“SA Garcia,”SSA Walker was standing in front of the victim board as we discussed the details that were already in the files, as well as what information was missing. Too much. We still needed times, locations, and opportunities the unsub had when the victims were taken. “Start checking every phone record. Find where the last signals took place. After that, we need to see what apps anyone might have been using prior to being taken. Check to see if anyone was on dating sites.”
Garcia grunted as his eyes never left the screen in front of him. “Already working on it, boss.”
With a nod of approval, SSA Walker turned back to the wall, assessing it with his hands folded behind his back. “SA Thomas and SA Hanson, talk to the families again. See if you can get a sense of each victim’s personal life. Were they in relationships or just dating? Dig deep. Ask the hard questions.”
“Yes, Sir,” Thomas and Hanson both said, and I watched as Thomas began writing down the names, addresses, and phone numbers of each person linked to the victims. I knew it was just a starting point. There would be a network of friends, coworkers, and neighbors to talkto until the smallest bit of seemingly unimportant information provided was the one that proved to be the most helpful.
“SA Parker,” he paused, waiting for me to look up at him. I met his eyes, waiting for an assignment, and frowned when instead he said, “I need to speak to you privately. Come with me.”
Clearing my throat, I glanced around the table and tried not to let my embarrassment show. The looks from my team were ones of curiosity, while the one from Detective Morris was a sleazy smirk, as if he knew something was going on that absolutely wasnot. But Detective Nakamura’s expression was carefully blank.
“Excuse me,” I said to the room as I pushed my chair back from the table and stood to follow the team leader out of the conference room. Once we stepped into the busy central office space, SSA Walker glanced around to see eyes in our direction. Seeing all the attention on us, his lips firmed into a line. He then took my arm by the elbow, pulled me to the next door over, and tested the knob. When it turned freely, he pushed the door open and pulled me inside.
As soon as the door closed with a soft click, I stepped away and folded my arms. I rubbed the spot where he’d been holding me as if I could erase the phantom feel of his touch lingering there. “You wanted to talk to me, Sir?” I asked hesitantly.
I watched as he made a sound in the back of his throat and ran a hand through his hair in agitation. Then he dropped his hand and stared at me for a long moment. Just as I started to get nervous at his focused stare and glanced towards the closed door, he finally spoke.
“I don’t think it’s wise to go stay with that detective guy.”
I frowned, my brows drawing together. “May I ask why, Sir?”
He put his hands on his hips. “I don’t like the way those detectives were acting in there. It doesn’t feel safe.”
I shook my head before he was even done speaking. “Perhaps Detective Morris is a bit disgruntled at having the FBI come in, but I didn’t sense any hostility from Detective Nakamura. I really don’t think it would be a problem. Besides, I wouldn’t be stayingwithhim, just on the same farm.”
“Still, I don’t think you should be spending any extra time with him.” He paused, then adjusted his tie. “Look, we can find room for you at the inn. You can sleep in my room.”
I took a step back and held out a hand. “That’s not going to happen, SSA Walker. It would be highly inappropriate.”
He took a step forward, shortening the distance between us again. “I’m not saying we will be sharing a bed,” he paused for a moment, searching my face. When I didn’t give any indication that I was willing to share his bed, he gave me a small grin as if it were a friendly offer and not one that he’d hoped would turn into more. “I’ll sleep on the floor. No inappropriateness.”
I let out a gust of air from my lungs, frustration filling me at his stubbornness. “Again, Sir, it’s inappropriate, regardless. My reputation is on the line here. Sharing a room with my supervisor is career suicide.” I softened my tone, hoping to placate him as I watched his jaw harden with my words. “I can’t be caught in any kind of scandal. I told you before, this job is very important to me. I am sure I’m fine with Detective Nakamura. Besides, the whole team and police force will know where I’m staying. It’s not as if he’d be able to get away with harming me even if he wanted. Which,” I stressed my words, “I am certain he does not.”
SSA Walker let out a frustrated breath. “Fine. But I want you to call me every night when you arrive at the cabin, and before you go to bed, so I know you’re safe.”
I closed my eyes briefly. His protectiveness was over the top. Had he not been showing signs of being jealous, I wouldn’t be so frustrated. His behavior was borderline obsessive, and I was really starting to get wary of being alone with him. I’d hoped after our discussion in the van that he would back off whatever pursuit he’d been hoping for, but it seemed he wasn’t losing any interest at all.
After opening my eyes again, I saw him glaring at the wall, as if he could see through it to the detective. It was ridiculous. “I will text,” I conceded. “I appreciate your concern, but I sincerely doubt the man is any threat.”
“I don’t like the way he was looking at you,” he gritted out.
I almost laughed. SSA Walker had no say in who I dated or even fucked, for that matter. He was acting like a jealous boyfriend. With his overbearing protectiveness, I knew that even if I had been attracted to him at all, I would never have taken the steps to get involved with him. I didn’t need someone who would dictate my actions, nor someone who would be so jealous over a person I hadn’t even spoken a word to.
“Sir, Detective Nakamura is gay and in a serious relationship,” I said softly. “Trust me, the man wasn’t looking at me the way you’re thinking. It was probably just curiosity towards an FBI agent who was profiling his killer.”
He let out a low, sardonic chuckle. “You really don’t see it, do you?” He stared intently at me, and I watched as his eyes darted back and forth between mine. So that was it. SSA Walker was obsessed with my irises. I sighed. It wasn’t the first time someone was attracted to me because of the color of my eyes. For some reason, the uniqueness drew people in and made them forget I was a whole person on the other side of my eyeballs. My sister had the same issue when she was alive. I often wondered if it was what drew her killer to her.
“Are we done here, Sir? We should really get back in the other room.” I glanced out the window and saw that the sky was already beginning to darken. It had been a long day, and I was sure everyone else was as worn out as I was from the travelling and the work we’d done already. “You still haven’t given me my assignment yet. What part of the case would you like me to work on?” I asked as I stepped toward the door.
SSA Walker huffed out a breath, then straightened his tie again, as if trying to reset himself back into his leadership role. “Your profiling skills are remarkable. I’d like you to continue using them to get a good read on each victim. I’d also like you to research this town and the surrounding areas. See if you can find any cases going back forty years involving any women being murdered. If our unsub has a fixation on his dead female relative, I’d like to find a connection.”
I nodded my head in agreement. That was something I could do. Though getting into the heads of the victims was going to be hard, not on my abilities to do so, but on my psyche. It would be like profiling my own sister.
“I’ll get started right away, Sir.”
With that, I turned away and opened the door, ready to get back to work and away from the man who was increasingly becoming a headache.
Chapter 7
