They drove across the parking lot, and he surveyed the dismal park to the left of the seventies-style building. For a short time the place had meant something to him. They’d put away some dangerous criminals from this building, and it was a slap in the balls for Lassiter to drop a body there.
Crime scene tape cordoned off the building and several patrol cars were parked with their lights swirling. Techs searched the parking lot on the other side, and one guy was visible in the park.
“You stay with us,” Tate said.
“Right.” Angus exited the vehicle and looked around. The entire area felt deserted. He turned and ducked under the crime scene tape before walking into the building he’d entered thousands of times. “The elevator is a little sketchy,” he warned them.
Buckle rolled her eyes, but when the cab jerked and hitched on descent, she planted a hand against the wall. Once they finally hit the bottom and bounced, she was the first out of the elevator. Her sigh of relief was palpable.
Angus looked at the techs fingerprinting the entire room. “He wouldn’t have left any evidence. You know that, Tate.” Angus partially turned to face somebody he’d thought was a friend. “You also know that the feds are going to take this case if you don’t solve it, and quick. I can help you.”
Buckle brushed by him, careful where she stepped. “Don’t a lot of killers try to insert themselves into investigations of their crimes?”
“Yes,” Angus answered before Tate could.
“This way,” a uniformed officer said, gesturing them toward what used to be the computer room.
Angus hid his relief that the victim hadn’t been left in his office, where he’d spent many a night. He strode across the bullpen and looked into the computer room, where the doctor had been dumped on the eastern counter, her feet bound and her heart missing. Her eyes were closed and her blond hair hung off the side of the counter, almost to the floor.
“Jesus,” Tate said, taking in the scene.
A tech handed over a note already secured in a plastic bag.
Tate turned and held it up so they both could read it.
Dearest Angus,
This one was so much more satisfying, and I can only surmise it’s because we’re both engaged again. How I have missed you. From what I’ve been able to glean, you’ve missed me as well. To think that you were wallowing away with alcohol in the middle of Kentucky without me. I can’t tell you what that means to me. Who would’ve thought that we’d both survive the night we shot to kill? It’s kismet, my very good friend. Until next time.
Yours,
Henry
PS The night grows tired, the energy unleashed upon this moment in time that cannot last. A vision of the abyss, drawing me in, only her face halting the time that must occur in the game of the gods.
Tate crossed his arms. “How does this killer know you were drinking yourself to death in Kentucky?”
“That’s a damn good question,” Angus said. He had to go with trust here. “I think somebody in either the FBI or the HDD has helped Lassiter somehow.”
Tate rolled his eyes. “Sorry, buddy. I don’t see that.”
Buckle excused herself to take a phone call and immediately returned. “Angus Force? You’re under arrest for the murder of Dr. Emily Shelman. Turn around and place your hands at your back.”
Tate frowned. “What are you doing?”
“We have the results from the security tapes that were taken from the doctor’s apartment building.” Buckle smiled. “Guess who broke down her door yesterday?”
Angus sighed. Well, shit.
Chapter Thirty-Three
A bullet winged by Nari’s head and she ducked, plowing into the man dressed all in black. “Run, Opal!” She knocked the man into the door, and he aimed an elbow down on her shoulder, grabbing on and dragging her toward the door.
Pain ripped down to her ribs and she shot up, hitting his chin with the top of her head. Then she grabbed for the gun. He fired several times, and crystal shattered. He fired again, and Opal screamed before the window was blown out. Nari swung wildly, hitting him in the wrist.
The gun flew across the room and smashed into the wall. He tried to snag her again, lifting her off the ground.
“Get out of here,” Nari ordered Opal, kicking him in the knee so he’d drop her. She landed hard and kept her body between the attacker and the administrator. “You have to go. Now.”
