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D’Arcy threw back his head and let out a belly laugh “No, Walker,” he said when he finally stopped laughing “That would be a mistake on both our parts You can’t be me, and you shouldn’t even try But you can make the job you That’s all I did when I started That’s all anyone can do” He paused for a ive it a shot?”

Cody took a quick turn around the rooency was over, and nowunexpectedlyhe was being offered the opportunity of a lifetiency The one who had the final authority, but also the crushing responsibility

Could he do it? And even if he could, did he want to do it?

“The agency needs people like you to run it,” D’Arcy stated, as if he sensed Cody’s dilemma “There aren’t many absolutely incorruptible people, but you’re one of them”

Cody s to himselfabout D’Arcy If D’Arcy believed he could do it, how could he turn it down?

Then he ree of the Denver branch, it would be impossible for her to work here, and he couldn’t do that to her She loved both her job and him If he asked her to choose, she’d be torn, but he knew she would choose him He just couldn’t ask that of her Not now Not ever

It was a tough decision, but

“If you’re thinking about Special Agent Jones,” D’Arcy said, reading the play of expressions over Cody’s face, “I have an idea about that”

“How did you know I—” Cody began

“It’s hting his face “Didn’t you know? Why do you think they call me Baker Street behind , “And soon it will be your business to know everything, too”

Cody shook his head firency And even if I could, she’s too daency needs people like her, too”

D’Arcy nodded “With her skills at research and analysis, that’s just what I was thinking But there’s a way around that What if she worked directly for me—” He held up one hand as Cody started to interrupt “Just hear me out, Walker What if she worked directly for me, but on detached statushere in Denver?”

Cody’s heart thudded suddenly, as he realized it just ht work “Permanently?”

“As permanent as I can make it”

He considered the offer froree first,” he said, already knowing in his heart what her ansould be We can have it all, he thought suddenly, wanting nothing more than to see Keira’s expression when he told her, and his smile lit up his face

“Then it’s a done deal” D’Arcy held out his hand, and Cody shook it “Welcome to your new job”

The door to Keira’s hospital rooerly, hoping against hope that this time it was Cody He hadn’t been near her for three days, and she missed him so much it was like a physical acheworse than the one in her chest because there was nothing the nurses could give her to alleviate the pain in her heart A tall blonde walked through the door, and the eager light in Keira’s eyes faded Mandy Callahan

The last ti her dark-haired baby daughter, with her two blond sons at her side Now she was alone, and even ly beautiful than Keira re told why the other wo her job She just wanted

“Ryan’s been like a bear with a sore head,” Mandy said out of the blue “He’syou to protect hihed a little but with a touch of hysterical relief thrown in, and Keira couldn’t help but smile