“I thought you were reassigned?” I asked. “To Los Angeles?”
He nodded. “I report on Monday and thought I’d spend a few days relaxing and deciding what to do. Aiden also demoted me, so I’m looking at all options right now. Maybe it’s time to hang it up.” He frowned. “I don’t know.”
Demoted? “That’s not fair. I’m sorry. I can talk to him?” I shuffled my feet.
Kurt barked out a laugh. “You don’t know him that well, then. Once Devlin makes a decision, that’s it.” Kurt’s gaze was appraising. “You might want to keep that in mind. Screw up once, and you’re out. Don’t fall in love because nobody can meet his standards for long.”
I opened my mouth but couldn’t think of an answer to that statement. “Well, safe travels. I hope everything works out for you.” Looking back at the counter, I could see my lattes and pastries. “Bye, Kurt.”
I fetched the goodies and walked outside and toward Justice Road, my mind spinning. I wasn’t perfect. In fact, I was so far from it that it wasn’t funny. If that’s what Aiden was looking for, he wouldn’t be with me even right now. The thought actually cheered me and put a hop in my step.
Bud did not hop with me. He kept a steady pace, though.
The August sun was warm, but I was ready for autumn. For the changing of the trees and a slight breeze. Upon reaching the police station, I waved at the cop behind the reception desk and made my way to Pierce’s office as Bud went somewhere else in the building. “I brought coffee and scones.” I set both down on his desk and plunked onto a guest chair.
Pierce wore a suit today. A light beige one with a blue shirt and tie.
“Nice duds,” I said.
“I’m testifying in court today.” He tugged on his tie before reaching for his latte. Then he dug into case files at the edge of his desk and unearthed a bright and sparkly yellow file folder. “Here.”
I took the folder. “Where do you keep finding these?”
He took a deep drink of his coffee. “There’s a box in the supply cabinet and they remind me of you. Nobody else around here wants to use them.”
That was fair. I flipped open the folder. “This is Sasha’s autopsy report.” Surely the FBI had wanted to keep a lid on it.
“Yep. Give it to your attorney,” Pierce said. “There was no DNA on her, which helps you, I think.”
That was sweet. Oh, I had no doubt that Pierce would be the first to arrest me if I’d committed a murder, but I liked that he believed in my innocence. “Thanks.” I rifled through the papers. “When will Bev’s be completed?” The killer had somehow carried her through my building to the office, so hopefully, there’d be some DNA.
“Probably not until tomorrow. We’re looking at CCTV around town but haven’t found anything. You should get security cameras for your building as well as your office.” He reached for a pastry. “That Carbine is a pretty decent suspect. His rap sheet is on the bottom page.”
I read quickly. “Wow. Assault, battery, assault with a deadly weapon, drug paraphernalia and petty theft. The guy should be in jail.”
“Yep.” Pierce ate a huckleberry scone and sighed in pleasure. “While you’re here, I wanted your thoughts on how somebody got a body into your office. There was no sign of forced entry.”
“I don’t know. The building is old, so there are probably plenty of keys around. Clark already called a locksmith, and we’re changing all the locks and looking into a security system. Those matters were on the to-do list anyway, but this pushes them to the top.” I closed the file folder and reached for my latte. “Have you had any luck finding Kay, who was the other woman in the car wreck? She has to be in danger, too.”
“We have a BOLO out, but nothing has come in yet.” Pierce finished the scone. “None of this makes sense. It’s almost as if somebody is just messing with you or Devlin.”
“Maybe Barensky knows Aiden is with the ATF.” I eyed a scone but didn’t really need the calories.
Pierce pushed sugar off his desk into the garbage can. “I agree. But Devlin and the FBI agents investigating the murder have profiled Barensky, and they don’t think it’s him. He would’ve included fire or an explosive in the kills. I’m not so sure.”
“Not a fan of profiling?” Okay. One scone wouldn’t hurt me. I gingerly took one out of the bag.
“Not really. I’m more a fan of going with my gut.” Pierce drank more coffee. “Either way, keep your detail with you. The shift changes every twenty-four hours, so Bud is off for now.”
I sat back to eat my scone. “But Bud will be back tomorrow?”
Pierce set down his cup. “Yeah. Why?”
“Did you know he was married?” I licked sugar off my finger.
“Why would I know that?” Pierce checked his watch and then his phone rang. “Pierce,” he answered. “Okay. Thanks.” He replaced the handle in the cradle. “I had Krissy Walker brought up, and you can talk to her in Interrogation Room Two. She’s in there now.”
“Thanks.” I stood with my latte in my hand. “I owe you one.”
