“We’re good to go,” Dev said, saving Colin before he confessed his feelings for her.
The car pulled forward, and he glanced back to be sure that Ryan was jumping out of the other vehicle to take watch at the mouth of the driveway. He was, just like they’d planned. One thing about this team. They might disagree and even argue at times, but when it came time to implement a plan, they were like the proverbial well-oiled machine. No one strayed from their assignment unless a life was on the line.
The vehicle bumped over ruts, and Dev parked behind the van, this one belonging to the Veritas team. Chelsea Vale, one of the Veritas crime-scene photographers, had driven through the night to bring additional equipment for Kelsey and Sierra this morning and to assist with photographing the crime scene.
She stood near the van, talking to two other guys in white suits. Techs who most likely came with her. She wore her hair in braids. That, along with freckles covering her face, left her with a girl-next-door look, not a forensic photographer, but her expression was all business.
Dev killed the engine and leaned over the seat to look at Brooklyn. “You stay put while everyone gets into position.”
She gave him a sweet smile. “I can do that.”
“I’ll let you know when I’ve located a good stand.” Dressed in camouflage, Micha slid out and disappeared into the wooded area aligning the drive.
“Let me tell Sierra and Kelsey what’s going on and post the other guys. I’ll be right back.” Dev hopped out and talked to Reid and Nick, who’d parked behind them.
They marched across the lot and took stances near the house that looked even less like a house in the daylight. A few structural timbers remained standing, along with a small section of the roof. Colin would make sure that area was off limits to Brooklyn. All of the team really. Too dangerous. But he would wait to warn her until they were in the house where she could get a better picture of the destruction and realize his warning was valid.
“Not much left,” she said, wringing her hands together.
Was she having second thoughts? Could he persuade her to leave? “You still want to go inside?”
“Want to, no. Will, yes.” She firmed her shoulders.
“I doubt there will be anything the Veritas staff misses,” he said, still trying to give her a reason not to stay.
“You could be right.” She bit her lower lip. “But at least I can sleep better tonight knowing I tried to help.”
Sure, but you might not sleep when nightmares of a burn victim permeate your dreams.He didn’t say that of course. He didn’t have the heart to. And for all he knew, Kelsey had removed the remains, and Brooklyn could be spared that sight.
Dev started back in their direction.
“Got a perfect stand, and you’re good to go.” Micha’s deep voice came over the comms unit.
Dev opened Brooklyn’s door. “We’re good to go.”
She slid toward the door.
Colin grabbed her hand. “Hold up until I get out. Remember. You stay between Dev and me the entire time.”
“Right.” She smiled at him.
A sweet, apologetic smile that melted any worry he had for her. Albeit for only a moment. A brief flash of a time while he imagined life with her when she wasn’t under siege by some madman.
He pushed out of the SUV and made his way to her side, taking in every bit of the area around him. The two forensic nerds who’d been with Chelsea scurried like little bugs in different directions, large plastic cases in their hands. One headed for Sierra, who was kneeling on the left side of the building, the other to Kelsey, who knelt by the body.
Neither woman looked up. Not for the men or for the arrival of the vehicle. Clearly they were in the zone, and Colin hated to disturb them, but he needed an update to formulate a plan.
“Straight to the house,” he said to Brooklyn, though he was sad to see that the remains were still on scene for her view.
The three of them crossed the area, now soggy and muddy from the water sprayed by firefighters’ hoses. Brooklyn’s boot caught, and she stumbled. Colin caught her arm and righted her.
She looked up at him. “Thanks for saving me from a mud bath. I’ve heard they can be good for the skin, but I don’t have time today to think about my complexion.”
She laughed, but as they stepped into the ruins and picked their way to Kelsey, her good humor evaporated.
“Oh. Oh. Oh, my. That’s horrific.” Her face paled, and she looked away from the victim to gulp in air.
Kelsey stood, a spray bottle in hand. “It is indeed horrific.”
