“Let’s sit down,” Conner said, walking into a living area dominated by floor to ceiling bookcases and several comfy looking couches. She sat down and almost groaned. The couch cushions were as soft as down feathers.
Once everyone was settled, Conner got right down to business.
“We know a little of your background, but we need some holes filled in.”
“It would help if I knew what you knew.”
“Of course. Let me preface this by saying I’m truly sorry for everything you’ve been through. No one with your expansive background should have to go into hiding from their own government,”
He wasn’t just saying that. Lila was good at reading people, and he sincerely meant it. “Thank you.”
“Now, Ian told us a little, but he wanted to keep most of this under the radar. Talking on the phone is always dangerous, considering your former employer. So, your parents and brother were killed by a bomb when you were twelve, and then you went to live with your maternal grandmother. When you went to work for The Company, you started to dig into the investigation of their deaths.”
She nodded. “Well, not dig into it officially. I already knew we had a few avenues to follow, but truth was, there wasn’t much at all. Everyone seemed to think it was someone trying to punish my grandmother. But even that was thin. So, I started working my way through my mother’s work.”
“She was the one linking the early crypto to terrorist activity,” Conner said. “Not your father?”
She shook her head. “He dealt with something at a lower level. Well, I think he did cover it, but just for his region.”
Memories of the quiet anger in the house before her parents were murdered always filled her with sadness. As a child, she hadn’t really understood, but now she did to an extent. Certain men had an issue with their partners doing better than they did.
“You are convinced that she was killed for that and your brother and father were just collateral?” Luc asked.
“I think so. It wasn’t someone who was paying attention, because I wasn’t there. Of course, I was running late.”
Luc’s eyes narrowed. “You were late?”
She nodded and saw the implications hit him. Welcome to my life. Someone had wanted her entire family dead, and maybe they were after her now to finish the job because of her poking around.
“Let’s go over your suspects and see what we can garner from that.”
She opened her mouth to explain the situation better, but she heard the front door open. Her heart hammered in her throat, her entire body lighting up with excitement. She didn’t realize how attached she had gotten to Ian until she had been separated from him for just a little over an hour. But when she heard the gait of the person joining them, she knew it wasn’t Ian. Instead, a petite Asian woman stepped into the room.
“Sorry,” she said hurrying forward. “I’m still trying to find my way around this island and got lost on the way over.”
Conner stood. “No worries, Miko. Lila Underwood, this is Miko Andersen. Miko, this is Lila Underwood.”
“You’re new,” Lila said.
Miko’s eyebrows rose. “Just started this week, but mainly as a consultant.”
Lila looked at Conner. “Why would you need the former top profiler at the BAU?”
“I’m impressed,” Conner said.
“Don’t be. I’m sure my story was splashed across the news for months,” Miko said.
Lila looked at the other woman. Dr. Miko Andersen clocked in at just above five feet. She wore her long, thick, dark hair in a chignon at the base of her neck. Makeup was minimal, but with her flawless skin, she wouldn’t need much. She wore a white shirt with small black pin stripes. Her black, cropped pants completed the outfit. Next to her, Lila knew she looked like the hottest of messes.
“Yes, but I read your files and a few of your articles.”
Her eyebrows shot up in surprise and possible admiration. Lila had studied everything she could about the woman’s work. That last fiasco at the FBI wasn’t even worth mentioning.
“Good to know you can hack the FBI.” She sat in one of the remaining chairs across the room.
Lila snorted. “The FBI was a walk in the park for me, but that’s because I worked for The Company.”
“Right,” Miko said with a nod. “I guess we’re going over the case now?”
