I thought back to my conversation with Callahan. Maybe my old partner was onto something. Maybe I wasn't cut out for the FBI, because my first thought after meeting the deputy director was, the man was shady. I don't know why, but that was my first impression, and based on how he handled things, I probably wasn't far off.
"How'd it go with the boss?" Sylvia sat at her desk across from mine tapping a pen.
"Ah…not good actually. Apparently someone complained about me, and now I'm not allowed anywhere near the Dunkin case."
"Complained? Are you shitting me? Pretty sure getting a complaint is part of the job. Criminals rarely like that we're investigating them."
"I thought the same, but I guess the deputy director feels differently."
I settled into my chair. With my hands on the armrests, I tilted back as far as I could go.
"What are you going to do now?"
I focused all my attention on my desk. "A cold case apparently." I shouldn't be disappointed. Cold cases deserved just as much attention as active ones. More so actually because the people involved in those had been waiting longer. It was just the thought that all my hard work was taken from me without notice or cause. I hated the unknown.
"I know you hate when I jump subjects, but while you were in the meeting, I was thinking about the Anita problem and a possible line I could tug."
Anita's threat sat heavy on my mind. "You need to stop digging into her." I said it quietly, but the way Sylvia startled, you would assume I snapped at her.
"Why? I thought we wanted to find out who she really is?"
I used the first excuse that popped into my head. "She's part of the original Dunkin case, and I was told in no uncertain terms what would happen to my career if I didn't back off."
It was a bit of a stretch of the truth, but if it kept Sylvia safe, then so be it. I wouldn't have her getting hurt because of me.
"Damn. I was looking forward to solving the mystery, but I guess that makes sense. Maybe things will eventually blow over, and I can dig into her again. I'm fascinated at this point, and we both know it's hard to stop once I've started."
This was one time I wished I had a normal partner who didn't take the job home with them. It would make things so much easier.
Sylvia wasn't that kind of partner though, so it was up to me to keep her safe from herself. Preferably without her realizing it.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
ANITA
"Do you really think this is a good idea, considering our current houseguest?" There was no mistaking the disapproval in Nyx's eyes. I sent her to kidnap Alexander and bring him back to the cell. Fortunately she managed to do it while Krista was sleeping, but now it was mid-morning, and Krista was awake and moving about the compound.
"We have to figure out how to make this our new normal, and what better way to do that than jumping right in?"
Nyx threw her hands in the air. "It's barely been a day. How in the world can you possibly think this is a good idea?"
Did I think it was a good idea? Not really.
Did I want to take Alexander somewhere else and torture him? Hell no. That was too big of a risk.
Did I want to wait weeks before talking to Alexander? Not a chance in hell. So that only left one option.
The one we were currently in.
"Lilith promised to stay with Krista, and I explained this part of the compound is off-limits. That should keep her from finding Alexander."
"Right, because teenagers are known for listening." Nyx rolled her eyes. "Let's just get this started already. I hate looking at his cocky face."
I pushed open the door of the torture room and slid in so I was leaning against the wall. Giving myself time to take a good look at Mason's father. It was a sin how attractive he was. A man as evil as he was should've looked the part on the outside. Instead he had the face of an angel but the eyes of the devil himself. Black and currently full of fury. "It's about time you showed up. Working up the courage to face me? How about you take off these restraints, and I show you what a man like me does to women like you."
"Okay." I pushed off from the wall and slipped my knife out of my pocket. Effectively slicing the rope securing his hands together behind the chair. "I'll even give my knife to my friend here to make this fair." I walked back over to Nyx––who took up root in front of the door––and handed over my blade.
Nyx didn't say a word. Neither did her face. She merely watched Alexander with a neutral expression.
