Chapter 16: Part 1

Some days being an FBI agent sucked. This was one of those days. His boss had called again. What the hell was he supposed to do? He'd been irresponsible. Baker had been quick to point that out.



He called Sam, not sure why he thought talking to the guy would solve anything, but what the hell, he might as well go through with everything since once he got back in the US he would no longer be an FBI agent.



"Sam here."



"Hey, are you on your way. Yeah, about to leave the coastline and won't have cell signal for a while. You have my satellite phone number?"



"Yeah, I'll call if I need anything."



"Are we doing the right thing? Maybe we should rent a helicopter and get out to the island quick."



"It's an idea. Maybe the right one. Should have thought of it earlier. I'll see what I can do."



"Call me as soon as you make a decision."



Bill's phone beeped. He checked the display and saw that his wife was calling him. "Hey Sam, I have to take this other call. Just follow the plan. I'll get in touch with you later in the day."



Bill hung up on Sam and waited a beat before connecting with his wife. "Shana."



"Where the fuck are you?"



"Nice to here that you're fine. I'm fine too."



"What do you mean, you're fine too. You are a lousy ass-hole."



Bill refused to respond. Shana's words were slurred and her pitch high. She was drunk. Great, just what he needed.



"Did you hear me?"



"Shana, you need to..."



"Don't tell me what to do. You never cared one ounce about me. Always late for my dinner parties or you just never showed up."



He could hear her voice start to warble. That meant that she would be crying soon. He didn't have time for her drunken tirade.



"And you know what else? You were no good in bed."



Bill closed his eyes, blocking out the police station around him. Shana was screaming now. He should hang up. She'd said how she felt. The divorce papers would be filed soon. He'd have to negotiate some sort of settlement with her, the pre-nup spelled out the money issues. She would get very little from him. That probably angered her more than anything.



"Are you listening to me?" Her question pierced the thoughts clouding his mind.



"Where are you?"



"What does it matter to you?"



"Because I do care even–"



"Liar. That's crap. You don't care. You never cared. You should have told me about the money."



"Are you at home?"



"Did you hear me?" Her voice went high and screechy.



"I hear every word you have said. I want to know if you are safe."



"Why? So you can fell good about ignoring me while you go off and save some ass-hole who doesn't give a shit about you?"



"Shana, I do care about you. But–"



"But, but, but. I don't give a shit about your buts anymore. You're a fu–"



"Stop. I'm done with you calling me names. Fine, I've screwed up, but you aren't the same girl I married. You've changed. Changed too much. I'm tired of it. Now listen to me. Are you safe?"



Shana sputtered but said nothing that made any sense on the other end of the line.



"I said, are you safe?"



"Yeah."



"Where are you?"



"Miami."



"Good, go home, stay safe and I'll contact you after I'm done."



"But."



"No more."



He hung up his phone, still surprised that he'd talked that way to her. He'd never been that forceful or rude with Shana before. Not that she didn't need it. She'd crossed the line and made him angry. He should go home. Actually he should never have come down here. His boss was right, he should have allowed the local authorities to handle the case and he would have if Amanda hadn't been one of the missing. She was going to schedule a press conference soon. He wanted to be there for her, but couldn't. The FBI would frown on him playing with Amanda. They'd almost pushed him almost to the point where he didn't care. Didn't care about his job, didn't care about his wife, hell he almost didn't care about his house or money anymore. But he couldn't let it all go. This had to be some sort of melancholy that would let go of him soon.



The stress of this case had gotten to him. The job at the BAU still loomed in front of him, teasing him like a virginal debutant. Like the debutant the BAU job probably wouldn't be anywhere near as good as he dreamed. False advertisement, probably how they maintained their mystique.



If he could only catch someone's eye, the he would be in. But how the hell was he supposed to do that? And did he want to? Shana should leave him. He worked too much and spent far too little time at home with her. He didn't see the point in playing all gooey-gooey lovie dovie. It hadn't done any of his relatives any good to become non-working wealthy. Miserable ass-holes, the entire lot.



He opened his eyes, surprised to find Amanda standing only a few feet from him. The angry scowl turned down her mouth and furrowed her brow. She'd heard.



"Do you always talk to your wife that way?"



"Amanda."



"Don't try to get out of this. I want to know. Do you always talk to her that way?"



He ignored her question, embarrassed about how angry he'd sounded. "How are you? Feeling better?"



"Don't try to change the subject. What the hell were you doing? Isn't she your wife? How can you talk that way to her?"



"It's complicated."



"Really, that's the best you can do?"



"Amanda, I'm trying very hard to be nice to her but–"



"I know, I know. Every man has an excuse as to why he's rude. I thought you were different."



She wheeled around and took off for the door. He didn't want her to get away. Yes, he was a louse for yelling at Shana, but she'd been totally unreasonable. Bill caught up to Amanda and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Please, just listen."



"Bill, you were right earlier. I don't need to be in a relationship with you. I know your marriage is over, but the least you can do is be civil."



She spun around, her face only inches from his. "I can only imagine how you would treat me if we ever had a falling out. Would you yell and scream? Maybe say some cutting remarks. Something about how ugly I am now and nothing like I was before being kidnapped."



His heart squeezed in his chest. He drew her close, wrapping both arms tight around her. She was fragile, that much he knew. Saying anything now would be wrong. He'd blown it but the least he could do was try to offer her some comfort.



Her sobs wracked her body. She'd been through so much, he could imagine how she felt. He hated that he'd caused her more pain. Finding the bastard who'd done his to her had to be his number one priority.

Copyright Sara Thacker 2011