More like hoping we can work together. Adam kept his voice neutral. As I said, part of an open investigation.
If push came to shove, Adam knew Captain McCord would involve the woman whod formed the K-9 unit, the presidents special in-house security chief, General Margaret Meyer. The former four-star general would have no problem taking the case away from the local PD if necessary. Adam, however, preferred to keep interagency relations on good terms.
David cocked an eyebrow. Ah, you show me yours, Ill show you mine?
Adams lips twitched. Something like that.
Davids attention transferred back to Lana. Im sure youve already filled my friend, here, in, but we like to conduct our own interviews. Are you up to giving your statement to an officer?
Lana nodded. Yes, sir.
Garrison, David called to a young uniformed officer. Take Miss Gomezs statement.
Once Lana was out of earshot, David said, Spill.
Theres a connection between Miss Gomez and the Jeffries case, Adam went on to explain.
David grimaced. Nasty business.
Motioning for Adam and Ace to follow him to the back of the museum, the detective pointed to a spot on the gleaming white marble floor beneath an oil painting of the Capitol building. Black scuff marks showed in stark contrast, clearly indicating a struggle.
The intruder came up behind the security guard and placed him in a choke hold, David continued. Guard passed out and dropped like a bag of stones in the Potomac.
Adam frowned as he surveyed the area. The guard would have seen the intruder coming. Did that mean he knew his attacker? But for a choke hold to work, the guard would have had his back turned on the intruder. More pieces of the puzzle that werent fitting together. Has the guard been released from the hospital?
Yes, he was released last night. He suffered no ill effects from the attack. Right now hes in the security office with my officers.
Id like a moment with him. How did the intruder enter?
The perp bypassed the security system by jerry-rigging a bladeRF radio device to the systems keypad and jamming the signal while providing a phony rogue cell network for the keypad to latch on to. So when the intruder entered and the alarm sent a signal, it didnt really go anywhere, which allowed the intruder to enter undetected.
Keeping Ace at his heels, Adam headed for the smashed display case where a short man wearing the blue coveralls of the crime scene unit was placing the artifact back on its velvet bed. This is where the intruder attacked Miss Gomez.
Our best guess is she interrupted the unidentified suspect before he could take the arrow. David pointed to the red spots on the floor. He hit her over the head and knocked her out. The intruder didnt get what he was after because the security guard came to and managed to pull the fire alarm.
Adam studied the long gold arrow; it certainly didnt look like any archery arrow hed ever used. The pointed pile had a wide base that narrowed to a tip, much like a Native American arrowhead that appeared sharp enough to pierce skin. The gold-plated shaft measured roughly an inch in diameter and the fletching, normally consisting of feathers to give the arrow wings, was made from delicately pounded gold filigree. I dont see any blood on it.
Should there be?
Miss Gomez claims he hit her with the arrow. Adams gaze went to where she stood in her serviceable navy pumps. Though the heels were low and her navy blue skirt dropped to just above her knees, he found his gaze drawn to her shapely calves. Did she cycle? Or run? Or was she naturally toned? He gave a quick shake of his head to clear his thoughts. Her exercise regimen wasnt any of his business.
Davids eyebrows hitched upward. In response to Adams statement or to the fact Adam had been staring at Lana? He tugged at the collar of his uniform shirt.
With a slight curl of his lip, David waved over a crime scene technician. Did you find blood on the arrow?
The tech shook his head. No. No blood.
Adams gaze slid back to Lana. Suspicion snarled inside his chest. Had she lied to him? Or had the intruder cleaned up after himself? He rubbed his chin. The perpetrator of the break-in had the technical know-how to bypass a state-of-the-art security system and was physically capable of taking out an armed guard. Both suggested the intruder had training that went beyond the norm. It was plausible the trespasser would have the smarts to wipe away trace evidence.
I found a latent print, though. I used an alternate light source to find it and then ran a photograph of the print through the FBIs and the DC fingerprint databases and got a hit.
The techs words jolted through Adam. Blood rushed to his head, making his temples pound. This was good news.
Do you have an ID? David asked.
Yes, sir. The tech held out a printed sheet of paper. David took the paper and studied it for a long tense moment. His jaw firmed. The hard glint in his eyes as he lifted his gaze and handed Adam the sheet sent apprehension sliding through him.
Adam stared at the photo identification of the person who had last touched the Golden Arrow. His stomach sank to his toes.
Lana Gomez.
THREE
The muscles in Adams hand convulsed, crumpling the paper with Lanas photo. A cold draft of air swirled through the museum, settling around him like a dark cloak. Outside, rain pinged irritating little drops of water against the overhead skylight. Lanas soft voice echoed off the marble walls. He wasnt sure what to think about this new development.
Someone had broken into the museum, hit Lana on the head and knocked her unconscious. Her wound was not self-inflicted. She claimed the attacker used the arrow. But the CSU tech found no blood on the artifact. Only Lanas fingerprint.
Recheck the thing for blood, David directed the tech.
Okay, but Im telling you, there isnt any. Reclaiming the arrow, the tech walked away to reexamine the piece.
Adams gaze zeroed in on Lana. Even across the room, her fatigue was evident in the way she rubbed at her neck as if to massage away a knot. She finished giving her statement to the officer and slowly made her way to Adams side. She stared at the broken glass littering the floor, her arms wrapped around her middle.
She lifted her eyes and met his gaze. The bruising beneath the edges of the bandage covering her lovely face clutched at him and he fought to keep from running his hands over her arms to soothe away her upset.
Ace moved to her side and leaned into her so that Lanas long, tapered fingers could rub the sweet spot behind his ears.
Normally his partner was reticent to let others touch him. By nature Dobermans were energetic and could be friendly when they were comfortable. But Ace was also fierce and loyal and intimidating, especially when working.
Most of the time, people were too nervous to broach petting the dog, let alone the dog allowing attention from strangers. Adam wasnt even sure Lana realized what she was doing or how unique it was for Ace to seek out her touch. By the way Aces eyes rolled in his head the dog obviously enjoyed the contact.
Ace, heel.
The dog jumped to attention, sitting at Adams side, his ears perked up and his eyes on his master. That was more like it.
Dont be angry with him. Lanas softly spoken words hit Adam square in the chest. Hes a good dog.
Yes, he is, but were working now.
David cleared his throat, drawing their attention. Miss Gomez, can you walk us through what happened last night?
I just told everything to your officer.
When David didnt respond, she glanced at Adam as if looking for support.
He nodded, encouraging her to retell her story. He wanted to hear her version again. Would she stick to her claim the suspect had hit her with the arrow?
She let out a soft, delicate sigh full of resignation. I was in my office working. She pointed to the hallway behind them. I heard a thud then glass breaking. I thought maybe Brad had slipped and fallen. I came out and saw the man dressed in white reaching for the arrow.
Adam visualized the event unfolding. Most people would have fled in search of a phone to call for help. How did you try to stop him?
She licked her lips. He tracked the movement as awareness zipped through him, setting his senses on fire. Not good. Not good at all. He had a cardinal rule to never become emotionally involved in a case; doing so impaired ones judgment.
He jerked his gaze back to Lanas eyes in time to see a flare of interest in the dark depths, but then the flame was gone so fast he wouldnt have been able to stand in court and swear hed seen the look. Must have been a trick of the lighting inside the museum. Or maybe a stray sunbeam from the overhead skylight. But that couldnt be since it was raining. He gave himself a mental shake to clear his thoughts and refocused on her words.
I attacked him. Ive been taking mixed martial arts classes.
He dropped his chin and stared at her. He wasnt sure if she was crazy or brave. Or both. That was the problem with self-defense classes in a gym. People tended to think when the time came theyd be prepared to act, but reality never followed the patterns learned in a studio class. Especially when it came to offensive moves. You could have been killed.
She made a face. I reacted before I really considered what I was doing.
He hadnt pegged her as impulsive.
Were you the last one to handle the arrow before the break-in? David asked.
Handle? She canted her head. Yes, I suppose. Im the one who placed the artifact in the display case earlier this week before the glass barrier was sealed, if thats what you mean.
You told me the intruder hit you with the arrow, isnt that correct? Adam watched her closely.
Yes, thats right.
Sharing a dubious glance with David, Adam stated, There was no blood found on the arrow. Only your prints.
What? Her stunned gaze bounced between him and David. She took a step back. Ace rose to all fours, alert to her obvious tension. Adam gave him a hand signal to sit. Slowly, Ace sat but his gaze stayed intently focused on Lana.
That doesnt make sense. Her voice held a quiver of uncertainty. He had the arrow in his hand. He used it to hit me and knocked me unconscious.
Did the man have gloves on? David asked.
She blinked. Yes, he did. White gloves that matched his clothes.
Her version of the event wasnt lining up with the facts. Hopefully, the security guard would shed some light on the murky situation.
Can I speak with Brad? she asked.
David gave a sharp nod. This way.
Adam tugged on Aces lead when the dog wouldnt leave Lanas side.
You dont believe me, do you? she asked before he had taken two steps.
Im reserving judgment, he offered. It would be bad police work to let her in on what he was thinking.
There was no mistaking the hurt in her expression as she walked past him down the same hall in which David had disappeared. She was much easier to read today than the first time theyd met, but even so, Adam wasnt sure what to make of her story. The woman was an enigma. Calm and collected to the point of unemotional one minute, then impulsive and expressive the next.
At the end of the hall, Lana headed through an open door. Brad, I was so worried about you!
Adam stepped inside, stopping next to David to watch Lana hug a white-haired man of at least seventy and wearing a red uniform with the museum emblem on the breast pocket.
The man patted her back awkwardly. Im so glad youre all right.
I am. She pulled back.
Brad grimaced. Your poor head.
David stepped forward and made the introductions. Brad Givens, this is Officer Donovan, with the Capitol K-9 Unit. Hell be working with the DC police on the investigation.
Lana slipped out of the way. The guard nodded and extended his hand.
After shaking Brads hand, Adam asked, Did you get a look at the guy, hear anything that might give a clue what he was after?
Show Officer Donovan the security video, David instructed.
Adam arched an eyebrow at David. Apparently the answer to Adams question would appear on the video feed.
Brad sat in front of a blank monitor on the table, pressed a few keys and the screen sprang to life.
The images on the display showed Brad stroll into view, apparently doing his rounds. A moment later a figure, dressed all in white and wearing aviator-style sunglasses, just as Lana had described, stepped out of the wall behind Brad. A convincing optical illusion.
The choke hold he used on the unsuspecting guard had been efficient, practiced, lending support to Adams earlier thought that the intruder had been trained. Military? Law enforcement? Or a garden-variety thug with skills?
Once the guard was down, the intruder ripped the cord on the security camera and the screen went black.
Brad swiveled in his chair to face Adam. As you saw in humiliating Technicolor, the guy took me down, quick and easy. Bitter anger reverberated in Brads voice. He was strong and big and knew what he was doing. He disabled all the cameras. When I came to, my first thought was for Miss Gomez. Shes the sweetest lady.
Brads jaw tightened as he continued. When I saw her laying on the ground all bloodied I... His voice cracked with emotion. I thought she was dead. He visibly collected himself and glanced toward the door with a smile. Thankfully I was wrong.
Lana had been hit and knocked out. But what happened in those moments while they were both unconscious? What had the intruder been after?
Lana shimmied past Adam to take Brads hand.
Did you see the intruder after you awoke? Adam couldnt picture how the perp got away without being seen if the guard had come from the direction of the museum entrance where hed pulled the alarm.
Brad gave a negative shake of his head. No. I saw Miss Gomez and I ran for the alarm.
Had the guard spooked the perp, forcing him to blend back into the walls to wait until the coast was clear and he could take the arrow? Adam turned to David. Have you searched the whole premises?
David gave him a keen look. I had that same thought. We searched and found an open window in the employee break room and the main storage rooms back door was unlocked. The intruder is gone. No way to tell which was the point of entrance or exit.
What had caused the assailant to leave the arrow behind?
A commotion in the outer body of the museum drew Aces attention. The dog barked to alert Adam. I hear it, boy. Lets go see what all the racket is about.