Heath got into his face, enjoying his two extra inches of height. Rage caught in his lungs and squeezed. “There was no way he could get to her, and you know it. I kept her safe and made it so he’d make a mistake and you could catch him, dickhead. She was secure until you moved her.”
Reese shook his head. “We’re the FBI, dumb-ass. We can keep her safe.”
“Like you kept her sister safe?” Heath snapped.
Reese grabbed Heath’s shirt and shoved him against the wall. Heath reacted, breaking the hold and punching Reese full-on in the face. The agent stumbled back and then threw a punch of his own, nailing Heath in the jaw.
Stars exploded behind Heath’s eyes, and he struck out, smashing his fist into Reese’s gut. Releasing the anger felt good.
The agent doubled over with a strangledoof.
Almost casually, Malloy stepped between the two men. “You guys might wanna knock it off. There are cameras, and I’m sure—”
The door at the end of the hallway burst open, and two male agents ran in, both with their guns out.
Reese held up a hand to stop them. “We’re fine,” he panted out, straightening.
The agents looked from him to Heath.
What the hell was he doing? Heath tucked his aching hands into his jeans pockets. His knuckles really needed a break. “Just had a difference of opinion on defense techniques,” he said smoothly.
Reese rolled his eyes. “Yeah. We’re fine, men. Stand down.”
The two agents holstered their guns but didn’t retreat.
Malloy munched contentedly on more peanuts out of his pocket. “If you’d just get Miss Best for us, we’ll be on our way.”
Heath breathed in sharply. He had to see her for himself right now. Needed to make sure she was okay.
Reese snarled. “You’re going to get her killed. Stay here.” He turned on his heel and stomped down the hallway to the closed door, shutting it with a bang. The sound echoed throughout the hallway, and then silence descended.
Heath could barely breathe. Trying to concentrate, he pulled his phone from his back pocket and dialed Denver.
“Did you get her?” Denver asked without preamble.
“I think so. Reese went to get her. At least, he better be on the way.” There was something off with the FBI agent. Maybe it was just losing Loretta, or maybe not. “We need a deeper background on him. I want to know everything he’s ever thought.”
“I already ran him. He’s clean.” Even so, the sound of Denver typing came over the line. “Of course, the killer is good. Really good. I’m on it.” He clicked off.
Malloy lifted both eyebrows. “You’re a suspicious son of a bitch.”
Heath stared grimly at the closed door at the end of the hallway. “You have no idea.”
Malloy’s phone rang a funky tune, and he took it out. “Malloy.” He listened, his gaze narrowing on Heath. His face went cop hard in an instant. “Interesting. All right. Tell him I’ll call him back in a few moments.”
Everything in Heath stilled. He swallowed, edging to the left to free his right hand in case he needed to strike out. “What?”
Malloy leaned back against the wall, somehow still on full alert. “Have you ever heard of a Sheriff Cobb?”
Run. Fucking run.The order rushed through Heath’s head. Had Cobb found their location already? Heath only needed a few hours to evade them. Where was Anya, damn it? Heath swallowed rapidly, forcing his face into merely interested lines. “Sounds vaguely familiar. Why?” His words had come out harsher than he’d wanted.
“Guy called the office and wants to talk to me about you. As soon as possible, actually,” Malloy said.
“Huh.” The world narrowed and dimmed. Heath shook his head. “Why?”
“Dunno. But I’m going to find out.”
The door at the end of the hallway opened.
