Jacob had talked to the deputy commissioner on the phone after he quit and the man had thanked him for his service and wished him all the best in his new life in a cold, distant voice; the deputy commissioner had never overcome his dislike of Jacob, and didn’t try to hide it.
Chief Rydberg had been less happy about the outcome, but he had to accept Jacob's resignation, because even though he knew Jacob’s heart was in the right place and he was a good cop—a great cop, actually—his knack for not following protocol could no longer be overlooked.There were only so many times Rydberg could cover up Jacob’s unorthodox ways of getting the job done.So when Rydberg heard the FBI were potentially looking to recruit him, he wasn’t afraid to give him a glowing report.Let him become the FBI’s problem, Rydberg had joked; perhaps they might be able to pull him into line.
Nikki had accompanied Jacob to Sweden, and after he’d faced the wrath of his commanding officers, they’d traveled together back to Jokkmokk to sort out his life for his move to America.Their first port of call was to see his mother and sister and break the news.His announcement had shocked his mother, Märta, but the Sámi were a stoic race, and she’d smiled and told Jacob that if this is what he truly wanted, then meeting Nikki must be fate.Once Märta had spent a few days in their company and seen him and Nikki together, she softened her view even more.She was overjoyed that Jacob finally seemed happy.And if that meant losing him back to his birth country, then so be it.
They’d also visited Petar, Jacob slapping his old friend on the back and decreeing it was time to trade in that old rust bucket of a Volvo for a newer version.It was his backhanded way of thanking the man for helping to save their lives.Nikki had thanked him in the more traditional method, by wrapping him up in a big hug and kissing him on the cheek, which made Petar blush profusely.
She had loved visiting Sweden a second time; the country was growing on her—it was so beautiful.They had promised to go back to have next Christmas with his family.Perhaps they might return to the little hut by the frozen lake and spend a few days just chilling out in the sauna.Naked.Together.The idea made Nikki smirk to herself.Yes.She would make a booking and surprise Jacob; it could be her Christmas present to him.
They reached her car, and Jacob held the passenger door open for her.“Thank you,” she said with a heartfelt smile.Once he was seated next to her in the car, she said, “I think Mårten will be impressed when he comes over to find his ex-partner is now an FBI agent.”
Jacob made a scoffing noise.“I don’t believe Mårten is that easily impressed.”
“Maybe.Maybe not,” Nikki replied blithely.
She’d met Mårten in Luleå at the police station, straight after Jacob had handed in his resignation.He’d been waiting for Jacob in the staffroom when he’d come out of Chief Rydberg’s office, there to offer moral support if Jacob needed it.
“It’s good to finally meet you.”Mårten had extended a hand in greeting.Nikki had been a little taken aback as she stared up into his ice-blue eyes.Or were they silver?It was hard to tell.Was it a prerequisite that all Swedish cops be good-looking?Because, aside from Jacob of course, Mårten was one of the most impressive men she’d met.Tall, with lean hips and broad shoulders.There were touches of gray at his temples and forehead in his otherwise dark hair, and the thoughtsilver foxflashed across her mind, even though he wouldn’t have been old enough to fill that category.
But she wasn’t completely blinded by his striking looks, and she got the feeling there was much left unsaid behind Mårten’s bland words.That he was perhaps evaluating her, wanting to see what the woman who was taking his police partner away from him was like.She didn’t blame him; she and Jacob were moving fast, but she knew deep in her gut they were doing the right thing.So she’d looked him straight in the eye, and said, “Nice to meet you too.”But instead of shaking his hand, she reached up and hugged the man.She understood how he felt; he was losing a person dear to him, and she was the one gaining from his loss.She owed him her gratitude.
“I’ll make sure he’s happy in Seattle, I promise,” she’d whispered into his ear, and he’d withdrawn, surprised.But with a look in his eye that implied perhaps he was satisfied with her response.
“Thank you,” was his simple reply.
