by Angela Kay
“This is the FBI, son,” Thomas warned. “They aren’t ones to mess with.”
He almost sounded genuine, which forced a scoff from Jordan.
“Did I say something funny?” Thomas narrowed his eyes with anger.
“No, no,” Jordan told him. “I’m just wondering why you even care? You said it yourself that people are tuning into our station more and more. If I may be so immodest, dear uncle, it’s because I tell them the cold hard facts. They don’t want to wonder if it’s safe to roam around outside. They don’t want to worry about their family and friends. They want truth.”
“And you’ll stop at nothing to get what you want,” Thomas surmised. “You didn’t learn anything about last time, did you? When you chased after a dangerous killer? Nearly getting yourself killed in the process?”
“Thomas,” Jordan groaned. “Exactly how would you prefer me to report the news? The public has a right to know what’s going on. And you know the cops hold back information all the time. Now we’re dealing with another serial killer, and people are scared. But I’ve learned over the years that they’re more scared of the unknown. At least knowing details will take the edge off.”
“Details like Judge Paris’ past?” Thomas cornered. “Tell me what that had to do with his sons’ murders?”
Jordan didn’t bother coming up with a rebuttal.
“I wish I could believe you merely have the public’s interest at heart,” Thomas said after a long silence.
“I do,” Jordan replied. “If I happen to become popular in my field, that’s merely a bonus.”
“No, what you want is for people to bow down at your feet.”
Jordan said nothing as he watched his uncle stand.
“I just want you to be careful, son. You’re playing with fire. You will get burned.”
“At least I’ll be burned doing what I do best. They can’t touch me. You know that.”
“Bribery’s a crime, Jordan. If they find you’ve been paying for the information, you could get into serious trouble.”
“No paper trail. There’s nothing that’ll link me to Agent Douglas. Even if he rats me out, it’s my word against his.”
“See that they don’t link you to him,” Thomas said. “You’re on your own, Jordan. I won’t go to bat for you. Not this time.”
“When have you ever?” Jordan challenged hotly.
“Have a good night, son,” Thomas said, looking at his nephew, sadness darkening his expression.
Jordan remained where he was as his uncle walked out of the door. He rubbed the bridge of his nose, hoping the headache trying to break through would pass.
For now, Jordan returned to his bedroom where a slim redhead slept, the sheet falling off her back. He walked to her side of the bed and covered her.
With a soft moan, she whispered for him to join him back to bed.
Jordan untied his robe and let it fall, pooling around his feet. He climbed underneath the covers, the touch of her skin, electrifying his nerves.
47
The next morning, Aidan walked into the office later than normal. He’d barely had time to check his appearance in the mirror and was sure he looked as if he hadn’t slept all night. He did, but he’d woken up late, hearing Cheyenne in the bathroom.
He hadn’t realized how tired he was, but with his mind whirling nonstop as he tried to make sense of the lack of evidence, and now concern over Cheyenne’s sickness, loss of sleep was bound to happen.
“You’re late,” Shaun said as he neared his desk. “Monroe wanted to wait ‘til you got in so we can have a briefing.”
Aidan groaned and rubbed his eyes. It was much too early in the morning for a briefing, especially since Aidan had left the house without his usual coffee.
“Yeah, sorry, Cheyenne’s sick. She’d been throwing up all morning.”
“Sorry to hear that,” Shaun said. “Do you know why?”
Aidan set his things on his desk with a soft thud. “She’s had a headache most of the night. And she looked so worn out this morning. I wish I could be there with her.”
“After the briefing, why don’t you take the day off?”
“I don’t know about that,” Aidan said. “With Douglas gone, I’ll be needed.”
“We can survive a single day, Aidan,” Shaun urged him. “We’ve got other agents to assist. Cheyenne only has you.”
Their conversation was interrupted with Monroe walking up, her face scrunched in annoyance directed at Aidan.
“You’re late.”
“So I’ve heard,” Aidan said. He ran his fingers through his hair. “You want a meeting?”
Monroe nodded. “I’ll see you in the conference room shortly.”
She walked off to speak with a few other agents.
“I need coffee,” Aidan muttered. “I didn’t get the chance to make any this morning.”
“That explains it.”
“What?”
“Why you look…,” Shaun glanced sidelong at Aidan, then shook his head. “Never mind.”
Aidan shot his friend a look of annoyance, not feeling in the mood for bantering. In silence, they went to the coffee machine, grabbed a cup of instant coffee, and made their way to the conference room. The room was filled with the other agents investigating the serial killings.
While Aidan knew they were each in their own way good, dedicated agents, he couldn’t help but think they weren’t Douglas.
The conversation he and Shaun had with the former agent replayed in his mind, and he began to feel sick himself that Douglas felt he had to stoop so low. He also considered whether he’d be just as disappointed if it was any reporter other than Jordan Blake.
After all, the young reporter for WJFX News had been a thorn in Aidan’s side since the day they met.
Aidan had never liked reporters, but his dislike for Jordan grew on a whole new level.
But no, Aidan decided. While Jordan Blake was a mental case, Douglas knew what he was doing was wrong. There was no excusing what he did. Yes, Aidan was sorry about Douglas’ wife having cancer. And while benefits in the agency were great, treatments cost a great deal.
He understood why Douglas did what he did, but still…
Monroe’s appearance in the conference room broke through Aidan’s thoughts.
“I’ll make this quick,” she told them, standing behind the chair at the head of the table. “As you all know, Agent Douglas is no longer with this company. His exit has left us heartbroken and in shock, but that does not erase the many years Douglas served in law enforcement. However, at the same time, it does not justify the actions he took that led him to part company.”
She paused to look around the table. All eyes were on her.
“Let me be clear—confidentiality means everything to me. If you cannot give me that, then you do not belong under my command. We withhold certain details from the press for many different reasons. I will be closely watching each one of you. This will be the last time we have this discussion.”
After a round of murmurs in agreement, Monroe dismissed the team. Only Aidan and Shaun remained at her request.
“What are your thoughts so far on the investigation?”
“So far, we still don’t have much to go on,” Shaun said. “At least not without talking to Bryce Van Camp’s father.”
“What about the two brothers?”
“We ran a search for them last night before signing off, but neither showed up. We’re still looking.”
“Have one of the new agents find the brothers,” Monroe said. “I want you to go back to each victim’s families and find out more about Bryce’s trial. I want every record, every account, everything. If these murders have anything to do with Bryce Van Camp, the answer has got to be there.”
“You got it,” Shaun acknowledged.
“What about Ryan James’ parents? Any luck?”
“No.”
“The other new agent can keep looking.”
Monroe pulled the chair ba
ck and sat, steepling her fingers on the tabletop.
“Jordan Blake,” she mused. “How much do you suppose he knows?”
Aidan and Shaun exchanged glances, then looked back at Monroe.
“Nothing,” Aidan replied. “At least nothing different from what Douglas knew.”
“But he is resilient,” Shaun interjected. “He may find other ways to get the answers he wants.”
“We can’t toss him in jail,” Monroe said pointedly.
“Unfortunately not,” Aidan agreed. “Though I wouldn’t mind acting like we were going to toss him inside and lose the key.”
The corner of Monroe’s lips curved into a small smile. “That being said, we’re unable to arrest him since we’ve no proof of bribery. He’s smart, I’ll give him that.”
Aidan nodded. “Too smart for his own good.”
Shaun arched an eyebrow. “Did you just pay him a compliment?”
“I don’t like the guy,” Aidan stated the obvious, “But he’s good at what he does. You’re right, He won’t quit. Even with Douglas out of the picture, Blake will find some way to get what he wants.”
“Good, you agree, then,” Monroe said as she stood.
Shaun narrowed his eyes and all Aidan could think of to do was blink his eyes.
“Wait—w-what?” Aidan stammered.
“We can’t arrest Jordan Blake,” Monroe replied, “And you said it yourself. He’s good at what he does. I’ve seen it for myself. Blake figured out who the Carnations Killer was and had the guts to go after him.”
“I still don’t see to what exactly I’m agreeing,” Aidan said.
“We need to keep an eye on him, keep him out of trouble,” Monroe said. “What I’d like for you to do is work with Blake. Perhaps between the three of you, we can untangle some loose threads.”
Aidan’s mouth fell open. “You can’t be serious.”
“Hold up.” Shaun leaned forward. “What makes you think Jordan Blake will even work with us?”
“You’ll figure it out, I’m sure,” Monroe said. “Thank you, gentlemen, that’ll be all. I’m running late for a conference call with Director Zane.”
She stood and left the room, leaving Aidan and Shaun alone, speechless.
Aidan finally looked over at his friend. “She can’t actually be serious, can she?”
“Unfortunately, buddy, I’d say we’ve got a new partner,” Shaun said as he pushed to his feet.
“This isn’t going to end well,” Aidan muttered, following his partner out of the room. “How is this going to even work? And what if Blake starts reporting what we find?”
“You ever hear the montage, ‘keep your friends close and your enemies closer’?”
Aidan groaned as he took a sip of his coffee. “This isn’t going to end well at all.”
48
“You do the talking,” Aidan said as they walked into the WJFX building. “Because if I do, I’m liable to punch him in the face instead.”
Shaun chuckled. “Just think of it this way. You’ll have power over him and threaten to jail him for any wrongdoing.”
Aidan rolled his eyes. “Have you met Jordan Blake, Shaun? He’s cocky, he’s arrogant, he’s smug…and everything like that all rolled up into one. ‘I’m Jordan Blake, and you heard it here first,’” Aidan mocked. “You know he’ll never let us live this down.”
“He’ll never let you live this down,” Shaun corrected. “Why? Because he knows he’s like scabies. He burrows underneath your skin and lays eggs to cause unbearable itching and annoyance.”
“What a beautiful analogy,” Aidan muttered, deciding it was the perfect image to describe the reporter.
“Now, if you’d just let it go…,” Shaun began to hum softly.
“Shaun, I swear, if you start singing…” Aidan didn’t get the chance to finish his sentence when his partner began to belt out the song from the movie Frozen. “I hate you.”
They turned the corner, where Jordan’s office was located. When they arrived at the door and knocked, no one answered.
“Could be in the recording studio,” Shaun suggested.
Aidan nodded in agreement, refusing to speak again.
They walked silently to the studio and found Jordan giving the camera a summary of what was known so far of the Scavenger Hunter killings.
The reporter paused a beat, his eyes falling onto his visitors. He resumed, signed off, then passed the microphone to his cameraman as he made his way to the agents.
Jordan linked his arms over his chest. “Now what do you want from me?”
“We need to have a word,” Shaun said.
“Sorry, boys, I’m a bit busy.”
Shaun forced a smile. “Won’t take but a moment.”
With an eye roll, Jordan said, “Fine. Let’s get it over with. I do have way more important things to do, you know.”
Jordan led the way back to his office and opened the door.
“Don’t touch my stuff,” he warned as he walked inside.
Aidan clenched his jaw but forced himself to be quiet.
“Since there’s plenty of things all of us could be doing, I’ll just cut to the chase, Blake,” Shaun said. “We have a proposition for you.”
“Oh, yeah?” Jordan said. He moved to sit at his computer and logged in. “This ought to be good.”
“We’d like you to join forces with us to catch the Scavenger Hunter,” Shaun continued. “Of course, you will be disallowed to share what we find, unless okayed by Agent O’Reilly or myself. But still, you’ll have the privilege of knowing firsthand information.”
Jordan swung around in his swivel chair with a gleeful smile stretched across his lips.
“I’m sorry, Henderson, you were…asking…for my help?”
“Think of it more as we don’t trust you, so we’re going to babysit,” Aidan replied.
Jordan tilted his head in laughter and clapped his hands together. “You need my help!”
“Think whatever you want to think,” Aidan growled. “But just so you know, you don’t have much of a choice. Either assist us and keep your lips zipped or go to jail.”
“Seems more like you don’t have a choice. After all, you wouldn’t willingly ask for my help if your own mother was in trouble. I’m willing to bet your boss put you up to it.”
“Are you going to do it, or what?” Shaun asked.
“I admit I’m quite intrigued, Henderson,” Jordan said. “I’ll do it. On one condition. I want him—“ His eyes skirted to Aidan an amused gleam flickering within, “—to ask me.”
“You’re kidding, right?” Aidan scoffed, shaking his head. “I’d prefer to throw you in jail.” He reached for Jordan’s arm when Shaun stopped him.
“A word, Agent O’Reilly?”
Shaun walked out of the office and biting back a groan, Aidan followed.
“You need to do it,” Shaun said, keeping his voice low.
“I am not going to beg—.”
“Monroe instructed us to invite Blake to tag along,” Shaun interrupted. “We need to keep an eye on him, and you know he may be helpful to us. Put aside your differences this one time.”
Aidan curved his lips into a scowl.
“Fine.”
Shaun returned into Jordan’s office first, leaving Aidan out in the hall, breathing in his frustration.
“Lord, give me strength to get through this,” he prayed through his teeth.
Re-entering the office, Aidan nodded toward the reporter. “Blake, we could use your reporting expertise, if you are willing.”
Jordan placed his hand over his heart and choked a fake sob. “Why, Agent O’Reilly, how sweet of you to ask. I’d be delighted.”
“Be aware,” Shaun said, “If anything is leaked, we will have you locked up so fast, your head will spin. Understood?”
Eyes wide with obvious mocking fear, Jordan bobbed his head. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“See that you don’t,” Aidan said as the reporter rose to
his feet.
Jordan’s smiling face met Aidan’s frown, their nose almost touching. “This will be fun.”
49
Aidan splashed cold water on his face.
The start of this day had not gone well.
Not in the slightest.
And, from the way things appeared, Aidan’s day wasn’t going to get any better.
First, Cheyenne was sick, and although he’d called her on the way to WJFX to let her know he would come home and take care of her, she told him no, that she’d have Laura come over.
Then he had to personally ask Jordan Blake of all people for his help in his investigation. Yes, Monroe had a good reason for the idea, but did it help ease Aidan’s mind? No. How could it? Jordan Blake was a parasite who belonged in jail for his underhanded methods of getting information.
A…what was it that Shaun referred to him as…that’s right— scabies.
Another handful of water splashed Aidan’s face before he righted his body and pulled two sheets of paper towels from the dispenser. He dried himself off with a frustrated curse and chunked the paper towel into the wastebasket.
No use stalling any longer.
A sigh of defeat pushed out of him as he left the men’s room and found Shaun at their desks with Jordan sitting in a chair, listening to Aidan’s partner drone on.
A white visitor tag clung to Jordan’s black tee.
It was at that time, Jordan looked up and offered a wink, one Aidan was sure meant to send another spark of frustration through his nerves.
“I can’t believe Monroe is having you work with Jordan Blake.”
Aidan looked over at Harrelson, who stood by the coffee machine with Annie, one of the two younger agents who attended the conference.
“She doesn’t trust him,” Aidan said. “After the whole deal with Douglas, I don’t blame her for wanting to keep an eye on him.” He released another sigh. “Surely there are better ways than to stick him with us.”
“I watch him on TV all the time.” Annie’s cheeks flared up. “He’s so handsome and charismatic.”
