“And that’s why you know him. He might come in and out, drifting in when Senator Duncan is in the area. He won’t stay all year, but he knows this place. He’d be the best hunter in the area. He’d have to be. So think of someone who’s gone after big game. Someone who—”
The sheriff stiffened.
“You know who it is,” Mercer growled.
“There is a guy like that. His name’s Patrick, Patrick Porter.” Hodges shook his head. “He’s the best hunter in the area. He comes through the area because he likes to go after bears.” His gaze darted to the photos on the wall. “Lot of hunters come through here because they want to go after the big game, but Porter... He comes back each year. And he always gets his prey.”
Her heart raced in her chest. “Is he here now?”
“I don’t know.” Hodges ran a hand over his face. “But he usually stays at the old Burrows cabin. It’s about four miles north of the senator’s place.”
A perfect fit.
“Get your men out there,” Mercer snapped. “Now.”
Noelle yanked out her phone as the sheriff rushed away. She had Thomas back on the line seconds later. “We have a target. His name’s Patrick Porter, and the sheriff said he’s at a cabin about four miles north of the senator’s home.” That would sure put the guy in close enough proximity to kill. “The sheriff is heading there now.”
“You know he probably has a few cabins out there, Noelle,” Thomas said. “Places to hide his victims.”
Yes, she knew that. “But he might have left us something we could use at the Burrows place.” Or maybe the guy wasn’t thinking clearly because of his injuries. She’d seen plenty of perps slip up over the years. “Get back to the station, and we’ll go after him with the sheriff.” Because she planned to be on the scene.
She pushed the phone into her pocket and spun back around. She marched for the door, but Mercer put up his hand, blocking her. “You need to be careful.”
His words had her pausing. Since when did the EOD director worry his agents couldn’t do their jobs?
Her eyes narrowed on him. “I might not have military experience, but I survived just fine as an FBI agent. If you don’t think I can do this, then you never should’ve brought me on the team.”
“I know you can do any job.” He shut the door, sealing them inside.
Noelle gave a frantic shake of her head. “Thomas is on his way. I need to get directions for that cabin. I should—”
“Thomas briefed me on what happened last night.”
For an instant, her cheeks burned. No way was he talking about what she suspected. There were sure some things the boss didn’t need to know.
“You nearly died. If you’d been alone, do you think you would have made it out of that water?”
“You might be surprised,” Noelle said as she lifted her chin. “I’m a lot stronger than you give me credit for being.”
He laughed at that, the sound low and rough. “Oh, I know you’re plenty strong. All of my agents are. I didn’t keep the truth from you because I thought you were weak.” His head tilted. “Is that what you think?”
She didn’t know what to think.
“You changed Thomas on that mission. He was still young, a new agent, but he was focused totally on the job. Until you. He tried to go back for you—twice—even though we told him that you’d been taken in by the local cops.”
Her lashes lowered to shield her eyes.
“He was undercover. He saved your life, but by staying on his mission, he saved the lives of hundreds of other people, too.”
Noelle swallowed.
“Don’t blame him. If you’re furious, and you’ve got a right to be, blame me.”
Her lashes lifted. “I do.”
He nodded. “Fair enough.”
She didn’t see where a whole lot was fair right then. “I don’t have time for this now. Sarah Finway is out there, and she needs help.” She pushed past him and grabbed for the doorknob.