“Look, chump, I’ve been tried so many times, it’s like Alphabet Soup.”
“Look at the damn picture. Did you murder this woman on her front doorstep?”
“I’m not telling you, asshole. Who the fuck do you think you are coming into my house and killing my best guys?”
“ALPHA ops are four minutes out,” Brooks said in Stryker’s ear.
“Did you kill Amanda Truman?” Stryker growled.
“Who the fuck is Amanda Truman?” Rowdy yelled.
“Answer the question.”
“If I did, the bitch had it coming to her.”
Stryker shot him between the eyes, then unleashed two bullets into his chest. “Rot in hell.” He shoved his phone in his pocket and bolted from the room.
“Sin, we gotta go,” Stryker said.
Sin emerged from the back bedroom. “Brooks, let ALPHA know there are four women in the back bedroom,” he said into the comm. “Two in the corner, two in the closet. None are armed.”
“Will do,” Brooks replied. “We’ve gotta get Rhys to a doc.”
“We’re on our way,” Stryker replied as he and Sin bolted out of the house. They jumped in the waiting vehicle and Brooks sped off.
Stryker eyed Rhys in the back seat. “Where you hit?”
“Thigh, but I’m gonna be okay. I don’t need to go to the—"
“I’ve got someone who’ll patch you up,” Sin said.
“ALPHA just arrived on the scene,” Brooks said.
“Did Rowdy kill your mom?” Sin asked Stryker.
“My gut says no.”
“You’ll find him,” Sin said.
“I made her a promise I’m gonna keep,” Stryker replied. “Even if it fucking kills me.”
6
The Surprise Visitor
Emerson slogged through rush-hour traffic on I-95 south, heading to the FBI Academy in Quantico. Almost a week had passed since April’s body had been discovered, but Emerson had nothing to show for the hours she’d spent trying to gain solid footing on both murders.
After being ushered into a conference room, she was told that Agent Radcliffe would be in shortly.
A few moments later, Lynn Radcliffe entered, her computer bag slung over her shoulder. “Emerson, it’s good to meet you.”
“I appreciate you making time for me, Lynn.”
“You’ve got two very challenging cases,” Lynn said, as she got comfortable at the conference table. “Made any progress since we spoke?”
“Unfortunately, none.”
“I had a chance to review both police reports you sent over,” Lynn said. “Did you bring the crime scene photos?”
