Page 42 of Long Past Deadly

But girlfriend and partner weren’t the same thing, and there was the difference. Trust was best built slowly. Especially in both of his worlds, work and private.

He went to his desk, noted the scattered messages on the mahogany surface, and opted to shut off the business for a few minutes. Life never slowed down, and he liked it that way, but personal and professional were blending like eggs under a whisk. Usual workload for QM, but what was unusual – taking on an active FBI agent and being able to make her a viable partner.

Once they resolved the friction, they were meshing well. Had the friction been him? Or was he starting to understand her? Because he still was only hitting a shallow level, even with her confiding her past.

There were volumes of things she’d left out of her story.

Did he blame her? No.

But it bothered him anyway. If he had to listen to more than the sanitized version she’d already shared, he would have morphed into an avenging warrior. He was currently struggling with a shitload of fury over what happened to her and was teetering on the verge of grabbing every weapon at his disposal to tear this city apart – searching for both men.

But he couldn’t explore deeper than she would allow. She had to decide and take the steps. All he could do was be there. Trust was a bitch. Hard to establish and too easy to lose.

Voices interrupted his thought process. He’d forgotten to close his office door. Cait tore through the doorway in magenta scrubs and her white jacket with her hair in a messy bun. She didn’t usually leave the hospital in her scrubs. Her face was sheet-white, and her wide blue eyes were stressed with grief.

He rounded his desk and grabbed for her, pulling her close. “What happened? Hunt? Delaney?”

She shook her head. “Hunt’s fine. Delaney, too. In recovery.” She pushed a hand against her forehead and shut her eyes.

Mackey came through the door, followed on his heels by Elizabeth.

“Celissa said…” Elizabeth’s voice trailed off. “What happened?”

Mackey came to his side, and the two men bracketed Cait. Once a few months ago, Cait had gotten a devastating call from Hunt. Not for the first time. They’d bracketed her then just like now, and the positioning was a horrible reminder.

Harrison hurried into the room. “What happened?”

Mackey bent to her. “Cait? Are you hurt?”

“No.” She straightened, but the tears in her eyes belied her composure. “Baxter’s girlfriend came to visit me at the hospital this morning.”

“I didn’t know he had one.” Quaid rubbed her back. “She wasn’t at the funeral, so where was she?”

Cait swallowed, trying to settle. “She hadn’t been told he died. They had broken up. I had to tell her. Elizabeth, Hunt’s on his way. Can you tell Celissa to bring him in.”

“Sure, honey.” Elizabeth stroked her hair, then quickly called the front desk.

Baxter’s death was a sensitive subject for all of them. Two months ago, they’d struggled through the loss on a classified mission and spent those difficult weeks trying to support his mother and Hunt’s team. Robert Baxter had been well-known, personable, smart, and a skilled SEAL. Honestly, Quaid had hoped to steal him off Hunt’s team for QM, but had never openly asked. Elizabeth and Bess Baxter were good friends.

Harrison moved forward. “What did she want, Cait?” The man’s face was hard and determined.

“She didn’t want anything, Harry, except to talk to Robert.” She drew a deep breath. “She’s pregnant. Four months.”

Quaid froze, thoughts tumbling.

Mackey swore.

Harry frowned, staying silent at the answer.

“Oh, God.” Elizabeth’s cry made Quaid pull her to his side. “Oh, poor Bess. We need to tell her.” Tears flashed in his aunt’s eyes, and he knew exactly what she was thinking. She’d be delirious over a baby from Wylie. Instead, she had nothing left.

“Is there any confirmation it’s really his?” Harrison’s pragmatic tone pierced the room.

Cait drew a shaky breath. “I didn’t even tackle that with her. I have to talk to Hunt about all this first. It’s his decision. Robert was his team member, and the Navy will have something to say about it.”

“Definitely,” Harry growled.

“How did she find you?” Mackey’s skepticism was as identifiable as Harrison’s.