However, the news reports also thought Code Blue had killed himself in the bombs he’d set. Because that’s the message Phillip had left them.
One of the forensic team walked over to Jane and Rapp. He had gloves on and held the envelope that had been sitting on Phillip.
“Jane Cannon? This is for you. You can look at it over there.” He nodded to a table, beside which more tech and lab equipment had been staged.
She headed over with Rapp, careful to stay clear of everyone still processing the scene. It would take months to get everything back from Quantico.
After donning the gloves one of the techs handed her, she opened the flap of the envelope and pulled out a handwritten letter.
In black ink, Phillip had written the following, which Jane read out loud, “I only ever wanted to help. And so I end my life by helping one final time. These were not good people, Jane. Not like your Agent Rapp, Agent Holtz, and Diego Rivera. And you, Jane. You stand for honesty and integrity. I’m glad we’re on the same side.”
“Not quite,” Rapp murmured, reading over her shoulder.
Jane continued. “I know what I said before. But I’ve changed my mind. Youcanstop what’s coming. There’salwaystoo much at stake…but you can win when you have the courage and commitment of brave soldiers and Marines to win the war.” Jane paused and glanced at Rapp. “War? What war?”
“Maybe the war on crime. Or the war on violence. I’m curious about how he knew to come here. Did he bring everyone with him? How did he convince them to meet him here? Or did he maybe kill them elsewhere and stage this scene?”
A nearby detective overheard and commented, “No. He shot them here. We got a call an hour ago about shots fired. But we were dealing with some crazy who lit himself on fire down near the market. By the time we got here, everything was silent and locked up tight. When we got in, we found it like this.”
Jane frowned. “How did Phillip know about our investigation?”
“My bet is Rob Williams let it slip at some point, and Phillip, acting like the arm of justice, decided to make peace with the way he went out. We’ll know more when all this is processed, I’m sure.”
As she and Rapp drove away, she asked him, “Will we know more? The task force is done.”
“Gambol will likely assign the cleanup files to someone in Seattle. Maybe even you.”
“If I’m unlucky.”
They both smiled.
“Do you think this is done then?” Jane couldn’t have said why, but she felt as if they had left something unfinished. And it bothered her.
“I hope so. It’s done for me at least. I’m reinstated and back with my unit.”
“I don’t suppose you’ll tell me what you got suspended for.”
Rapp looked serious when he answered, “I could, but then I’d have to kill you.”
She just stared back at him. “Like I haven’t heard thata milliontimes before.” A favorite tease Hal, her family—all of them, including Raine—continued to use on a daily basis.
He chuckled. “But it’s true. Suffice it to say the guilty has been found out. I’m clean and mean and ready to?—”
“Just stop. Please. Keep your black ops-ness to yourself.”
“Ha. You know, there’s nothing stopping you from joining Team Ten. I guarantee your uncle would be giddy to have you.”
“Not for me. I’m more a rules kind of gal. Besides, I like my job.”
He nodded. “And you’re good at it, even if you do bristle overmuch with authority.”
“I do not.”
“Case in point.”
Jane huffed. “Whatever, Rapp.”
He grinned but didn’t answer.
