Marcus leaned back. “I already told you why I’m here. Last night. Remember that conversation? When we were sitting in your kitchen, drinking wine and enjoying a home-cooked meal together. The call came, I answered.”
She crossed her arms.
“Not everyone has an agenda, Evelyn. Though I must admit, aside from wanting to lock this bastard up for good, I have one small angle now.”
“Figures,” she muttered under her breath.
He raised his glass, took a drink, then pinned her with his gaze. “You.”
She choked on the liquid in her mouth. Kate quickly raised her glass to her lips, but not before a tiny smirk appeared. Ryan’s only tell that he was a bit taken aback was the tiny movement of his eyebrow.
“And why shouldn’t you be?” Marcus asked. “You’re strong, sexy, stubborn and smart as hell. If I had any doubts about your character and strength before, they’re gone now. And after we arrest this guy, and we will, I have every intention of finishing what we started last night. Right now, he’s made you his target. Therefore, you just became my priority. You may not have figured this out yet, but I’m also strong, smart and stubborn as hell. So, don’t even bother arguing with me about this. You’re my priority now. Get over it.”
“Well, there you go.” Ryan chuckled. “Although, you forgot to add sexy onto your list, Mr. Secret Agent Man.”
Marcus shrugged, a slight smirk pulling at his lips as he refocused his gaze on Evelyn.
“Yes, indeed.” Kate’s eyes twinkled.
Evelyn had walked into that one. Damn it. Not willing to deal with his statement or the emotions they’d evoked within her, she changed the subject again. “Okay, so what’s next?”
“We hold a press conference,” Marcus said.
“What?” She flinched back as if struck in the face. “Absolutely not. The captain won’t sign off on that.”
“He already did.”
She stared at Marcus. The emotional whiplash this man induced startled and infuriated her. She struggled to get her frustration under wraps. She had to rely on her gut. And her gut told her to trust this guy, even though her impenetrable wall was still up, the years of automatic self-defense still screaming at her to do the opposite.
“My take on the killer’s profile is fluid at best. I’m not certain I’ve locked it down enough. Are you sure a press conference at this stage in the game is the best direction to take?” Evelyn shifted uncomfortably in her chair. She hadn’t been able to lock in the profile, and that ate at her. Going to the public with something so uncertain made her extremely nervous.
“It has the potential to cause mass chaos,” she said.
Marcus opened his briefcase and pulled out a file. “Actually, your profile is better than you think. I called my brother, Derek, who’s a forensic psychologist and one of the lead profilers at Quantico. I asked him to write up a profile based on the information we had on this guy.”
“And?”
He slid the file across the table and smiled. “Your profile matched his. Exactly.”
Evelyn didn’t miss the pride in Marcus’s voice. She scanned the file, her face growing warm from the heat creeping up her neck. Ryan threw a knowing glance toward Kate. Their eyes met, and her lips curled.
“So, no,” Marcus said. “A press conference at this stage won’t cause mass chaos, if done properly. And it’s needed.”
“We can’t stay quiet on this thing any longer, Evelyn,” Ryan said.
Marcus nodded. “It’s imperative we downgrade the celebrity factor of the Seattle Slayer and bring to light the severity of this case. Put all of Seattle on alert. Plus, we need him to know that we have his scent.”
“But we don’t...” Unease settled into the pit of her stomach. She couldn’t see any good coming out of this.
“But he doesn’t know that,” Ryan said. “Having Marcus and I give a press conference to alert the city will rattle him, knock him off his game.”
“Ahhh,” Kate said. “It’ll fluster him, especially if Evelyn is nowhere to be seen.”
Marcus grabbed the file. “He’ll want to know—need to know—why you aren’t on the case any longer. Did you get hurt? Did you pull yourself off?”
“Or he could retaliate.” Evelyn wouldn’t put it past him, if for no other reason than just to prove he could.
“Hopefully he’ll get sloppy and make a mistake in the process of trying to figure it out and reconnect with you. Then—” Ryan slapped his hand on the table “—we’ll nail his ass.”
Marcus picked up his Malbec and took another swig. He set it down, then looked at Evelyn. “Yup. We’ll nail the bastard’s ass.”
“You know I want this guy as much as any of you, probably more. I’d like my life back. But this still seems a bit fast to me. This guy is extremely volatile. A public display of strength on SPD’s part could very well push him to lash out again.” Evelyn couldn’t shake the unease working its way up her spine. “Did the chief really sign off on this?”
Ryan nodded.
“It’s been approved all the way up the chain to the mayor,” Marcus said. “It’s happening tomorrow.”
“I get the need to calm the city. But this...” She bit her lip.
“Ev.” Ryan picked up his beer and tipped it toward her. “It’s the right move.”
Somehow she doubted it.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
A WARNING RANG somewhere in the deep recesses of Evelyn’s subconscious, screaming at her. Proceed with caution. Proceed with extreme caution. Calling the press conference was the right thing to do. Her profile being confirmed by the guys at Quantico solidified that. They needed to educate the public not only to keep them safe, but also to reassure them that the SPD was doing its job. She got that. In any other case, she’d have been the first one to suggest it.
Still, something made her pause.
She stared blankly at her computer screen. Kate plopped down on the edge of Evelyn’s desk, startling her. Her friend held out a steaming cup of coffee. “Where’s my hunk of a husband?”
Evelyn took the mug and sipped the hot brew. They’d all stayed up late going over the files, throwing hypotheses at the wall, reworking them. She hadn’t slept after Marcus left. Every time she closed her eyes and started to fall into a fitful slumber, gruesome images flashed against her eyelids. In vivid detail, she saw the Garlands...the Middletons...and Anastasia. Every time her mind’s eye would land on the most precious, familiar crime scene photo, and sharpen focus on her family, she’d jolt awake. She knew the current murders only mimicked her family’s to grab her attention. But still, the subconscious tie disturbed her.
Hence the need for a caffeine fix.
“They just left to meet with the mayor’s office before the press conference.” Evelyn took another sip of the rich liquid. A contented sigh slipped from her lips.
“That’s nice.” Kate crossed her legs. “I actually came to see you.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Yep.” Kate set her coffee down. “Tell me the truth. How are you holding up?”
Evelyn studied her friend for a moment and debated whether or not to be honest with her. What the hell.
“This case is kicking my ass. And I hate that. Every time I shut my eyes, I’m bombarded with flashes of all these gruesome crime scenes.” She picked up the stack of photos next to her, held them up and let them fall from her fingers. She shook her head, then pinched the bridge of her nose.
She looked up to see Kate’s brows scrunched together. Worry simmered in her eyes.
“And I feel it all.” Evelyn pressed her hand to her heart, agony washing over her. “All the pain, all the heartache, all the worry. All the fear of those families’ loved ones. I feel it all. Every second I work this case, every moment I spend with a loved one, my heart gets fil
leted. Slowly. Plus, now that they’ve decided to backseat me...well, I feel like I’ve failed them. The families, I mean.”
Kate shifted her weight, uncrossed her legs and hooked her ankles. “You haven’t failed them, Evelyn. And you haven’t been backseated. You’re still an important part of the team. But given the recent developments...”
Evelyn’s eyes widened.
“Ryan told me last night about the knife and photos.” Kate’s pursed her lips. “First, I’m a bit surprised—and pissed—that you didn’t tell me yourself. And second, did you really think he’d keep that from me?”
Evelyn cringed, then shook her head. She’d thought about calling Kate, then that second had passed and the nightmarish day kept right on rolling. After Marcus read Kate in on the case last night, she’d just expected Ryan to fill her in on all the nasty little details. Including the bloody hunting knife stuck in her front door. Evelyn squirmed. That little detail should’ve come from her. As her best friend and the closest thing to a sister she had left, Kate deserved that much.
“I meant to tell you about the knife. Sorry.”
Kate shrugged. “It’s okay. But for the record, I think it’s smart. That you’re keeping a low profile.”
Evelyn leaned back in her chair and stared up at the ugly ceiling. “It’s infuriating. And crippling. And demoralizing. How can I help if an invisible ball and chain is shackling me?”
“Come on, Ev. There’s no invisible ball and chain unless you’ve put it there. You’re fully capable of performing that magic of yours, whether you’re front and center or right here. If the powers that be didn’t think you could handle it, they’d never have brought you and Ry on as lead.” She leaned closer. “And the only reason you’re being asked to take a more invisible role now is because they care about you. They’re protecting their own. Besides, you’d do the exact same thing if you were in the chief’s shoes, and you know it. You’re invaluable to the team. Don’t forget that. And as far as your heart goes, I’d be worried if you didn’t feel it. It’s what makes you so good at your job. Don’t discount it now.”
Evelyn smiled. “Thanks. I seriously don’t know what I would do without you. You’re a pillar of strength for me.”
“Me? A pillar of strength? For you?” Kate laughed. “How can you be so brilliant and so not, all at the same time?”
Evelyn cocked her head.
“You’ve got it all wrong. Don’t you get it? You are the pillar of strength here. Not me, not Ryan. You.” She picked up her coffee and carefully sipped as she scrutinized Evelyn. Worry and fatigue washed over her beautiful face. Kate sat her mug down. “We aren’t going anywhere, sweetie. So stop worrying about that. Focus on the case.”
Evelyn grimaced. “I’m not feeling very strong lately.”
Kate stood, then smoothed her jade-toned pencil skirt. “You’re stronger than you think, braver than anyone I’ve ever met or will ever meet. I’m certain of that. So don’t doubt yourself. No one else does.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
LATER THAT AFTERNOON, back at work, Evelyn paced as she watched the TV screen. Her head throbbed and her heart pounded against her ribs. She wiped her palms against her pants. Any minute now, the press conference would start. On screen, the mayor’s chief of staff gave a brief introduction before the mayor and her team walked to the stage. Evelyn sat on the edge of her desk and observed as the mayor straightened his tie.
“Good afternoon. Thank you for joining us today. With me are Chief Diaz and FBI Special Agent Marcus Moretti. Agent Moretti’s been consulting with the Seattle Police Department on this unfortunate series of murders.”
Evelyn snorted. Unfortunate. That’s the only word you could come up with?
“To his left is Detective Ryan O’Neil. He’s our Seattle Police Department lead, who is heading up this investigation. After working with the local FBI office and Special Agent Moretti, the SPD is closer than ever to finding the killer the media has dubbed the Seattle Slayer. We’ve called this press conference to calm and educate the people of Seattle about the true facts of this ongoing investigation.”
He turned toward Marcus and nodded. “Now, I would like to turn the podium over to Special Agent Marcus Moretti.”
Marcus looked handsome in his dark blue suit and yellow tie. She rolled her eyes. Oh, good grief, really? Even on TV, he made her heart race. Her cheeks flushed as her mind replayed his gentle caresses.
“Stupid man.” She twirled her chair in a circle.
Marcus cleared his throat. “Thank you, Mr. Mayor. This individual is most likely a white male in his late thirties, early forties. He’ll be very well-educated and, at first glance, easygoing and approachable. However, he most likely has extensive combat training and is very dangerous. If you suspect anything unusual, do not, under any circumstances, approach this individual. Call 911 immediately. Let us apprehend him. The most important thing is to stay calm, be diligent and watch for unfamiliar activities or anything unusual. We’re working tirelessly on your behalf.”
He turned toward Ryan. “Detective O’Neil.”
Ryan nodded at Marcus, then stepped up to the podium. He was also sharp in a black suit and blue tie. “Thank you. As Special Agent Moretti already confirmed, we’re working diligently toward finding this suspect. We’re confident our team will apprehend him quickly. Until then, we’re asking the public to report any suspicious activity to our hotline.”
Evelyn got up and paced like a lioness in an iron cage. She should be at the press conference—bad idea or not—showing the city of Seattle that her team wasn’t scared, that they were upholding their promise to protect and serve and that they were a strong, impenetrable, united front. She should be there, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Marcus and Ryan. She turned back to the TV, her mind landing on Ryan. He’d stopped talking.
“Detective?”
Ryan pointed to the rear of the room. A young reporter’s face lit up as he straightened and held out his recorder. Evelyn went back to pacing.
“Detective, what else can you tell us about the Seattle Slayer?”
“The Seattle Slay—”
Evelyn slammed to a halt. Her head snapped up and she spun around, catching the subtle twitch in Ryan’s jaw. His knuckles grew white as he gripped the podium. Her heart pounded so hard against her rib cage she thought her chest might burst.
“Don’t.” She pleaded to the screen. “Please, Ryan, don’t.”
His face hardened, eyes darkening. “Let’s call this what it truly is, folks. This guy is a psychopathic killer, not a celebrity.”
The reporter shrank back, all light gone from his face.
Evelyn’s heart sank, afraid of what he’d say next.
Ryan stared directly into the camera. “We know you’re watching, and we have a message for you—”
“No, we don’t,” Evelyn yelled at the TV. Marcus threw Ryan a startled glance. She stood alone, powerless in the empty bull pen, as Ryan threw down an invisible gauntlet to the monster terrorizing their city.
“We will find you. You can’t hide from us forever. You’ll make a mistake, and we’ll nail your ass.”
Marcus leaned toward the podium and put one hand on Ryan’s shoulder. “That’s all, folks. Thank you.”
She slumped into her chair and dropped her head into her hands as her stomach plunged to her toes. What had Ryan just done?
The rest of the briefing came and went. Evelyn didn’t even listen. She sat at her desk, fuming. She’d gone from horrified to pissed in all of about two minutes. She didn’t even bother turning off the TV after Marcus and Ryan exited the stage. She’d known this press conference was a bad idea. Everyone was on edge. Why had no one listened to her? Wasn’t she supposed to be the resident badass who could get into the mind of a killer, close the impossible cases? Wasn’t she the one who was being poached
by the Bureau because of that exact skill? So why the hell hadn’t they listened? Calm the city, yes. Spit in the face of this killer, no.
* * *
“WHAT THE HELL was that, Ryan?” Evelyn asked the moment he and Marcus stepped out of the elevator.
Ryan pushed past her. He sat at his desk and answered with a sheepish shrug. “I got a little carried away. It won’t happen again.”
“You got—” She choked on her words. “You got a little carried away? You shouldn’t have gone off like that.”
“Ev, it won’t happen again. I’ve got this.” He loosened his tie and unbuttoned the top button of his shirt. “Calm down. It’ll be fine.”
“Don’t tell me to calm down,” she snapped. “And no, it won’t be fine. You just publicly challenged him. If he was watching—”
“Which he was,” Marcus interjected.
“—you all but personally invited him to prove you wrong.”
Ryan’s face went white. “Shit.”
“Yes. ‘Shit’ is right.”
Marcus leaned against the wall. “We’ve got to think about doing damage control on this before he retaliates.”
“Not tonight, Marcus.” She sank into her chair. “If we go back on the air, it’ll appear we’ve made a mistake. Which will only fuel him further. Tonight, we sit on it.”
He shook her head. “I don’t like it. But you’re right.”
“So now what?” Ryan asked.
“You go home.” Marcus said it so quietly, Evelyn almost missed it. Her eyebrows shot up.
Ryan rose. His eyes flashed. “No way. Look, I saw red at the thought of glamorizing this bastard targeting Evelyn, and I responded. I’m sorry. I didn’t think, just reacted. It won’t happen again.”
Marcus put his hand on Ryan’s shoulder. “I know. Believe me, I want this guy just as much as you do. But you’re too worked up about this. Go home. Tuck the kids in bed. I’ll drop Evelyn off in a bit. Then we’ll regroup tomorrow morning, first thing.”
Ryan threw a pleading look at Evelyn. “Ev—”
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