Force nodded. “Dr. Jethro Hanson, please meet my agents, Malcolm West and Clarence Wolfe.”
Malcolm nodded, but Wolfe decided to remain still. If this guy was a professor, Wolfe was a perfume salesperson. “Doctor in what?” Wolfe asked. They could actually use a medical doctor around if he was an M.D.
Hanson unslung his bag and set it against the wall. “Philosophy with emphases in ethics, moral theory, decision, game, and rational choice theories.”
“As well as doctorates in psychology, criminology, and last I heard, string theory,” Force drawled.
“One does hate to brag.” Hanson straightened back up. “You still tilting at windmills, Force?”
Angus sighed. “I wish.”
The glimmer in Hanson’s eyes faded. “I can’t go down that road with you again, mate. It leads nowhere.” The accent rolled out smoothly, but his voice roughened.
“Lassiter is alive,” Force said, leaning against his doorjamb.
“Ah.” Wolfe cut Malcolm a look. So the guy was there to help Force chase the elusive, possibly dead, maybe alive serial killer who, as far as they knew, hadn’t killed anybody since Force had shot him dead. Well, mostly dead. Maybe all the way dead. Wolfe lifted his latte and downed the rest of the contents, keeping everyone in sight.
“You shot and killed Lassiter.” Hanson’s face softened. “You have no proof that he’s alive or you would’ve contacted me with more than a text.”
Roscoe snorted awake, rolled to the side, and bounded halfheartedly toward Hanson.
Hanson crouched down and petted the animal with both hands on the sides of his furry face, looking into his eyes. “Ah, chap. You’ve been into the bottle again, eh? Haven’t you learned your lesson yet?”
Roscoe panted and wagged his tail.
Wolfe shut his drawer in unison with Malcolm. No need to shoot the guy if Roscoe liked him.
Heels clip-clopped, and Nari emerged from her office. A wide smile curved her lips, and she moved toward the elevator. “Jethro. How nice to see you.”
Jethro stood and hugged Nari, his hold visibly gentle. “What in the world are you doing in this dive?”
Nari chuckled and leaned back, patting Roscoe on the way. “You know I like adventure.”
“You’ve met?” Force asked, his calm voice giving away everything.
Wolfe bit back a grin. Oh, he wasn’t wading into this one, but it was fun to watch Force hold himself together.
“We consulted on a case,” Nari said, turning again as Dana walked out of the computer room. “Ah, good. Dana, it’s time for our session.”
Dana’s steps hesitated and then her shoulders straightened. “Oh, all right.”
Hanson cocked his head. “Hi. I’m Jethro.”
“Hi.” Her smile was way too cute. “Dana.”
Wolfe set his cup down. The new guy had to go. Definitely.
* * *
Dana settled herself in the one guest chair in the minuscule office, facing Nari across a short desk. A wide picture of an outdoor scene, a pretty lake, took up the entire wall behind the psychologist. “How did you end up with the closet for an office?”
Nari rolled her eyes. “Angus took the only office; the other two spaces are larger case rooms.” She tapped one red nail against her lips. “We do have two interrogation rooms to the left of the elevators, but we’ve needed both a couple of times, so oh well.”
“Kat likes it in here.” Dana nodded at the kitten sprawled across the keyboard, snoring softly.
Nari slid her chair to the side and away from the computer. “How has your first day been?”
“Fine. This morning, I conducted some research and compiled information on a bank robber. I’ll hit the case on securities fraud next. I’m nowhere near as good as Brigid on the computers, but I do have some decent contacts.” Dana crossed her legs and sat back in the chair.
