Page 71 of All He Sees
Nicky nodded. That was an understatement. "Thank you, Chief."
"It's a damn shame we couldn't help Clara Jones and Erica Michaels," the chief continued. "A damn shame indeed. But you saved Mira Phillips. And those boys will never hurt anyone again. Chad Medina is dead, and his two friends will spend the rest of their lives in jail. Their daddies’ money won't help them."
Nicky nodded, then she took a deep breath. "I don't know what else to say, Chief--"
"Say you'll come back," Chief Franco said, and she froze. "Say you'll stay the leader of this team. We've got your back, Nicky. I know the Chad Medina case was tough, but we've all been here before."
Hadn't they? It was what she'd always been told. The FBI was her family.
"But... do you think I can really do it? Do you think I can go on?" Nicky asked. "I failed Clara. I couldn't save her."
Nicky felt tears prick her eyes, and she looked down at the floor.
"Nicky," Chief Franco said. "There were ten women on that list, and you've already saved three of them. We told you before--the girls on the list were the most likely to be alive. But we've known from the start there would be girls on it who are already dead. You're bringing justice and answers to Clara's family. There are six more girls on that list... you can't give up here."
"Chief," Nicky said, looking into his eyes.
"Nicky," he said. "We know it's a lot to ask. But you know what you're doing. You know you're the best person for the job."
Nicky bit her lip. "But what if I fail again? What if they die like the others?"
"You won't," Chief Franco said. "You can't. The girls need you."
She did this job because it was the right thing to do.
The right thing to do was to not stop until they found every girl on the list.
She could do it. Yes.
She let out a long breath. "Okay, Chief," she said. "Thank you. I'll do this. I'll lead the team and help you find the other girls."
"Good," Chief Franco said. "Good. I knew you weren't going to give up. But I needed to nip that bud beforehand. I needed you to know that we need you. Until then, though, I want you to take some time off. A few days to yourself. To treat yourself right."
Nicky nodded. She had to admit, some time off sounded good. "Thank you," she said. "I... I really appreciate that, Chief."
She stood up to leave his office, but before she left, she turned around. "Chief," she said. "If I could ask you something..."
"Of course," the chief said. "What is it?"
"Has Ken been called in too?" Nicky asked.
It was a strange question, and Chief Franco raised an eyebrow. He was quiet, then he spoke up. "He's on his way. Did you need to see him?"
"No, sir... I was just wondering." She felt heat rush to her face. If Ken wasn't here, she wouldn't wait around, but she would have liked to see him again. She hoped Chief Franco didn't pick up on it.
Nicky nodded and left the office, then made her way to the elevator. She got in, pressed the button, and waited for it to take her down to the main level.
As the elevator descended, she thought about Clara and Erica, the girls they'd lost.
The girls who would be silent now forever.
She needed to make sure she was doing the right thing. She needed to make it up to Clara and Erica. She needed to make it up to them by not giving up on the other six girls on the list.
There was another person Nicky couldn't give up on, too.
And that was Rosie.
She stepped into the warm Florida sun and made her way to her car, parked in the lot, then got in. Nicky settled into the seat, feeling determination wrap around her like a blanket.
