Once Stalked. Блейк Пирс

April, Jilly, Blaine, Crystal, and Liam. They were all sitting on the patio at Blaine’s Grill, enjoying the lovely weather as well as the wonderful food.

      Riley was talking about chess with Liam, discussing middle-game planning tactics. She was impressed by his knowledge of the game. She wondered how well she’d do in a game against him. She guessed that she’d probably lose. She was a good player, but he was already the captain of a high school chess team and he was still a sophomore. Besides, she’d had few opportunities to play the game lately.

      He must be really good, she figured.

      The thought pleased her a lot. Riley knew that April was brighter than she realized, and it was good that she had a boyfriend who challenged her.

      As she and Liam talked, Riley found herself wondering just where this thing between him and April was going. There were just two months left of the school year. Would they part ways and lose interest in each other? Riley hoped not.

      “What are you doing this summer, Liam?” Riley asked.

      “Going to chess camp,” Liam said. “Actually, I’m going to be a junior coach. I’ve been trying to talk April into coming too.”

      Riley glanced over at April.

      “Why don’t you go, April?” she asked.

      April blushed again.

      “I don’t know,” she said. “I was thinking about soccer camp. That might be more my speed. I’d probably be in way over my head at chess camp.”

      “Oh, no, you won’t be!” Liam said. “There will be players from all levels – including some who are just starting to learn the game, like you. And it’s right here in Fredericksburg, so you wouldn’t have to leave home.”

      “I’ll think about it,” April said. “Right now I just want to focus on my grades.”

      Riley was glad Liam didn’t seem to be distracting April from school. Still, Riley wished she’d consider going to the chess camp. But she knew she’d better not push it. That might turn it into another “uncool mom thing.” It was best to leave it up to Liam to persuade her if he could.

      Anyway, Riley was pleased to see April look so happy. Dark-haired with hazel eyes like Riley’s own, sometimes April looked astonishingly grown up. Riley remembered that she’d chosen April’s name because it was her own favorite month. And it was her favorite month because of days just like this.

      Blaine looked up from his meal at Riley.

      He said, “So tell us about this award you’re going to get tomorrow, Riley.”

      It was Riley’s turn to blush a little.

      “It’s no big deal,” she said.

      Jilly let out a squeal of protest.

      “It is so a big deal!” Jilly said. “It’s called the Award of Perseverance, and she’s getting it because of that cold case she just solved. The boss of the whole FBI is going to give it to her.”

      Blaine’s eyes widened.

      “You mean Director Milner himself?” he said.

      Riley was feeling truly awkward and self-conscious now.

      She laughed nervously.

      “That’s not as impressive as it sounds,” she said. “It’s not a big trip for him to come to Quantico. He works right over in DC, you know.”

      Blaine’s mouth dropped open with amazement.

      Jilly said, “Blaine, April and I are getting out of school to see her get it. You and Crystal ought to come too.”

      Blaine and Crystal both said they’d love to come.

      “OK, then,” Riley said, still feeling embarrassed. “I hope it doesn’t bore you. Anyway, that’s not the biggest event tomorrow. Jilly’s the star of the school play tomorrow night. That’s a much bigger deal.”

      Now Jilly was blushing.

      “I’m not the star, Mom,” she said.

      Riley laughed at Jilly’s sudden coyness.

      “Well, you’re playing one of the title roles. You’re Persephone in a play called Demeter and Persephone. Why don’t you tell us the story?”

      Jilly started telling the story of the Greek myth – shyly at first, but getting more enthusiastic about it as she continued. Riley felt more and more pleased. One of her girls was learning to play chess; the other was excited about Greek mythology.

      Maybe things are looking up, she thought.

      Her efforts at marriage and family had been troubled at best. Recently she’d made a bad mistake, trying to let her ex-husband, Ryan, back into the girls’ lives and her own. Ryan had proved to be as incapable of commitment as ever.

      But now?

      Riley looked over at Blaine, and realized that he was already looking at her. He was smiling, and she smiled back. There was definitely a spark between them. They’d even danced and kissed during a date last month – their only one-on-one date so far. But Riley cringed a little inside as she remembered how awkwardly it had ended – with her running off to work on a case.

      Blaine seemed to have forgiven her.

      But where were things going between them?

      Again, that lurking darkness welled up inside Riley.

      Sooner or later, this happy illusion of family and friendship could give way to the reality of evil – to murder and cruelty and human monsters.

      And she had a feeling, deep inside, that it was going to happen very soon.

      CHAPTER TWO

      Sitting in the front row of the auditorium at Quantico, Riley felt terribly ill at ease. She’d faced down countless vicious killers without losing her composure. But right now, she felt on the verge of outright panic.

      FBI Director Gavin Milner stood at the podium at the front of the big room. He was speaking of Riley’s long career – especially the case that she was being honored for, the cold case of the so-called “Matchbook Killer.”

      Riley was struck by the distinguished baritone purr of his voice. She’d rarely spoken with Director Milner, but she liked him. He was a slight, dapper little man with a flawlessly neat mustache. Riley thought he looked and sounded more like a dean of some fine arts school than the head of the nation’s most elite law enforcement organization.

      Riley hadn’t been listening to his actual words very well. She was much too nervous and self-conscious as it was. But now that he seemed to be nearing the end of his speech, Riley paid more attention.

      Milner said, “We all know of Special Agent Riley Paige’s courage, intelligence, and grace under pressure. She’s been honored for all these qualities in the past. But we are here today to honor her for something different – her long-term tenacity, her determination not to leave justice undone. Because of her efforts, a killer who claimed three victims twenty-five years ago faces justice at last. We all owe her a debt of gratitude for her service – and for her example.”

      He smiled, looking straight at her. He picked up the box with the award in it.

      That’s my cue, Riley thought.

      Her legs felt wobbly as she got up from her chair and made her way up onto the stage.

      She stepped to the side of the podium and Milner hung the Medal of Perseverance by a ribbon around her neck.

      It felt surprisingly heavy.

      Strange, Riley thought. The others didn’t feel like this.

      She’d received three other such awards over the years – the Shield of Bravery, and Medals of Valor and Meritorious Achievement.

      But this one felt heavier – and different.

      It felt almost wrong somehow.

      Riley wasn’t