The Last Move (Criminal Profiler 1)

“It won’t take much time.”

Mazur moved in and out of traffic. A couple of times he had to think twice about street choices and happily chose correctly each time. Twenty minutes later he pulled onto the tree-lined campus that blended old and new architecture.

Alyssa was sitting in front of the school on a stone bench, her backpack on her lap. She was a petite girl with blond hair that brushed her shoulders and framed a round face.

When she saw Mazur’s car, she grinned and hustled toward it.

As he got out of the car, she tossed him a pointed look that resembled many Kate had given him. “Thanks, Dad. We got out early and I didn’t want to wait for Mrs. White.”

He kissed her on the cheek and took her backpack as he opened the back door. “Going to have to put you in the back like a perp. Company today. Alyssa, this is Agent Kate Hayden.”

Alyssa slid into the backseat. “Hi, Agent Hayden.”

“Nice to meet you, Alyssa. Call me Kate.”

“So, are you the Fed working with Dad?”

“I am.”

“So what case are you working on?” Alyssa asked.

“Two murders,” Kate said.

Mazur slammed the back car door and glanced at Kate as he slid behind the wheel. “She doesn’t need the details, Dr. Hayden.”

Alyssa rested her folded arms on the front seat. “She likes details.”

“I have to honor your father’s wishes, Alyssa,” Kate said.

“Daaaad. I want to know about the case,” Alyssa said.

Mazur shook his head as he circled the parking lot back toward the main entrance. “Dr. Hayden, keep it G-rated.”

Kate frowned as if shuffling through her facts to choose the tamest. “Alyssa, we have one victim who was shot. I was summoned to town because there is evidence to suggest there might be a serial killer involved.”

Mazur glanced in the rearview mirror in time to see the kid’s eyes widen with keen interest.

“So, do you work cases like this all the time?” Alyssa asked.

“I do.”

“How long have you been with the FBI?”

“Seven years.”

“That is so cool,” Alyssa said. “What kind of cases have you worked?”

Mazur’s thoughts suddenly turned to the girl in Utah and the other horror cases Kate worked. He cleared his throat, determined to redirect. “What bit of advice can you give Alyssa about staying safe, Dr. Hayden?” Mazur inquired.

Kate turned in her seat and faced his girl. “Never, ever get into anyone’s car, even if they threaten to shoot you. You have a better chance with the bullet than if you get in the car.”

“Dad says that.”

“And always have your cell with you and the GPS locater activated.”

“Yes,” she groaned. “Dad says that, too.”

“If you’re ever fighting for your life, don’t get fancy and think a ninja kick to the groin is going to save you. He could grab your ankle, and then you’d be flat on your back with a cracked skull. A hard strike to the nose is effective, as well as biting. Play dead if you think it’ll work to your advantage.”

“Have you ever had to fight anyone off?” Alyssa asked.

“Once late last year. There was a man who was badly hurting women.” She glanced toward Mazur. “He figured out I was closing in on him so he came after me.”

“Did he hurt you?” Alyssa asked.

“He tried. But then I shot him.”

“Wow. Dad, can I have a gun?”

“No.”

Alyssa sighed. “Agent Hayden, you aren’t much taller than I am,” she said.

“Use it to your advantage,” Kate said. “Your attacker will underestimate you.”

Maybe, Mazur thought, but most people weren’t prepared to survive a monster’s attack. Adding fuel to his worries, his girl was pretty, outgoing, and not afraid to talk to strangers.

“Reverse pressure on a thumb works, or a punch to the throat,” Kate added. “And if you’re taken, try to leave clues behind for the people looking for you.”

They drove in silence for less than a half mile before Alyssa asked, “How did you get that scar on your face?”

“Alyssa,” Mazur said. “Don’t be nosy.”

“I barely notice the scar anymore,” Kate said. “I was shot.”

“Is that when your dad died?”

“You’ve been reading up on me,” Kate said.

“Sorry. Curious.”

“Curious is good. And yes, the scar is from that shooting.”

Mazur pulled into the gated community, paused at the guard station to show his ID, and drove Alyssa to an elegant Spanish-style home. The front door opened, and an older woman with graying hair appeared.

“Good, Mrs. White is home. I forgot my key again.” The words tumbled out of the girl as she got out of the car.

Mazur shook his head. “Not good, kiddo. Keep your keys handy.”

She leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. “Will do.”

He waited until she and the housekeeper disappeared into the house.

“Great kid,” Kate said.

“The best.”

At the Sanchez home there wasn’t a collection of expensive cars parked in front of the house. A black sash had been draped above the doors. “Looks like there aren’t a lot of people home,” he said.

“It would be better if we could talk to Isabella alone.”

He wasn’t interesting in upsetting the young woman, but he wasn’t opposed to pressing her for details. “Agreed.”

Kate and Mazur walked up to the front door, but before they could knock it was opened by a young woman with ebony-brown hair and the rich-brown eyes she’d inherited from her father. Her full lips were pulled into a strained frown, and the furrows in her brow ran deep.

“You’re the cops, right?”

Mazur pulled off his sunglasses. “Yes, ma’am. Are you Isabella Sanchez?”

“I am. Are you the two who talked to my father last night?”

“We are.”

The young woman leaned in a fraction. “I’m not supposed to talk to you without an attorney present. Dad’s pretty upset.”

“Is he here?” Kate asked.

“No. My father and Mr. Bennett are at the medical examiner’s office. They’re trying to get Gloria’s body released.”

“If you don’t want to talk to us, we understand,” Kate said in a soft voice. “We know this is a terrible time. I’ve lost a parent, and I understand how painful all this can be.”

“You lost a parent?” She slid her hands into her pockets. The gesture signaled she was closing off.

“My father,” she said. “He was also shot to death.”

“For real?”

“I was younger than you. Seventeen. We were in a parking lot, and a guy came out of nowhere and shot him. It’s tough. Tore my family apart.”

Kate’s tone was almost friendly. There was empathy behind the words but not the softness he’d seen when she spoke to Alyssa.

Tears well

ed in the girl’s eyes. “I don’t know what I’d do if I’d seen it. I think I’d go insane.”

Kate didn’t speak, but she’d moved a half step closer to her as if trying to forge an invisible bond by simply creating closer proximity between them.

Isabella swiped a tear away as she glanced around. “Look, my father and Mr. Bennett aren’t here so come inside. It’s not like I’ve anything to give away.”

“Thanks,” Kate said.

Mazur allowed Kate to go first, and he trailed behind, happy to let her take over the line of questioning. She didn’t appear as stiff and controlled as she had in front of the cameras, and some of the tension had melted from her shoulders. Still, she was wound tight.

They sat in the spacious living room, Isabella on the couch with Kate close by. He settled in the chair across from them to give them space.

“Isabella, I hate to ask questions.” Kate absently touched the worn bracelet on her wrist. “But I have to.”

“Ask,” the girl said, shifting her body toward Kate.

“I was reading your father and stepmother’s financial statements. Nearly all their money is gone. Did either of them talk to you about money troubles?”

“Gloria ran the money show. A couple of times I asked her about it, but she said I shouldn’t worry. She said she had a talent for making money grow.”

“But kids hear things,” Kate said. “Surely Gloria and your father discussed money.”

“I heard them arguing when I was home over summer break. Dad wanted to pull out some cash but said their joint account was almost empty. She wanted to know why he needed the money right now, and he said he shouldn’t have to clear purchases with her. She told him he would have to wait a few weeks.”

“Do you have any thoughts on what was happening?”

“I don’t know. Gloria and Dad’s relationship had been kind of cool this year. They seemed to annoy each other. Nothing big. Just lots of little things. I asked Dad, and he said not to worry. It was regular couple stuff.”

“Was there anyone hanging around your father or stepmother who bothered you?” Mazur asked. “Anyone who would want to hurt them?”

“Not that I knew, but like I said, they always kept me separate from the business. I wanted to work in the dealership during summer breaks when I was in high school, but Gloria never would let me. She wanted me taking a class. Said my brain was my best asset.”