Already Taken (Laura Frost FBI)

“Then you have to work with what you’ve got,” Chris said. “It’s not ideal, and it might take longer than you’re used to. But so long as you’re still moving forward, it’s all progress, right?”

“It’s just not fast enough,” she said. “If I get this wrong, people can end up dead!”

“I’ve been there,” Chris said, with some amusement in his voice.

Of course.

Now Laura felt like an idiot.

How could she have forgotten that she was talking to a cardiologist? Out of all the people she’d ever met who weren’t also in law enforcement, he was probably the person who could understand what she was going through the most clearly. The responsibility of it.

“Sorry,” she said. “I’m just… feeling useless.”

“You’re far from useless,” Chris said. She could hear his warm smile in his voice. There was a faint clicking in the background, and she could picture him stirring a spoon around in his coffee. It was a picture that looked kind of like home. “If I was a criminal, I’d be terrified to hear you were on the case. You’re going to get them. You always do. Just trust your instincts.”

He was right. She did always get them.

He just didn’t know that she had more than mere instincts to rely on.

“Thanks, Chris,” she said, stifling a yawn.

“And get some rest, too,” he added with a chuckle. “You must be exhausted, after yesterday.”

Had it only been yesterday? It already felt like it had all happened a year ago. “Right,” Laura said. “I’ll, um. I’ll let you know when I’m back in the state.”

“I hope it’s in time for the girls’ day together this weekend,” he said. “Good luck, Laura. Not that you need it. And goodnight.”

“Goodnight,” she said, with a faint smile warming her face.

Food, to refuel her body. Sleep, to refuel her brain. Then up again first thing and back at it.

They would get this guy yet. She knew it. And her instincts never let her down.