“Paige,” she answered, automatically straightening her posture.
“Agent Paige,” Meredith’s deep voice held the controlled urgency she recognized from years of working with him.“I need you and Esmer on a case.DC Metro has a body with some...unusual characteristics that match an unsolved from a couple of days ago.”
“What kind of characteristics?”Riley asked, already mentally shifting gears from mother to FBI agent.
“The victims were posed with origami figures,” Meredith replied.“DC Metro requested our involvement after connecting the cases.The latest scene is fresh—body discovered late last night.”
Riley grabbed a pen, jotting the address Meredith recited on a blank paper from Jilly’s notebook.
“I’ve arranged for Jerry Langham to cover your classes,” Meredith continued.“He’ll be there by nine.”
Riley suppressed a sigh.Ever since she’d expressed her desire to return to fieldwork rather than remain confined to the BAU classroom, Meredith had developed an uncanny knack for discovering cases that—according to him—only she could handle properly.
“We’ll head straight to the scene,” she confirmed.“I’ll pick up Esmer on the way.”
“Good.Homicide Detective Chester Brookman will meet you there.”
The call ended, and Riley immediately dialed Ann Marie Esmer, her young partner whose enthusiasm for the job still hadn’t been dulled by the horrors they routinely encountered.
“Esmer,” Ann Marie answered, her voice bright and alert despite the early hour.
“Ann Marie, it’s Riley.We’ve got a case—possible serial with two victims so far.I’ll pick you up in twenty minutes.”
“I’ll be ready,” Ann Marie replied, her voice taking on the professional crispness she reserved for cases.“Should I bring anything specific?”
“Just the usual kit,” Riley said.“It’s in DC, so we won’t be far from resources if we need them.”
After ending the call, Riley turned to find Jilly watching her.It was an expression Riley had seen too often on both her daughters’ faces—the look that said they understood her work was important but wished it didn’t take her away so frequently.
“You have to go,” Jilly stated rather than asked.
“Yes,” Riley confirmed.“But Gabriela will drive you to school this morning.”She glanced at Gabriela, who nodded in immediate agreement.
“Of course,” Gabriela said firmly.“We will finish breakfast, and then I drive.”
Riley rose, squeezing Jilly’s shoulder again before heading upstairs to change into work clothes.As she pulled on a tailored blazer over her blouse, her thoughts returned to the empty house Jilly and Gabriela would return to after school.With Bill in Maryland and April at college, the house would be less protected than usual.
Downstairs again, Riley found Gabriela alone in the kitchen, loading the dishwasher.
“Jilly is getting her backpack,” Gabriela explained, reading the question in Riley’s eyes.
Riley stepped closer, lowering her voice.“You remember the code for the safe?”
Gabriela’s expression hardened slightly, a steely resolve settling over her usually warm features.“Yes.Four-five-nine-two.I remember.”
Their eyes met in a moment of silent understanding.Two days ago, Riley had transferred April’s Ruger SR22 pistol to Gabriela’s care.The small gun, originally purchased for April but confiscated after a negligent discharge incident, now resided in a compact safe in Gabriela’s downstairs quarters.Riley had taken Gabriela to Smith Firearms for training, surprised and then impressed by the housekeeper’s natural aptitude with the weapon.
“I pray you never need it,” Riley said softly.
“But it is there if I do,” Gabriela finished with quiet assurance.
They hadn’t told Jilly about the arrangement.The teenager had enough to worry about without knowing that her adoptive mother and housekeeper were preparing for the possibility of an armed intruder.But the threat of Leo Dillard lingered too prominently in Riley’s mind to ignore basic precautions.
“I’ll have my phone on,” Riley said, gathering her keys and badge from the counter.“Call me if anything seems off.Anything at all.”
“We will be fine,” Gabriela assured her, the certainty in her voice bolstering Riley’s confidence.“You go catch the bad guy.”
Riley took comfort in knowing that Gabriela—steady, dependable Gabriela—was more than just their housekeeper.She was their protector too, with a mama bear’s fierce determination and now, the means to back it up if necessary.
