Evidence of Passion (Shadow Agents 7) - Page 51
Noelle shifted slightly, moving from her left foot to her right.
Dylan didn’t move at all. He couldn’t. Not with Rachel’s stark gaze on him.
“Don’t worry,” Mercer told Rachel. “You know Agent Foxx can handle this case. He’s been after Jack since long before you even joined the EOD. He’ll do what is necessary to bring the killer in, you can count on that.”
Rachel flinched. “What is necessary?”
No, oh, no, she’d better not be thinking—
“I think he already has,” Rachel murmured. Then she shook her head and faced Mercer once more. Her chin was up, her shoulders straight. “I want you to reconsider.” Just like that, the emotion was gone from her voice. She’d soldier on. That was Rachel. Always so strong. “I know Jack. I can—”
“Jack has taken the bait that Dylan provided. We’re confident that he will be apprehended soon.” Mercer was obviously finished with that discussion. “My assistant, Judith, will give you new orders, Agent Mancini.”
Rachel stiffened.
“But...” Again, a hint of sympathy flashed in Mercer’s eyes. “Perhaps you’d rather just take a few days off before starting your new assignment? You’ve been through quite a lot lately.”
She glanced down at her hands. “I joined the EOD because I wanted to make a difference in this world.”
“You have,” Mercer assured her. “But this particular case is over for you.” He straightened in his chair. “You’re dismissed now, Agent.”
“Yes,” Rachel murmured. “I guess I am.” She turned and headed for the door. She didn’t glance over at Dylan even though—damn it—he wanted her to look at him again.
She walked slowly. She kept her head up the whole way. Not bowed. Proud.
The door closed behind her.
Thomas exhaled slowly. “You didn’t ask for it, but I’m telling you all...that was the wrong move. That woman deserves to be on this case, she—”
“Jack isn’t going to hurt her.” Noelle advanced and took the chair that Rachel had vacated. “She won’t be his next target. He’s clearly shown us that he will protect her.” Her gaze cut to Dylan. “And he’ll eliminate the man who he views as taking Rachel from him.”
“You think you know the killers, don’t you?” A hard edge entered Thomas’s voice. “But what happens if you’re wrong? What if we don’t always act just like you think?”
We?
Dylan glanced toward Mercer and found that the EOD director was staring straight at him.
“Right about now,” Mercer murmured, “Rachel is discovering just what her desk duty entails.”
It wasn’t just about being pulled off the case. It was about Rachel being temporarily relocated to the EOD’s smaller facility in Atlanta.
She’d be safer there. Out of Jack’s sight.
“Are you quite certain,” Mercer asked Dylan quietly, “that move was the best one? Rachel Mancini isn’t the type of woman to cower in the corner when danger looms.”
No, she wasn’t. She was the type of woman who would risk her life. For me. Just like she’d put herself at risk when she rushed out of her apartment and insisted on coming with him to that meeting with Jack. She’d been so worried he was in danger.
She hadn’t thought about the risk to herself.
“It’s the only move that I have,” Dylan said.
Mercer inclined his head. “Then I hope you don’t live to regret it.”
* * *
RACHEL FELT AS if she were about to explode. Just breathing was an effort, and the pain—the betrayal—twisting inside her was like a red-hot poker in her stomach.
She waited in Dylan’s office. She knew he had to show up there as soon as he was finished with Mercer. A meeting that no longer included her since Dylan had had her removed from the case.
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