“You did good, Decker,” he said. “Saved a lot of lives.”
“We all did good,” said Jamison. “And we wouldn’t be here but for you two.”
Decker said nothing to this. He just stared at the seatback.
“And Brad Daniels recovered and is living at a VA hospital,” said Robie. “Hear he’s loving telling stories from the past.”
As the plane leveled out, Robie got two beers from the bar up front, sat next to Decker, and handed him one. Reel and Jamison got up from their seats and sat at a table in the back with coffees.
Robie took a sip of his beer and looked out the window. “The folks Purdy was working with have been identified. Appropriate back channels have been opened to bring the hammer down on them and to make sure some people are punished. There will be consequences.”
“Right,” said Decker absently.
“No, there will be consequences. And Jess and I are going to be the tips of that spear. We volunteered.”
Decker eyed him closely. “That makes me feel better,” he said quite sincerely.
Robie glanced at him. “You know, every time I finish a mission I take a walk down by Memorial Bridge in DC late at night.”
“Why do you do that?” asked Decker, suddenly interested.
“Don’t know. Why does anyone do anything?”
“To think, maybe?”
“Maybe. A little quiet time before...”
“...going back to work?”
“Yeah.”
Decker drained half his beer. “Maybe that’s all we have.”
“Meaning work?”
“Meaning, what else?” answered Decker.
“You’re good at what you do.”
“So are you.”
“And I used to think that was enough,” said Robie.
Decker shot him a glance. “And now you don’t?”
“And now... maybe I don’t.” He paused and stared at his drink. “I read your file.”
“I didn’t have the opportunity to read yours.”
“I’ve never been married, Decker, never had kids. That would be tough for anyone. I’m sorry that happened to you.”
Decker didn’t respond; he shifted his gaze to look out the window, where it was dark.
“They’re getting ready to enter the bunker,” said Robie. “And clean out all the crap.”
“Good to know.”
“It’s not a bad thing for people to do from time to time. Clean out the crap.”
This caused Decker to look at the man. “You never struck me as being a philosopher.”
“Is that what you call it?”
“I don’t know. First thing that popped into my head.”
“I guess I can see that.”
“People often feel the need to give me advice,” said Decker, a bite to his words.
Robie nodded slowly. “I felt the same way, until I realized I had never followed any of that advice, and then suddenly I was in a place I didn’t want to be.”
“And are you out of that place now?”
“Not even close. But just think where I’d be if I hadn’t even considered other possibilities.” A few moments of quiet passed before Robie rose and said, “I’ll leave you to it.”
He headed to the front of the jet.
Decker called after him. “Going to Memorial Bridge after we land?”
“Always.” He glanced back. “Everyone needs a... place, right?”
Chapter 87
Nearly three hours later, the jet touched down in DC and rolled to a stop. After deplaning, the four said their good-byes.
Jamison shook Robie’s and Reel’s hands. “I hope this isn’t the last time we see you.”
“Be careful what you wish for,” said Reel, her eyes twinkling. “We usually only show up when the world is about to end.”
“Well, if it is, I wouldn’t mind you having our backs.”
Decker shook Reel’s hand, then turned to Robie and said, “Enjoy your Memorial Bridge time.”
“And you enjoy wherever you end up going for your ‘quiet time.’ ”
As Decker and Jamison were heading to the terminal, she said, “I don’t think I ever want to go back to North Dakota.”
“Hey, don’t hold it against the state. And Kelly, Shane, and Caroline will have it in tip-top shape in no time.”
She glanced at him. “But I still don’t understand how you could call this case simple. Look at everything you figured out, everything you said back at Liz’s place.”
“But the critical part that allowed me to grab the end of the chain and run with it? That was simple.”
“What do you mean?”
“Greed, Alex, one of the oldest motives in the book. It explains everything Liz did.”
“I think there’s one more thing to add to that, Decker.”
“What’s that?” he said, looking at her in surprise.
“Maybe the oldest motive in the book to hurt someone else.”
“Which is?”
“Love,” she said simply. “Liz’s twisted, terrible love for Caroline. But love all the same.”
Decker let out a long sigh and nodded. “I think that’s the most insightful thing either one of us has said during this case, Alex.”
“High praise coming from you,” she said.
As they entered the terminal Decker said, “Um, my sister invited me to visit her and the kids out in California in a couple of weeks. Stan’s flying out, too.”
“That’s great, Decker. Are you going to go?”
“I haven’t made up my mind.”
She looked at him closely. “Well, I think you should. And I mean it. After everything that just happened, a little family time might do you wonders. I know I’m going to visit my family. I need some hugs and kisses.”
Decker said, “I know that, Alex. I did have a family, you know.”
“You still have a family, Amos,” she shot back.
They took a cab to the condo they shared in southeast DC.
When they got there, Jamison took a shower, changed into sweats, dropped into bed, and fell right asleep.
Decker put his coat back on and went for a walk down near the Anacostia River.
On the other side of town, he figured, Will Robie would be making his way about now to Memorial Bridge and the Potomac to do his brooding.
Decker took a seat on a bench and looked out at the dark flowing waters and the lights beyond.
Now what? as Robie had implied.
He took out his phone and called his sister.
Renee answered on the second ring. “My God, Amos, Stan called and told me some of what happened. It’s a miracle you’re all still alive.”
“Yeah, I guess it is.”
“I suppose this sort of thing happens to you a lot.”
“Maybe more than most. Look, about coming to see you and the kids?”
“Rest assured, we’ll give you your own space. No suffocating you with love and affection on my watch,” she added in a lighthearted tone. When she next spoke, her voice, though, had lost its frivolity. “Will... will you come?”
He didn’t answer right away. “I’m not sure, Renee. I’ll have to let you know.”
“O-okay.” Her tone of disappointment bounded over the ether and hit Decker as hard as anyone ever had on the football field.
“There’s just a lot going on.”
“I know. And, Amos, regardless of whether you come or not?”
“Yeah?”
“You will always be loved, little brother.”
“I’m not sure I deserve that, Renee.”
“Well, I think you’ve earned it. And coming from your sister, I hope you know how big a deal that is.”
She clicked off and he rose and started walking. Perhaps in search of his Memorial Bridge. Perhaps in search of something... anything else. And terrified that he would never be able to find it, because maybe it did not exist for someone like him.