"I don't know if I need any help."

"Sure sounds like you do."

"You're being stubborn again."

"Determined."

"Let me think about it."

"Don't think too long. There might be more bodies."

"I hope not." And she could see in his eyes that he really meant that.

Lauren smiled at him. She felt certain he'd come around. "How come you're not with the Bureau anymore?"

"To be blunt, I was fired."

"For not solving the cases?"

"That and an evil manager who had it in for me. I couldn't win to save my life. The Bureau canned me and I came north to Boston."

"Why Boston?"

"At the time, I was dating a woman who had family up here. I figured it'd be nice to be closer to her."

"Your relationship didn't work out?"

"It was one of those instances where you like the family more than the person you're supposed to be in love with."

I wouldn't know, thought Lauren. "How did you get into the Boston Police Department?"

"My last friend at the Bureau put in a good word for me. That was five years back. Things are good, but it's not where I pictured myself when I was younger."

"Let me guess: you wanted to head up the FBI."