They rushed through the now heavier snow to Jack’s SUV. Jack started the vehicle but pulled out his phone and tapped the screen. “Good. Glad I caught you at work. I need you to run particulars on a Billy Smith of Portland, who served time. And before you tell me it’s a common name and we’ll get a ton of results, I get that. Just do it. Email me with the info for every Bill, Billy, Will, or William Smith who has a record.”
Jack ended the call. “Gonna be a long night.”
“Even longer. I promised Ella I would watch Christmas specials with her when I get home.” He eyed Jack. “Skipping that isn’t negotiable.”
“Well then,” Jack said. “I guess this proves you’ve changed from the guy I knew so well. Maybe there’s hope for you to change in your thoughts on Megan too.”
Reid shook his head and turned the radio on. No way he was going to talk about that again. Not while he should be thinking about the guy who could lead them to the man who’d been terrorizing Megan.
20
Megan rolled over on the sofa in the den and stared at the clock. Midnight. The beginning of the day she hoped would be the end of Fowler’s reign of terror. Not that the name Billy, Bill, Will, or William Smith had led anywhere yet. Other than to create a list of twenty-three men who had once been incarcerated. Reid and Jack had decided to break the list into smaller pieces and have the team and any agent Jack could spare review it right after they safely escorted Ella to and from her doctor’s appointment in the morning.
But they did review the video from the bar right away. She did too. Watching Fowler talk to his friend had turned her stomach. And it didn’t reveal anything of use. Sure she confirmed the friend was the guy she’d seen at the gas station, but otherwise there’d been no point in viewing the clip. All it did was stir up her anxiety. Still, Reid had tried to encourage her by saying they often had to exhaust a lot of leads in an investigation before one panned out.
She stood and, using the dim light coming from the hallway, checked on Ella. She’d fallen asleep in the den while watching Christmas programs with Reid. Megan hadn’t wanted to disturb her and had left her to sleep in the den.
At least that’s what Megan kept telling herself. In reality, it probably had more to do with the fact that she didn’t want Reid to offer to carry Ella to bed again. Megan had successfully avoided a personal conversation with him for the rest of the night, but Ella had clung to Reid.
He didn’t seem to mind. He’d been patient and kind, warm and caring. The kind of man Megan could see as a stepfather for Ella. The exact kind of thoughts that kept Megan from letting him accompany them upstairs.
She tucked the blanket around her daughter and went to the closest bookshelf. She would go to the family room, where she could turn on a light to read until she got sleepy. She selected a mystery and followed the light down the hallway. She expected to see Jack stationed by the recording equipment as he and Lauren were taking shifts, and Lauren had gone to bed, but she didn’t expect Reid. As she entered the room, he jumped from a chair.
His eyes alert, he let his gaze rove over her. “What’s wrong?”
“I couldn’t sleep.”
“But you and Ella are okay?”
She nodded and wished the sudden surge of warmth over his level of caring would go away. “I just couldn’t sleep and thought I would read until I get tired.”
She headed across the room to a chair near a lamp and quickly opened the book before Reid engaged her in additional conversation. She tried to concentrate on the story, but Reid kept his focus on her, making it impossible. She shifted in the chair, putting as much of her back toward him as possible.
Still didn’t work. She couldn’t concentrate on the words, much less understand them. Her cell rang. She jerked, dropped the book, and checked caller ID.
“It’s not anyone I know.” Her gaze flew to Reid’s face.
He headed her way, and she met him in the middle of the room.
“Wait.” He motioned toward Jack sitting at the table by the listening equipment.
Jack gave a thumbs-up, and she pressed the talk button. She lifted the phone to her ear, and Reid came close to listen.
“Hello,” she said, apprehension making her want to throw up.
“Hello, Megan.” Fowler’s gruff voice came over the phone. “With all those agents around, it looks like you’re trying to set me up.”
He laughed, reminding her of the way he’d mocked her at the bank robbery. He’d held his hot, evil gaze on her face as he described in detail how he planned to kill her if she didn’t cooperate. A visceral pain stabbed her stomach, and she nearly dropped to the floor.
Reid pressed the mute button on the phone. “Easy,” he whispered. “I’m right here. Fowler’s just trying to get to you. Don’t let him do it.”
“I don’t know if I can talk to him.”
“Yes, you can. I’ve seen how strong you’ve become over the years.” His eyes locked on hers. “Do this for Ella.”
His confidence empowered her. She took a deep breath and gave a clipped nod.
Reid unmuted the phone and circled his arm around her back, giving her the courage to talk to the man who’d once threatened and scared her beyond belief.
