Cartwright joined Evan and let out a low whistle. “Never expected to find this. Not in a million years.”
“Yeah, me neither.” Evan ran his gaze over the space in front of him, his heart sinking. “But it looks like the terrorist threat is real. Very real and more sophisticated than we could’ve ever imagined.”
CHAPTER 2
“C’MON.”Mack took hold of Kiley’s arm and lifted her out of the fog swirling over the pavement. “There’s nothing you can do for Firuzeh here.”
“No. You’re right. I already failed her.” Tears pricked Kiley’s eyes, and she swallowed them down. She wanted to lean into Mack for a hug. He’d give her one. He was this teddy bear of a man underneath his muscular, fierce protector exterior and a very good friend. But she would never break down in front of him or the rest of her team. Never.
For starters, she was a female in law enforcement with an information technology concentration. Both male fields, and to top it off, at only five-foot-seven, many of the men in her field towered over her. And growing up a geek, she was pretty introverted. She didn’t need being a crybaby added to the list.
She pulled back her shoulders and marched toward Sean’s car, where the other agent on their team waited with the responding detective. At six-foot-three, Sean was a head taller than Detective Lancaster and a few inches taller than Mack.
Sean ran a hand through his rich chocolate-colored hair, cut short on the sides and longer on top, leaving a bit of a curl. He caught her gaze with his dark brown, nearly black piercing eyes and transmitted his sympathy. She responded with a quick nod.
“I’m assuming Agent Dawson is free to go,” Sean said to Lancaster, who had the intense look of a lawman.
Lancaster lifted his sagging shoulders in his rumpled graysuit coat worn over a white shirt, the knot of his tie hanging loose on his chest. “You can go if you promise to stop by in the morning to sign an official statement.”
“I don’t really have anything to add to what I told you. I didn’t see the shooter or shooters, and the shots came from the south, taking Firuzeh out instantly.”
“You may remember something else by tomorrow.” Lancaster handed her a business card.
Mack took it. Normally she’d protest his stepping in on her behalf, but not when her hands were covered in dried blood. She gave him a nod of thanks, and he waved it off to open the passenger door of Sean’s SUV.
She slid onto the leather seat and noticed the warm scent of vanilla that seemed at odds with the night, but Sean kept his SUV spotless, an air freshener always present. As she lifted her legs with bloody knees into the vehicle, she stared down at Mack’s worn cowboy boots. Something about a familiar sight eased her angst a bit. He slammed the door, quickly erasing any relief she’d gained.
Sean got behind the wheel and handed over a pack of wet wipes. She gave him a wobbly smile as she ripped the package open to attack her hands. She couldn’t possibly do anything with her clothing, but at least she could have semi-clean hands.
Mack climbed in back, and she glanced over her shoulder at him. He was more rugged-looking than Sean, with red hair, warm grayish-green eyes, and a ready smile, where Sean was more reserved.
“Thanks for coming for me,” she said, balling up a wipe stained red and pulling out another one.
“Of course,” Sean said. “What do you need from us?”
Yes, what?She hadn’t thought ahead at all. Not even to getting in this SUV and driving away, leaving Firuzeh lying on the cold ground. “Give me a sec, okay?”
“Sure.” Sean got the vehicle started and heading toward their office.
She scrubbed at her hands, using ten wipes before feeling the least bit clean. Sean held out a trash bag for her.
“Thanks,” she said again.
“Hey, no need to keep thanking us.” He gave her a tight smile. “We’re here for you. Just accept it.”
“Okay,” she said, and would try. Until joining this team, she really never had friends or family whose love didn’t come without strings attached. Not since her dad died when she was nine, and her mother couldn’t cope with the loss. Worried she might lose Kiley too, her mother tightly controlled Kiley’s life and didn’t care how she felt about anything. It was all about her mother preventing the loss of her only child. One of the reasons Kiley went into law enforcement. To push the boundaries. Memories she didn’t need to dredge up ever but especially not now.
She lowered her window and let the brisk air rush over her face. Firuzeh had sacrificed her life for her country, and the very least Kiley could do to honor her was to pull herself together and lead the charge to find the killer.
She’d never taken lead on an investigation. She was always glad to let Sean or Mack do it and work in the background where she felt more comfortable. This one was different. She would fight for lead. And she would make sure Firuzeh’s family members were all brought into protection for the short term. The long term too, if it was warranted.
She took long gulps of the chilly air for the first time, catching the scent of sugary sweetness from a nearby bakery. Over and over, she breathed. One breath after the other, yet when Sean pulled into their secured parking lot, her nerves remained jangled. She lifted her shoulders for confidence, the very last thing she would normally do when faced with stress. She was more of a retreat-and-regroup kind of person.
Tough. That couldn’t—wouldn’t—happen here.
“I’m going to ask Eisenhower for lead on this investigation.” She pinned her focus on Sean, nearly daring him to argue with her, maybe itching for a fight to forget about losing Firuzeh. “And I need you guys to back me on it.”
“Sure,” Sean said easily. “If you want lead, I’ll support you.”
