Power Play

When Nicholas shook Savich’s hand, he said, “Looks like I didn’t wash out.”

“I’d say you nailed the landing,” Savich said. “I rather thought you would. Congratulations, Nick.”

“You’ll make a fine cowboy,” Davis told him, and shook his hand. One of Nicholas’s eyebrows shot up, and Savich laughed. “You’ll soon learn what he means.”

Nicholas kissed Sherlock’s cheek. “Bummer, as you Yanks say, but I wasn’t the top shooter, not nearly as good as you.”

Sean stuck out his hand and patted Nicholas’s arm. “That’s all right, Nicholas, my papa says Mama can shoot out the heel of a shoe.” He paused for a moment, then spit it out. “Papa said he didn’t want me to yell it out so I couldn’t, but he won the top smart award, too.”

Nicholas smiled down at the little boy. “Would you like to win it, too, one day?”

Sean looked at his father, looked oddly adult in that moment, and announced, “I’ll try.”

Nicholas stilled, cocked his head to one side, and turned slowly toward Special Agent Michaela Caine, his future partner at the New York Field Office, the agent who’d been at his side for the incredible three days chasing across Europe after the Koh-i-Noor diamond. Sherlock smiled. Mike was smart, funny, and, best of all, she was a rock.

Nicholas was staring at her as if he’d never seen her before. Fact was, Sherlock thought, she looked gorgeous, her hair pulled back from her face with two gold clips, showing her fine cheekbones. She was conservatively dressed in an elegant dark blue suit, a stylish white blouse, heels on her feet that brought her nearly to Nicholas’s eye level. Her eyes sparkled and she was wearing a huge smile that included everyone.

“I didn’t want to miss Nicholas’s ceremony, but there was work—” She threw up her hands. “Congratulations, Nicholas. Welcome to the FBI, and, better still, welcome to New York.”

He walked slowly to her, studying her face. He stuck out his hand and she shook it, never looking away. “I heard you managed to snag one of the awards. What was it for? Top lamebrain stunt?”

Nicholas gave a whoop and hugged her. “Hi, partner,” she said, and patted his shoulder.

Sean called out, “I don’t want Nicholas to go to New York, Papa.”

“Don’t worry, Sean,” Sherlock said, patting his hand. “You’ll see Nicholas again, I promise.”