Free Guarding Light by Cate Mckoy

it was crazy and he would never admit it to anyone. Pushing his wishful thinking aside, he quickly finished his work. Obediently nooked the meal Tasha left for him and gulped it down and left for home.
       He knew just from the day he had he would need some help falling asleep. He stopped at the Mobil on the Run bought a six pack, driving home he prayed with the FBI arriving, tomorrow would be a better day.
     
    ****
     
       Catlyn Lyte stood over the bathroom sink, staring at her reflection in the mirror. She stared for several long minutes. Sometimes she saw the little girl that had been lost in 1988. Other times she saw exactly what she was, a thirty-nine year old, overworked, overtired, civil servant.
       "What do you think you are gonna see by staring at yourself like that?" Jose Sanchez asked from the doorway.
       Catlyn caught his eye in the mirror. "Nothing."
       "Well, you're staring like you see a ghost or something." He came into the bathroom and sat on the toilet lid. "Getting antsy about returning home?" Jose put quotes in the air with his fingers.
       Catlyn titled her head, considering Jose's question. "No, not antsy."
       "Then what?" he persisted.
       Catlyn knew Jose would annoy her until she gave him something real. His tenacity was part of what made him one damn fine lawman. "I am just not looking forward to it that's all."
       She turned away from the mirror and went into the room and lay down on the bed. Indicating the hotel's open connecting door she said. "Is there a reason for this visit?"
       "Don't get pissy with me. I came to offer you some of the pizza I ordered."
       "I am not pissy."
       Jose sat on the end of the bed, his tone serious. "Yes you are. I am betting it has something to do with your hometown. In all the years I've known you, you have never visited. Why?"
       "I don't want any pizza, thanks." Her tone and look were dismissive.
       Jose nodded, getting off the bed, heading to the connecting door between the two rooms. "See, pissy."
       Jose shut the door. Catlyn reached for the remote, knowing she would get no sleep tonight. Tomorrow she was meeting with one of her betrayers. In twenty-five years there wasn't a day she hadn't thought of those who had destroyed her innocence. Tomorrow she would be meeting with the person whose betrayal had hurt the most. Jack Anthony Gard, Chief of Detectives, city of Newburgh, NY.
     
    ****
     
    Tasha entered Jack's office carrying a steaming mug of coffee. "Morning, Chief."
    Jack looked up from his computer. "Morning."
       "Did you eat breakfast?" Tasha set the coffee down in front of him.
       "Tasha, could you stop with the nagging wife routine?" He sipped at the coffee. Perfect, as always.
       "Boy, if I was your wife I'd kick your ass. My man wouldn't be working eighteen hour days." She smiled wide. "I'd keep you too busy in bed."
       Since the first day they met Tasha was able to make him blush and still was one of only two women who could make him blush. "Stop, go type something and send in the FBI guys as soon as they get here."
       About an hour later Jack was going over the latest preliminary M.E. report on the young girl from last night. Her cause of death was like all the others, exsanguination. After raping and torturing these women, the animal had let them bleed out. They needed to capture this psycho before anymore citizens were killed. He was about to go to the 'murder room' where all the pertinent information was tagged on the case when his phone beeped. He pushed a button. "Yeah, Tash?"
       "Uh, Jack the FBI is here…"
       "So what are you waiting for? I told you to send them right in."
       "But, uh, Jack…"
       "Tash, just send them in." He disconnected, stood and put his suit jacket back on that he had taken off earlier. He straightened his tie as his office door opened. Tasha hurried over blocking Jack's view of the agents that entered the room.
       "Jack,