Page 11 of Deadly Alliance

“Emme and I will play the happy couple and the rest of the team will ensure we are covered from every possible angle. If we’re lucky, we won’t have to do it long before he acts. Social media seems to be the most probable point of contact. Posting pictures of us together, and Emme, alone and looking like Beatrice is key. With links to all the sites the victims used before their deaths. All we have to do is be visible until we are ready and tempt him with the possibility of her being alone and vulnerable.”

Zin frowned, clearly still debating his plan. “And Emme being married to you won’t deter the man?”

Shane followed his train of thought, but Beatrice answered for him. “I analysed all the files and a third of the women were romantically involved or married. I believe it doesn’t make a difference. He would only bide his time. None of the women were sexually assaulted so this isn’t about that. It’s purely about revenge in my opinion.”

Dee nodded. “I concur. It’s the typical type of serial killer. If he set his sights on a prey, this type of killer wouldn’t change his target, only take more time to attain it.”

Lucy relaxed her stance. Shane realised that since he had revealed his plan, the woman had been worried. She had looked at Emme often as if to gauge her reaction as well. “This means the rest of us get to play invisible men? We wander around?”

“That’s a bad idea, as we don’t know what the man looks like. As I said earlier, some of our faces are known to many in the military.”

Emme nodded, starting to relax as well. “I think that if we are equipped with trackers and mics twenty-four seven, that’s enough. We can find an apartment in town, install discreet protection—some of the guys can hide in the spare room. It’s a good plan. And maybe in the meantime, Will and Dee will come up with potential suspects.”

It was strange, when she looked back at him and smiled, something quivered inside his chest, like a slow warmth spreading at her approval as if he had been craving it. What a stupid thought! She was at least ten years younger than him, with starry eyes and a belief in life he had lost long ago. Death would always win, but if he could save lives before it hit him, he would accept it, in memory of Misty, and in the hope of putting a balm on her brother’s broken heart.

The more Shane looked at her, the more he lost his train of thought. He never lost focus when he was committed to a mission. And despite her deep warm eyes, angel face, and enticing curves, the young agent wouldn’t make him sway from the promise he’d made on Misty’s grave.

Shane pulled his eyes from her, almost shaking his head to dismiss the unexpected wave of lust that grabbed him. Another reason to keep his distance as much as possible, unless the mission absolutely required it. He had been undercover with female team members before and nothing unprofessional had happened. There was no reason this mission should be any different. This sudden feeling was apparently caused by a high level of stress, lack of sleep, an overactive brain, and possibly lack of female company for an extended period.

He nodded abruptly at her and broke eye contact, even physically distancing himself from her by sitting back down and leaning back in his chair as if to encompass everybody in the room. When he scanned the room, he forced himself to look at her the exact amount of time as the others. “We can go over all the details of the plan, tweak it until everyone is satisfied. Your input is appreciated. We’re on your turf after all.”

Everyone nodded and started talking. Dee and Will quickly exited, as did Zack who began walking with Beatrice towards his office. Everyone left in the conference room started shooting ideas and possibilities, but Shane was half listening as Emme moved to stand right beside him. She hadn’t done anything apart from take part in the discussion, but as he felt her body heat and the scent of her perfume filled his nose, Shane sighed as he acknowledged he would need all his skills, experience, and training not to get side-tracked. He hoped that time in the shower tonight would get his mind off the girl for good.