"Well, then. I'm thinking of doing a roast beef, with roast potatoes, gravy, and all the trimmings. I will go and shop for the ingredients now. We can't take up too much of your time now, sweetheart."
"Not with the FBI waiting to congratulate you," her father emphasized, raising his eyebrows conspiratorially. "Well done, May. I could not be prouder."
They turned and left, leaving May floating on a happy cloud.
And then, the door opened and FBI Senior Special Agent Keith Ross walked in, with Sheriff Jack beside him.
Sheriff Jack gave her a quick grin and a proud nod as the FBI senior executive walked up to her hospital bed.
"Well done, May," he said quietly as she gave him a grin in return, before turning her focus to the FBI exec.
"Deputy Moore, I hope you are feeling better after your ordeal," Agent Ross said.
"I'm fine, thank you, sir" she replied. "Luckily, just minor injuries."
"I wanted to tell you, personally, how impressed I am with you," he said. "Agent Kerry Moore explained to me the thought processes you used to identify the killer, and the steps you took - obviously, I had to be urgently briefed, as I called the prison to get you the interview."
"Thank you for that," May said. "It was very helpful."
"You are the one who should be thanked, for the line of logic that led you there and allowed the police and FBI to save many lives today." He paused. "The way you took on that killer and saved your deputy personifies the kind of capability and braverythat we seek, and applaud, in the FBI. You are a credit to your police department and you should be very proud of what you achieved today."
"Thank you," she said, feeling breathless at the praise.
"I know your superiors will take special note of your excellent work. I will follow up on the investigation personally, and I'm sure that your dedication will be recognized." He smiled at her. "Now, I have to be on my way back to the Virginia head office for a meeting. I hope we'll see each other again soon."
They turned and left the room. The FBI agent peeled off left, clearly heading for the exit, but May was pleased to see that Sheriff Jack turned right. She knew her boss was going straight to Owen's ward, to give him the congratulations and commendations that he deserved.
What an outcome.
May still couldn't believe the events of the past thirty-six hours. She felt as if a whirlwind had come and gone, a tornado that should have caused destruction, but that somehow, had managed to leave her with a sense of motivation and hope.
At least the deaths of the innocent victims had been avenged and their families now had closure, and further deaths had been prevented.
But as she thought back to the rubble and devastation that had littered the building, it gave May a glimpse of insight into another, different challenge she was facing.
Suddenly she had an idea of where that watcher might have been standing on the day that Lauren disappeared.
Tomorrow evening, when she went to her parents for dinner, May decided she would detour there on the way and see if her theory was correct.