Zeller shrugged. If he recognized Kingston’s name, he didn’t show any signs of it. Of course, he could be faking his reaction, but Jack hoped that it meant Zeller hadn’t extended his “keeping tabs” to background checks like the ones Jack and Teagan had made. If Zeller was clean, Jack didn’t mind the marshal knowing what they were up to, but the jury was still out on whether or not Zeller was dirty.
“Kingston was one of Eric’s admirers,” Jack went on a moment later.
Now Zeller’s eyes widened and he cursed. “How the hell did he get the address?”
“To be determined. Kellan is questioning him now.”
Zeller belted out more profanity. “The marshals should be doing that. A breach of security at a WITSEC house is our jurisdiction.”
“Yeah, but the attack happened on Kellan’s turf,” Jack quickly reminded him. “Three counts of attempted murder trumps a trespassing charge. Plus, Kingston didn’t try to break into the house. He just showed up on the security feed and then left.”
Of course, Kingston had perhaps left so he’d be in position to fire those shots at Caroline, Lucille and him, but that was only speculation. Maybe Kellan was getting something from Kingston that would qualify as proof so they could arrest the man.
Zeller checked his watch. “I have to leave and help with a prisoner transport,” he grumbled. “But I want to know if Kingston gives you anything.”
Jack just lifted an eyebrow and waited for Zeller to tell him why he had a need for that kind of information.
“Caroline’s attack could be linked to Nicola Gunderson’s murder.” Zeller ground out the words, clearly not pleased that he was having to explain himself. “Nicola’s killer was never caught, and I want to clear the case along with finding Skylar.”
Jack wasn’t ruling out that all of those events could be connected, but some of the pieces didn’t have obvious fits. Kingston, for one. There was nothing to prove he was involved in the sex trafficking. For that matter, Caroline wasn’t connected to it, either. Unless, of course, all of this went back to Eric. Maybe Eric had been working with the sex trafficker, and now the person or people behind that wanted to tie up loose ends. If someone thought Caroline was a loose end, that would be motive for the attack.
Zeller checked his watch again and moved as if to leave, but then he stopped and looked at Caroline. “Did you really get your memory back?”
Jack couldn’t tell if that was a good guess or if Zeller had heard that from Teagan.
“Some of it,” Caroline said.
As answers went, it was a darn good one. Evasive but also probing, because Jack was pretty sure Caroline was studying Zeller to gauge his reaction. However, Zeller didn’t give them a chance to study much of anything. He turned away, heading for the door.
“Good,” Zeller told her from over his shoulder. “I’ll keep you both posted if I find out anything more about Lily.”
Caroline and Jack stood there and watched as he left. “What do you think Zeller really wanted?” she asked.
Despite his bone-weary fatigue and frustration, Jack nearly smiled. He’d forgotten just how sharp Caroline could be and how she tended to think like a cop.
Or a criminal.
“I’m not sure,” Jack said, “but it felt like a fishing expedition with some mud throwing for good measure. Don’t worry. I don’t trust him.”
The slight sound she made seemed to be approval, but when she dodged his gaze, Jack stepped in front of her, forcing eye contact. Not very smart, considering the last time he’d done that they’d ended up kissing, but he wanted to see what was going on in the depths of her cool green eyes.
Plenty was going on.
Like him, she was tired and a little unsteady. Riled, too. She’d been through so much already and didn’t deserve another attempt to murder her. Worse, Jack couldn’t guarantee her that there wouldn’t be another attack. Which was why he had to take precautions: losing her again wasn’t an option.
He hadn’t meant for his gaze to stay locked with hers. Also hadn’t meant for the regret about the attack and then the heat to creep into his expression. Of course, with Caroline there was always heat, so it was hard not to have it playing into things. Impossible for her not to pick up on it, either.
“I can’t kiss you again,” she insisted. Then she huffed. “Well, I could, but I’m asking you to back off. I need room to breathe. Time to think.”
Jack immediately stepped back, giving her that space and nearly smiling again when it seemed as if she was disappointed that another kiss hadn’t happened. But she was right. They definitely needed some thinking time on this. Better yet, this called for some concentration coupled with plenty of detective work.
He scrubbed his hand over his face, dragged in a breath and started laying out some things. “Kellan should have enough probable cause on Kingston to get a look at his financials. That’s a start. Also, I can arrange to have Kingston’s friends interviewed just to see how deep his obsession with Eric went.”
Caroline nodded. “I can help. Not by hacking into Kingston’s bank records,” she quickly added when he scowled at her. “But I can call the various research assistants that Gemma and I worked with and see if they remember anyone other than Kingston coming in with Eric. It’s possible Kingston had some help if he put this attack together.”
True, and searching for that might help Caroline keep her mind off the flashbacks and the panic attacks.
“What about Zeller?” she asked. “Is there any chance you can get into his financials?”
