The debriefing room.
Leo chuckled. In other words, the kitchen. You coming?
Dylan turned back to his computer monitors. Ill be there in a minute.
Leo left Dylan to his gadgets and headed into the large open area of the debriefing space. Along the far wall was a state-of-the-art kitchen, complete with oven, stovetop and fridge, all in stainless steel. A bank of windows provided natural light and an extra-large monitor hung on the wall near the door.
A long hand-carved wooden table with bench seats dominated the middle of the room. The team was already seated and munching on fruit platters and trays of pastries from Petrov Bakery, a favorite with all the agents.
Max stood at the coffee machine, making himself a latte. He glanced up and tipped his chin at Leo. He was a tall man with short blond hair and a ragged scar on one side of his face. The gangs all here.
Not quite. Jake was missing.
The familiar burn of guilt ate at Leo, killing any appetite he might have had. He straddled the end of the closest bench next to Ian Slade. The tall, muscular agent cracked a joke that had Harper Prentiss and Julianne Martinez and the teams general assistant, Christy Burton, laughing. As usual, the good-humored Ian was charming the ladies.
Max moved to the head of the table and sat. Where are we with the Dupree case?
Reginald Dupree isnt talking, Harper replied. Hes lawyered up and so have his henchmen. The US district attorney is spitting mad about it.
Angus Dupree escapedwe assume on the helicopter, Timothy Ramsey, a junior agent, added. He sat across the table from Leo between Harper and another junior agent, Nina Atkins.
And Agent Morrow? Max asked, his piercing blue eyes surveying his team. Jakes brother, Zeke, has been hounding me for answers. I dont have any to give yet.
Leos jaw tightened. It had to be tough for Zeke, thinking hed never see his brother again. Jake had mentioned once he and his brother werent close and barely spoke, but still... Family was family.
The press is also pestering me for a statement, Christy said with a flip of her auburn hair. I cant keep them in the dark for much longer.
Its been a week and no word, Julianne said, her voice soft. No doubt she was thinking Jake was dead. Leo wouldnt accept that.
Angus took Jake, Leo stated. We know that. We tested the blood we found at the scene. It was Jakes.
Ian swiveled toward Leo. Why would they take him?
For leverage. To get information out of him. Leo couldnt help the growl in his voice. He should have had Jakes and Buddys backs.
Angus might use Jake to reduce Reginalds sentence, Harper added.
Ian shook his head, his normal good humor disappearing as he sobered. If Angus was going to use him, hed have done so by now, right?
Jake has intimate knowledge of our investigation into the Duprees, Harper said. He knows that we have Esme Dupree stashed away in witness protection, ready to testify against her brother.
But Jake doesnt have access to Esmes whereabouts, Ian pointed out.
Dylan stepped into the room carrying a computer device. Hey, guys, I received an alert on a crime I think you might want to hear about. He tapped some keys on his console. A witness in Settlers Valley, Wyoming, claims to have seen a man dumping a body into the Blackthorn River. By the description, it sounds like the victim could be Esme Dupree.
Leos stomach muscles clenched. Could the report from Wyoming be true? Had a witness seen Esme Duprees dead body? Without Esme, their case would fall apart. Is the witness reliable?
The Settlers Valley police chief thinks so, Dylan replied. A schoolteacher named Alicia Duncan. She saw the killer, who she claims shot at her and her three-year-old son.
Leos breath caught in his throat. A child. Memories assaulted him. He fought them back with the practice of over two decades. He focused his gaze on his boss. Well go. True is the only dog qualified for the task. Trues specialty was Water Search and Detection.
Maxs eyebrows hitched upward. Good point. Leo, you and True make your way to Wyoming. Ill call the US Marshals to verify they havent lost our witness. Dylan, contact the nearest SAR team that has a qualified diver and send them to Settlers Valley. Also get everything you can about this new witness to Leo, as well as any info you can get on the supposed killer.
On it. Dylan pivoted and exited as quickly as hed arrived.
By the time Leo had showered and changed into khakis and a black, long-sleeve polo shirt with the FBI logo on the breast pocket, Dylan had a dossier on Alicia Duncan ready.
After he had True secured in his special compartment of the official K-9 unit SUV, he flipped through the file on the witness, getting the basics. She seemed legit. A widowed schoolteacher with a young child living with her father. Not some attention-seeking nutcase wasting his time. Leo placed the folder on the passenger seat and set off for Settlers Valley, Wyoming. Hed interview the witness and then take True to the river. If there was truly a body to be found, True would find the victim. He always did.
TWO
Mommy, Im hungry, Charlie whined. I want sherbet.
Me, too, honey. Stomach cramping with hunger, Alicia smoothed back Charlies dark hair as he bent over the coloring book one of the female officers had scrounged up along with a box of crayons. Three hours had passed since shed come blazing through the police station doors with Charlie in her arms.
The police chief, Dwayne Jarrett, was a friend of her fathers and had escorted her to his office, where he listened to her nearly hysterical account of what shed seen and that the killer was after her and Charlie.
She wasnt sure Dwayne had believed her until hed gone outside to move her car off the lawn, where shed left it parked near the front entrance, and seen the bullet hole in the back bumper. After that hed taken her seriously. Like her word hadnt been enough.
She sighed with frustration and glanced out the office window. The bull pen was filled with officers busy doing whatever they did. Shed spied a vending machine on the way in. Tired of waiting, she decided to take action. How about we go see if we can find something to eat or drink.
Hitching her bag over her shoulder, she rose and held out her hand to Charlie. He set aside his crayon and clasped her hand. His tiny fingers curled through hers and love for this little precious gift from God exploded in her chest. She had many regrets about her marriage, but Charlie wasnt one of them.
She opened the office door, and they slipped out into the hall. She bought raisins and apple juice from the vending machine then ducked into the restroom. After freshening up, they returned to the chiefs office. Shed expected it to be empty, so she was a bit discombobulated to find the chief sitting behind his desk and another man taking up a good portion of the small space.
He had short blond hair and wide shoulders beneath a jacket with the acronym of the Federal Bureau of Investigation on the back. What was the FBI doing here?
Chief Jarrett leaned to the side to see her around the other man. There you are.
Chief Jarrett leaned to the side to see her around the other man. There you are.
The federal agent turned. Alicia sucked in a sharp breath. The man had the greenest eyes shed ever seen, and they assessed her from head to toe with an inscrutable expression that made her want to fiddle with her hair. She straightened to her full height of five-ten. She was so done with being intimidated by men, especially law-enforcement types.
Next to the agent sat a handsome chocolate-colored Labrador attached to a leash held loosely in the agents hand. The dog tilted his head at them as if he, too, was assessing her and Charlie.
Doggy! Charlie pulled on her hand, trying to escape from her grasp, but she held on tight, not sure how good an idea it would be for her son to launch himself at a K-9 dog.
No, sweetie. The dog is working.
The agents eyes flared with obvious surprise, and then an appreciative gleam shone through the sharp emerald-colored gaze. Its okay. True wont bite him.
True. Thats an interesting name, Alicia murmured, still reluctant to release Charlies hand. Well not bother the dog.
Jarrett gestured to the fed. Agent Leo Gallagher is with an elite K-9 investigation team for the Bureau. He would like to ask you some questions.
A gentle smile curved the corners of Agent Gallaghers mouth and her heart did a funny little move shed never experienced before. What was that about?
Ms. Duncan, please have a seat. He flicked his hand toward the place she and Charlie had recently vacated.
Staunchly ignoring her inner reaction, she lifted her chin. Ill stand, thank you.
She settled Charlie back in the chair and opened the goodies for him to munch on. Though his attention was clearly on the dog, she remained a barrier between them. Despite the agents assurance that his canine wouldnt bite, she refused to risk it.
Aware that she was making the agent wait, she took a bracing breath before turning her attention back to the blond-haired fed. Ive already told the chief everything I can remember.
Agent Gallagher held her gaze. Yes, hes shared your statement with me. I would like to hear it for myself.
Her eyes darted to the chief. Id prefer not to explain in front of my son.
Charlie didnt need to hear the details now or ever. When shed first arrived a female officer had taken Charlie aside for the few moments it had taken Alicia to explain to the chief what had happened.
Jarrett stood. Alicia, Agent Gallagher will be taking the lead on this case. Come on, Charlie. Lets take a walk.
Alicia bit her bottom lip to keep from protesting. She didnt like having Charlie out of her sight. But she could hardly protest given that the chief would protect her son. Not only because it was his job, but also because they were a close-knit community. The folks of Settlers Valley took care of one another. The adage that it took a village was true for this small town.
After her mothers death, the citizens had rallied around her father and made sure hed had everything he needed. Alicia regretted she hadnt been here at the time. But she was now, and she had every intention of making up for lost time.
When the chief and Charlie were gone, the agent hitched a hip on the edge of the desk. Now, start from the beginning.
The dog took his cue from his handler and lay down with his head on his paws.
Fine. Though the two officers might be relaxed, an anxious quiver ran through her. She fought to keep her voice even as she described what shed witnessed on the river, the killer chasing after her and Charlie, the gunshots assailing them, and finally ending up at the police station.
The agents stoic expression never wavered. The truck was reported stolen from the marina a half hour ago.
That makes sense, she said. Hed come from upriver.
If you sat with a forensic artist, would you be able to give a detailed description of the suspect?
Acid churned in her tummy as she recalled the mans face. Oh, yes. I doubt Ill forget his image anytime soon. She shuddered. Dark, cold eyes. He had a shaved head. Not tall, but bulky.
Ill send for an artist. Did your son see the man as well?
No, thankfully.
Thats a blessing, the agent murmured.
Was this man a believer or was he using the word as a nicety as some people did? It is a blessing from God. A huge one.
Something flickered in his eyes before his expression turned all-business again. The woman you saw go into the water... Did you get a look at her face?
No. I only saw her long red hair and her limp body. She shivered at the horrible memory.
Would you be able to pinpoint where the body went into the water?
Of course, Agent Gallagher. Im surprised the police havent already gone out to drag the river.
Call me Leo. Settlers Valley isnt necessarily equipped for that. A diver is on his way from Sheridan. Id like you to go with us to the scene of the crime. My partner and I will find the body so the diver can bring her up. Trues a trained water-search dog.
Doubt made her voice quiver. But its been hours. The woman is at the bottom of the river. Its deep in the canyon.
The womans body will give off gases and liquids that True will pick up.
She swallowed back the bile rising up. This was one of the many ugly sides of police work. I cant leave Charlie.
He seems to be in good hands with the chief.
Wouldnt the chief want to be at the river when they bring up the victim?
He arched an eyebrow. You heard the chiefIm taking the lead on this case.
Not liking his superior tone, she lifted her chin. Why? What does a small-town murder have to do with the feds?
He pressed his lips together and a muscle ticked in his jaw. I cant divulge the details of the case, Ms. Duncan. He held open the door. Shall we?
She hated being left in the dark. Irritation spread through her chest. She preceded the agent out of the office, determined to get this over with so she and her son could resume their quiet life without murder, mayhem and too-handsome federal agents with secrets to muddy the waters.
* * *
Leo brought his vehicle to a halt in the gravel parking lot behind the Blackthorn River marina. He glanced at the woman beside him as she stared straight ahead in stony silence. Alicia Duncan had a nice profile, a straight nose, with high cheekbones. Her long, wavy dark hair hung over her slim shoulders. She wore a light pink tank top and jean capris with hiking boots. Very earthy.
Nothing like any of the schoolteachers hed had as a kid. From the dossier hed read, he knew shed grown up in Settlers Valley but had lived in Tacoma, Washington, for the better part of a decade.
She popped open the passenger door, but before she could step out, he laid a hand on her arm. Wait for me and True.
She met his gaze and blinked, the pupils of her bright blue eyes a bit too large, indicating she hadnt fully recovered from her earlier ordeal. Leo would imagine the pretty single mom had never been shot at before, nor ever had to run for her life.
Leo hated that she and her son had had to witness such evil and be put in danger. But while he was on the case, he wouldnt let anything happen to them.
He gave her arm what he hoped would be a reassuring pat before he climbed out of his SUV and released True from the compartment in the back. The Lab sniffed the air, his tail stiffening, his ears forward and his mouth closedall signs that he was detecting something of interest to him, but not yet a threat.