Page 18 of All He Sees
It was warm. But Mira knew this was no paradise.
This was hell.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Nicky pressed the accelerator to the floor and felt the car surge forward along the highway. To her right, the sea stretched endlessly as the sun set, creating an orange glow across the water. Her view of the water was obscured by the large palm trees to her right. She could hear the sound of small waves lapping against the beach, and she could smell the salt in the air.
Ken was in the passenger seat, holding onto the handle as Nicky drove.
"He might not be there for long," Nicky said, teeth gritted.
An APB had a hit on Pedro Lopez's car--but he wasn't home. He was at a bar off the highway, and Nicky didn't want to miss him.
"At the very least," Ken said, "we can ding him on drinking and driving."
Nicky nodded, grim, and changed lanes. The bar was about forty minutes out, but Nicky planned to make it in twenty.
"Jesus, Lyons, slow down," Ken said. "You know we can still get in shit for speeding."
Nicky glanced at her speedometer and let her foot off the gas, allowing the car to steady itself. But she was irritated and on edge, so she couldn't resist a biting comment: "Just let me do the driving, Walker. What are you working on?"
Ken laughed and held up his hands to reveal his empty lap. "Nothing right now, as you can clearly see. I've already read the files over and over again."
"Well, focus on yourself, Walker."
"What's got you so irritated?" Ken asked, glancing at her.
Nicky focused on the road as the sun continued to set. She bit her tongue. Why was she so irritated? It was just a lot of pressure. Nicky wanted to get this case solved as soon as possible.
She could admit to herself that she had personal reasons for that, too.
The sooner Nicky solved the crime and saved those girls, the sooner she could get back to the prison and talk to Felix again and find out what the hell he meant when he said something about her father. It was nonsense, and all Nicky had to do was make him say something concrete--something that could convince Chief Franco that Rosie's case was worth reopening.
In a way, Rosie's fate rested in Felix Anderson's hands, and that made Nicky's blood burn more than anything. She felt out of control--both in this case with Mira, Clara, and Erica, and with Rosie.
She hated feeling out of control. That was why it was always her behind the wheel.
When Nicky didn't answer Ken's question, he let out a light scoff. "You're abrasive, Agent Lyons."
"What?"
"You know what I mean. Your attitude, it can be so brash and caustic."
Nicky glanced at him and raised an eyebrow. She didn't respond.
Ken turned away from her and looked out the window on his side, sighing.
She knew he had a point. Nicky wouldn't describe herself as a closed book--she didn't keep secrets, but she didn't exactly make friends either. As she drove, inching them closer to their destination, she let out a sigh. She didn't want things to be rough with Ken. They needed to work together. Their partnership was still new, and there were still kinks to work out.
"All right, Walker, I'll bite," Nicky said. "What do you find so abrasive about me?"
"You always need to be in charge," Ken said. "You're a talented agent--don't get me wrong. But sometimes I think you need to let off a little steam. I don't think you need to always be so serious."
Nicky didn't respond, and they drove in silence for a while. Nicky was processing Ken's observation. He only knew the version of her that existed at work--he'd never seen her unwind, have a few drinks. Alcohol was Nicky's vice; she kept it under control on cases, but the truth was, at home, she normally had a glass of whiskey every night. She'd call that loosening and lightening up.
"No offense, Walker, but you really don't know me," Nicky said. "Not who I really am. You know who I am at work."
"So, who are you outside of work?" He was looking at her now, curious, and Nicky felt antsy under his intense gaze. She focused on the road. It was a fair question, but she didn't know how to answer it.
