“Of course not!” It never occurred to her that he’d think so. She didn’t want him to think so. So she told him the complete truth. “I didn’t want you to think less of me or have less confidence in me.”
Because she wanted more between them?
“Newsflash. I figured out you were human pretty much from the beginning, Luce. I don’t expect perfection.”
So he had expectations?
“He’s a perp. I have to maintain my position of control at all times when dealing with a perpetrator or risk contaminating the evidence I need. If I let him get to me and I make a mistake, things could be thrown out of court and he could walk.”
“I’ve seen you in action, Hayes. I’m guessing Sloan has no idea that he has any effect on you at all.”
Maybe.
“Did Smith issue a formal reprimand?”
“No. I apologized for making the visit. I shouldn’t have gone.”
“And you’d do it again in a heartbeat.”
“Wouldn’t you?”
“Of course.”
Relaxing on the bench, her back against the brick wall, Lucy started to feel a little hungry for the first time since Lionel had called for her.
“Tell me how it went down with him.”
She needed Ramsey and he was there.
“I didn’t ask questions.”
“Didn’t give him the chance to tell you to go to hell?”
“It started out with him wearing the slimy smile.” Ramsey had been with her during the first meeting between her and Sloan. She’d managed to hold it together amazingly well that time.
But that was before she witnessed the effect that seeing the rapist had had on her mother.
At the time of that first meeting, Wakerby’s place in her life had been purely cognitive, professional. By the second visit, the reality of what he’d done to her family had taken hold.
“And?” Ramsey’s voice brought her back.
“He wasn’t wearing it by the time I left.”
“You scored.”
“I hope so.”
“When do you plan to go back?”
“Early next week.” Why were hospital walls always white? Like nothing dirty ever went on there. Like white walls could keep filth at bay.
“What are you going to do about Smith?”
“I have his blessing. I just have to keep Amber apprised of my actions.”
“You’ve earned your reputation.”
“Yeah, well, now I have to live up to it.”