Alex Kava Bundle - Alex Kava [387]
“Are you okay? You look like you didn’t get much sleep.”
This time she casually shifted away from Gwen’s touch. “I’m fine.” There went the eyes—someplace, anyplace, as long as they could no longer be scrutinized.
“You didn’t return my call last night,” Gwen said, treating it like no big deal and trying to keep the concern from her voice.
“Harvey and I didn’t get back from our run until late.”
“Jesus! Maggie, I wish you wouldn’t go out running that late at night.”
“It’s not like I was alone.” She started back down the hall. “Come on, Cunningham’s waiting.
“I figured as much. I can feel him frowning at me through the walls.”
As they walked, Gwen found herself absently patting at her hair, which felt in place, and smoothing her skirt, which began the day without a single wrinkle, but after an hour-long drive…She caught Maggie watching her.
“You look sensational as always,” Maggie told her.
“Hey, it’s not every day I meet a United States senator.”
“Oh, right,” Maggie said with just enough sarcasm for Gwen to smile.
Of course, Maggie wouldn’t let her get away with a comment like that. Gwen’s past and present clients included enough embassy, White House and congressional members to start her own political caucus. Okay, so her friend was not getting enough sleep. Probably still upset about her fallen colleague—a certain amount of depression could develop from such a circumstance. But that Maggie was feeling up to some repartee was a good sign. Maybe Gwen had been worried for no reason.
Two blue-polo-shirt academy recruits held a set of doors open for them. Gwen smiled and thanked them. Maggie only nodded. They started down one of the walkways. Gwen knew they had a long way to go. What would it hurt to make another attempt at finding out if Maggie was, indeed, okay?
“How did breakfast go with your mom yesterday?”
“Fine.”
Too short, too easy. This was it. She knew it.
“It was fine? Really?”
“We didn’t actually have breakfast.”
A group of law enforcement officers in green polo shirts and khakis moved to the side of the walkway and let the two women pass. Used to living in the hustle and bustle of the District, Gwen always felt the treatment she received at Quantico was over the top on the polite-and-courteous Richter scale. Maggie waited for her at the next door before they started down another hallway.
“Let me guess,” Gwen continued as though there had been no interruption, “she didn’t show up.”
“No, she showed up. Boy, did she show up. But I had to leave early. For this case, as a matter of fact.”
Gwen felt that annoying maternal instinct begin to stir—the one that only reared its ugly head when she was feeling protective of her friend. She didn’t dare ask the question for fear she’d get the answer she expected. She asked, anyway. “What do you mean, boy, did she show up? She wasn’t drunk, was she?”
“Can we talk about this later?” Maggie said, then greeted a couple of official-looking men in suits.
Gwen recognized them as other agents. Yes, this probably wasn’t the best place to air the family laundry. They turned a corner and approached another walkway, this one empty. Gwen took advantage of it.
“Yes, we can talk later. But just tell me now what you meant, okay?”
“Jesus! Did anyone ever tell you you’re a pain in the ass?”
“Of course, but you must admit, it’s one of my more endearing qualities.”
She could see Maggie smile, though she kept her attention and her eyes ahead and safely away from Gwen’s.
“She wants us to have Thanksgiving together.”
It was the last thing Gwen expected. When the silence lasted too long, she felt Maggie glance over at her.
“That was sort of my response, too,” Maggie said with another smile.
“Well, you’ve been saying for some time now that she’s trying to change.”
“Yes, her friends and her clothes and her hair. Reverend Everett