Vail 02 - Crush Read Online Free PDF Page A

language. Then he sends us on our way.”
    Robby lifted a shoulder. “Maybe. But it’s not our investigation, Karen. We’re not even in the mix here.”
    A woman from the restaurant approached them in silhouette from the bright restaurant lights against the garden’s relative darkness. “Robby, your table is ready.”
    “I’m leaving this talk out here,” Vail said as she rose from the chair.
    Robby reached out and took her hand. “No argument from me.”

FIVE
    V ail and Robby sat at the bed-and-breakfast’s rectangular table as the hostess announced what she would be serving: stuffed French toast with fresh fruit preserves and maple syrup, orange juice squeezed this morning, and Greek yogurt.
    Joining them were a young couple who looked like they’d enjoyed the firmness of their mattress, and an older couple who appeared to be looking forward to retirement.
    “I’m Chuck,” the gray-haired man said, “and this lovely lady here is Candace. Married thirty-five years tomorrow. And we lived to tell about it.” He elbowed his wife, who took it in stride and bumped him back with her shoulder. “And that’s Brandy, and her husband, Todd,” Chuck said. “Second anniversary is next week. Boston, right?”
    “They can speak for themselves,” Candace said. “Sorry, Chuck sometimes likes to dominate conversations. Trick is to kick him in the shin.” Chuck gave her a look. “What?” Candace said. “It’s worked for thirty-five years.”
    “We met Chuck and Candace a couple days ago,” Brandy said.
    “Karen and Robby,” Vail said. “Virginia.”
    “So what do you and Robby do?” Todd asked.
    “Us?” Vail said. “I’m with the FBI—an agent out of a special unit you may have—”
    “FBI,” Todd said. “Really? You know, I’ve always wanted to ask a cop what it’s like, but, well, I’ve never been in the right setting. Know what I mean? You can’t walk right up to a cop on the street and just ask.”
    “Ask what?” Robby said.

    Todd began nervously bouncing his left leg. “Well, what it’s like. What it’s like to shoot someone. Have you? Shot someone?”
    “I have,” Vail said, flashes of Danny Michael Yates momentarily blinding her thoughts.
    Todd leaned forward slightly. “Ever killed anyone? I mean, what does that feel like?”
    “Todd,” Brandy said under her breath. “That’s rude.”
    “Yes,” Vail said, looking into Todd’s eyes. “I have. But it’s not something that comes up often in my line of work. Actually,” she said with a chuckle, “that’s not true. I killed a bank robber and then almost killed my ex-husband a couple months ago. And then, last week, right in front of the White House—”
    Robby leaned forward and cleared his throat. He forced a laugh, then said, “Karen’s got a very dry sense of humor . . .”
    Apparently, Robby had taken Candace’s advice seriously, because Vail felt a kick beneath the table, a not so subtle signal for her to cut it out. The others at the table looked at each other, apparently trying to ascertain if Vail’s comments were something they should laugh at or take seriously.
    “Joking aside,” Robby quickly said, “Karen’s a profiler.”
    “Like on those shows?” Brandy asked. “What was that one, it was on years ago, we used to watch it right after we met,” she said, poking Todd in the arm.
    “ Profiler, ” Todd said. “I loved that show.”
    Brandy leaned back in her seat with folded arms. “You just thought the actress was hot.”
    “No, I really liked it, the way she could touch the clothing and see the killer. That was cool—”
    “That was a lot of bullsh—a lot of nonsense , is what it was,” Vail said. “We don’t have special powers. Real life isn’t usually as cool as Hollywood.”
    “But it is pretty interesting work,” Robby said.
    “What about that show Criminal Minds ?” Candace asked.
    “More like it,” Vail said. “Except we don’t have our own private jet. It was actually