“He was lying,” Rachel said again, her voice stronger.
Because she knew exactly what Jack would do if he didn’t think Dylan’s words were a lie.
“He was lying,” she whispered and she prayed that Jack believed her. Because if he didn’t...
Dylan and I could both be dead.
* * *
NOELLE WATCHED DYLAN rush away. He couldn’t do that. He couldn’t just go straight into danger.
Into death.
She realized that the EOD wasn’t like the FBI. The FBI was all about rules and regulations. Paperwork. Enough files and forms to choke her.
And the EOD...the agents there seemed to be on a constant adrenaline high. They loved the risk and the battles.
Being in the field was the work they craved.
“What’s wrong?”
It was his voice. Thomas Anthony. He was beside her. Not touching her. He was always so careful not to touch her.
But he seemed to watch her a lot. Noelle knew...because she found herself watching him, too.
“I need to speak with Mercer.” She had to tell him what was happening. All of the EOD agents had trackers implanted on them. When she told Mercer what was happening, they could activate Dylan’s tracker. Rachel’s hadn’t worked, but...Dylan’s will. “Dylan...he just got a call from Jack. He’s going after the killer, without backup.”
Thomas seemed to absorb that. But instead of immediately sprinting toward a car—and to go follow Dylan—he said, “Who says he needs backup? The man knows how to handle himself.”
Shocked, she could only shake her head. “He’s walking straight into the killer’s trap.”
“Dylan is hunting a man that he’s wanted to kill for years. It wouldn’t be wise to get in his path now.”
Noelle backed up a step. “Mercer can activate Dylan’s tracker. We can all follow the signal. Go in. Take Jack down.”
Thomas shook his head. “The instant that Jack sees anyone else there, what do you think he’ll do?”
She hesitated.
“Come on, profiler.” The title was almost a taunt. “Tell me, what will he do when he sees more agents?”
Her skin iced. “He’ll kill.”
“Who will he kill?”
“Dylan.” Thanks to the profile she’d created, she could see what would come all too easily. “If he thinks he can’t escape, Jack won’t go in alive.” He had a narcissistic personality, one that thrived on control. On power.
Prison would take that power from him.
In his last moments, Jack would want to assert himself. He’d want the end to be all about him. He wouldn’t live in a cage.
And he won’t let Rachel go again.
“He’ll kill Rachel,” she whispered. “Then himself.”
Thomas nodded “And that’s exactly why we don’t make the call to Mercer right now. We give Dylan time.”
But time to what? To kill?