“Detective Quinn,” Wexler interrupts. Startled, I turn to see our captain standing fists to hips in his office door. “My office. You, too, Agent Bonds.”
I know what’s coming. Quinn can roar and stomp his feet all he wants, but when the Feds come in, it’s game over for the local guys. For once, I know how Quinn must’ve felt the times I got assigned to his cases when I was with the General Investigation Section.
Wexler closes the door behind us.
“Captain, you know what this means—”
“Save it, Quinn. Maybe if this were any other case, we’d get into a jurisdictional pissing war with the Feds, but not now. Not with our M.E.’s life on the line.” He crosses his arms. “I’m the one who brought them in.”
Betrayal colors Quinn’s face, and I feel the resounding burn.
Wexler rubs the back of his neck and sighs. “Nothing changes. You and Sadie keep the task force on point. But let the Feds take the reins.”
A muscle feathers along Quinn’s jaw. “This is a slap in the face, Captain.”
“No, it’s an order.” Wexler holds Quinn’s gaze a second longer before he looks at me. “Agent Bonds doesn’t seem to have an issue. Do you?”
I press my lips together as I try to subdue my anger. It doesn’t work. “Actually, I do.” Quinn turns my way, eyebrows reaching toward his hairline. “The FBI’s main focus will be on apprehending the UNSUB—not on bringing Avery back alive. I take every offense to this method. Especially since Quinn and I weren’t informed beforehand.”
Wexler releases another heavy breath. “Point taken. But that’s where I’m depending on you two. Let the Feds have the glory of capturing the bad guy. You two make sure Avery stays safe. That’s it. Not another word. Dismissed.”
As Quinn and I leave Wexler’s office, he says to me, “This feels like some bureaucratic bullshit. Something tells me this wasn’t Wexler’s call at all.”
“Possibly,” I say. “And I don’t like it any more than you do, for Avery’s sake…but regardless, he’s right, Quinn.”
“How?”
“Because, now we can put our full attention on tracking down Avery. Let the Feds investigate the UNSUB. They can bring him down, dead or alive. I don’t care how or with what means.”
“You sure about that?” He glances over at me, concern etched on his features.
No. Not at all. The FBI will scrutinize every detail about Lyle Connelly. Which will inevitably link back to me. But I already decided to face my consequences when this ends. As long as it ends with Avery alive and safe, it will be worth the sacrifice.
“Let’s just get back to work,” I say. “Every fucking second that we deal with some setback, that’s another second Avery suffers.”
As Quinn addresses Kyle, his first in command on the task force, I give Agent Rollins the update on the profile. His keen observation about the connection between the Roanoke killings and the current killing spree puts me on edge. Obviously, the Feds have been conducting their own investigation. Whereas they now have access to all our data, we don’t have any insight into theirs.
That barrier presents a blind spot I can’t see around.
I’ve lost the advantage to anticipate what’s coming.
As we start out of the bullpen, I’m impressed with Quinn’s ability to suppress his urge to punch one of the agents going through his office.
I can hear the restraint in his voice. “What’s your thoughts on how the UNSUB will handle the FBI taking over?”
“Honestly. He’ll enjoy the attention. This might actually buy Avery more time.” The downside? If the FBI decides to seize communication with the UNSUB. That could trigger a volatile reaction.
I clutch my phone, reassured by the fact that the Feds didn’t confiscate it or the burner in my pocket. I’m sure that’s coming, but right now, I have two communication links to Avery. Two lifelines that the FBI will have to pry out of my hands before I give them up.
* * *
Quinn knocks on the door for a second time. “You sure this is the right address?”
I check Carmen Moore’s info on my phone. “It was logged by Avery herself. She keeps tight records.” Even in her personal, handwritten notes.
On the way here, I read through her journal. Her last log was on the missing evidence—the rope from the suspended vic crime scene. She noted the discovery of epithelial cells within the fiber. Possible DNA from the perpetrator.
In her mention, she theorized that although the offender wore gloves (the presence of synthetic polymers were also found on the rope), if he had wrapped the rope around his arm to hoist the body, the rope could’ve picked up transfer skin cells.