Dead End

by Susan Sleeman

  Worried that Eddie had been hurt, she felt a new sense of urgency and grabbed her tote to move to the back room. Reed came along behind her, carrying the chair with the bin sitting on the seat. He set the bin by her bag and straddled the chair, resting his arms on the back and watching her with those bottomless brown eyes. She ignored him, grabbed her infrared light, and turned off the overhead light. She was glad for the dark again as she didn’t have to see him watching her.

  Hoping to locate prints, she shone the light over the door and frame.

  “Why are you using infrared light?” he asked. “I know the techs used ultraviolet when they processed the place.”

  She wanted to sigh at the continued questions but kept her focus on the work. “Did they process the scene shortly after he disappeared?”

  “Yeah, three days after he was last seen.”

  “Makes sense then. Prints change over time and the type of light that will best display them changes with it. Infrared is best for detecting long duration latent prints.”

  “I’ve never sat and watched our techs like this before,” he said. “But I’m learning a lot from you, and have to say I’ll be more thankful for our techs in the future.”

  “Glad I could help with that.” She really was, even if it meant her every move being scrutinized.

  She recovered several prints and headed to the kitchen area where two dirty glasses sat in the sink. She could swab them here or take them to Emory. Sierra bagged them, expecting Reed to ask why, but he didn’t. She glanced back at him, and he was looking at his phone.

  She let her gaze linger, admiring the planes of his face and his intense focus in the glow from the screen’s bright light. She might find him attractive, but she already knew he would be a controlling partner. Probably not intentionally, but he would want to be in charge in a relationship. She had no doubts about that. Even if he was the first guy in a long time who caught her interest, she could never be with a guy like him. Never in a million years.

  His phone chimed. “County CSI did check for blood but found none.”

  “So if this is Eddie’s blood, he came back.”

  “Even more of a reason to believe he took off on his own.”

  Sierra thought about it. “Maybe he was afraid for his life and went into hiding. For some reason, he had to come back to retrieve something and was hit over the head.”

  “We don’t know it’s Barnes’s blood, do we? He might be the attacker.”

  She couldn’t dispute that. Not at all. Not without DNA or blood type matches. “DNA will tell us that. And also once I’m back at the lab I can use Raman spectroscopy to accurately date the blood stains. Provided they’re less than two years old.”

  “You can date blood?”

  “Yes.”

  He shook his head, clearly impressed, and Sierra hated to admit that it made her feel special.

  “Sierra,” Maya’s voice came from the other room.

  Sierra felt like jumping for joy at the arrival of her team, but she calmly set down her light and left the room. Reed cast her a questioning look, but she didn’t feel like explaining. He would encounter the full force of her partners’ intensity in a minute. She honestly felt sorry for him. They knew he’d cuffed her, and if he thought she’d been difficult, the full force of the Veritas team would challenge even this strong law enforcement officer’s resilience.

  5

  After cuffing Sierra and refusing to share much information on the investigation, Reed didn’t expect the Veritas partners to open their arms to him as they stood on the sidewalk outside Eddie’s office. But the instant dislike emanating from most faces? That he didn’t expect. All three of the men were toned and clearly worked out, and they wore protective expressions—as a man, Reed totally got that. The three women had their gazes fixed on Sierra.

  She rushed up to them. “Thank goodness it’s Saturday and the lab’s closed so you could all come.”

  “We’re glad to be here,” said the woman with curly black hair. She was wearing a feminine print blouse and dressy black slacks.

  One of the dark-haired guys dressed in black tactical pants and an olive green long-sleeved combat shirt stepped forward. He wore a sidearm as did the redheaded guy. He held out his hand. “Blake Jenkins.”

  Reed shook, not at all surprised at Jenkins’s firm grip. “The former sheriff.”

  “That’s right,” he said. “Now investigator at Veritas. Mind telling me your role here?”

  “Lead agent investigating Eddie Barnes’s embezzlement of a quarter of a million dollars of his clients’ money.”

  Jenkins’s expression didn’t reveal anything. “Any local law enforcement involved?”

  Reed snorted. “C’mon, Jenkins. You’ve already called Sheriff Winfield, and I wouldn’t be surprised if you don’t already have his report in hand. No need to play it cool. Just ask what you want to know, and I’ll give it to you straight.”

  Jenkins eyed him. “I’d like a copy of your case file.”

  “Not happening.” Reed widened his stance. “Anything else?”

  The redheaded male stepped forward. He was dressed very much like Jenkins but his pants were khaki colored and his shirt navy blue. He offered his hand. “Grady Houston. Team ballistics, firearms, and explosives expert. It’d go a lot easier for all of us if we’re more civil.”

  Right. Like he was the one with the attitude. “I didn’t think I wasn’t being civil, but I wouldn’t mind if you all toned down the evil eye you’re giving me.”

  The woman with red hair and glasses crossed her arms. “You cuffed Sierra.”

  “Just doing my job, Ms.—”

  “Steele. Emory Steele. DNA expert.”

  “You all know Sierra.” Reed let his gaze travel over the group. “You know her character, but she’s a stranger to me. She was inside the office with the lights out when I arrived. I’d never seen her before and had to assume she wasn’t up to any good and might flee if I didn’t restrain her.”

  “He’s right,” Sierra said, coming to his defense, surprising him. “It was all a misunderstanding. And he released me after checking me out.”

  “Just like you to let something like this go so quickly.” The other man dressed in torn jeans and a T-shirt that said Be nice to me, You might need tech support someday smiled at Sierra.

  “And you are?” Reed asked.

  “Nick Thorn. Cyber and computer expert.”

  “And I’m Kelsey Moore. Anthropology,” the ultra-feminine woman who first greeted Sierra said.

  The woman with blond hair and a no-nonsense vibe about her offered her hand. “I’m Maya Glass, toxicology and controlled substances. I’m also our managing partner.”

  “You’re all well-respected in the law enforcement world,” he said sincerely.

  Sierra frowned like she didn’t believe him, but there was nothing he could do to prove that he thought highly of their team.

  She looked around the group. “I’m nearly done processing this place. While I finish I want you all to interview store personnel before the stores close for the night. And there are security cameras pointed this direction so ask about those, too. Then we can regroup and formulate a game plan.”

  “I’ve rented a house just outside of town for the night.” Maya handed Sierra a piece of paper. “The address. We can meet there.”

  “Perfect.” Sierra smiled at her partner.

  “What about him?” Grady eyed Reed.

  “He won’t be coming with us,” Sierra said firmly. “He’s unable to share anything on his investigation, and we won’t be partnering with him.”

  Reed hated that they all looked glad. He was thick-skinned, but when seven intelligent people like these team members were glad to be rid of him, it was hard not to take it personally. Still, he would never comment on that.

  Emory handed a large envelope to Sierra. “Your DNA profile.”

  Sierra waved her hand. “Give it to Reed.”

  Emory frowned but shove
d the envelope in his direction.

  He took it and gestured at the door. “After you, Sierra.”

  “Oh, right,” she said. “Agent Rice is dogging my every move here and will be joining me to process the house.”

  “I know that sounds bad, but I need to keep track of items she removes.” Skeptical gazes said they didn’t buy his response, but he didn’t need them to.

  He followed Sierra back inside. He took a picture of her DNA profile and emailed it to their DNA expert in Quantico along with Eddie’s profile. Reed could see there were several matches between the alleles in the two profiles, but he wasn’t an expert and couldn’t make the determination of parentage. The expert promised to get back to him right away.

  He sat back and watched as Sierra finished the rest of the place in two hours. He made a long list on his phone of the items she collected, and he would talk to the lead forensic tech assigned to the investigation on Monday to get his take on the findings.

  His phone chimed, and he read the text from the DNA expert before looking up. “Your DNA is a match to Eddie.”

  She sighed, but her gaze remained wary. “Not that I thought my mom was lying, but it’s good to have an official confirmation.”

  He couldn’t even imagine how it felt to have your life rocked like this. And he’d been making things difficult for her. Not on purpose, but he still didn’t like hurting her more when she was already stressed out. “I’ll help you load your car.”

  “You don’t have to.”

  He focused on her very expressive eyes. “We should bury the hatchet before we go to Eddie’s cottage, or it’ll be a very long night.”

  “I don’t have anything against you, Agent Rice.”

  “Reed,” he said getting mad that she was taking a step backward and making things more formal between them. “Did I do something other than cuff you and refuse to share about the investigation? Because this is starting to seem personal.”

  She didn’t respond right away, but blew out a breath of air that lifted her bangs. “It’s probably the stress of the day. It’s not often you find out your dad isn’t your dad.”

  “I can’t even imagine that.” He picked up the bin.

  She grabbed the bag and stepped outside. “Are you close to your parents?”

  “Actually, no. They died when I was eight. My sister, Malone, was six, and we went into foster care.” He couldn’t believe he shared something personal. He never did that at work.

  “I’m so sorry.”

  He set the bin in the trunk and waved a hand as a gusty ocean breeze blew over them. “That was a long time ago and we were lucky. We stayed together and got amazing foster parents who cared for us until we were both through college.”

  She smiled at him, her bangs blowing in the strong wind. “You hear so many negative foster family stories that it’s nice to hear a positive one.”

  He nodded. “What about you? You mentioned your parents but any siblings?”

  “Five brothers, if you can believe it.”

  “Wow. That must’ve been interesting growing up.”

  “Yeah, if you think being smothered by overprotective guys and being pushed into a career that’s safer than being a law enforcement officer is interesting.” She shook her head. “I don’t mean to sound bitter. It’s just that even though I’m the oldest, my parents and brothers often don’t take what I want into account. I get that they love me, but they need to love me a little bit less.”

  “I can understand how they feel. I’m very protective of Malone.”

  She watched him for a long moment. “But you have a reason to feel that way. After your parents died, it’s only normal for you to want to take care of her.”

  “I did—still do,” he said, even more shocked that he let this conversation continue.

  She frowned and headed back inside, but he didn’t know why she was frowning. Maybe she thought he was controlling like her brothers. And he was—on the job—and he didn’t hide it. But being controlling on the job versus in his personal life were two different things. On the job he had to take control or people could get hurt. Even die. But he wasn’t the same way with Malone. Sure, he wanted to protect her, but he didn’t interfere in her life.

  Not something he would share with a virtual stranger. He’d already said way more than he felt comfortable with on the job.

  They finished loading her car, and she leaned against the trunk. “You might as well take off. I’ll be meeting with my teammates for some time.”

  “But you’re still planning on processing the cottage tonight.”

  “After the meeting.”

  “You’re sure I can’t sit in on your meeting?”

  She eyed him. “Can you provide details about your investigation?”

  “Sorry. The answer’s still no.”

  “Then so is mine.” She met and held his gaze. “I’m not trying to be difficult.”

  “Aren’t you? What’s the point in you withholding your findings or plans from me? The only thing that sharing your information can do is help find your father faster.”

  She frowned, and her exquisite eyes narrowed. He wanted to press out the line between her eyebrows and find a way to make her smile. The thought shocked him, and he stepped back.

  “You’re right,” she finally said. “I am being difficult. I know you can’t share, but that doesn’t mean I can’t.”

  He watched her carefully, looking for any duplicitous motive. “And what about your teammates? They made it clear that they don’t think I’m worthy of your help.”

  “They’re acting like my brothers. Being overprotective. But unlike my brothers, they’ll get over it and move on.” She pushed off the trunk and held out her hand. “So you’re welcome to attend our meeting, and I’ll be glad to share any leads I find once I process everything I gather tonight.”

  He took her hand. The warmth of her touch and the genuine smile he’d been wanting to see directed his way sent a shock clean through him. He’d wanted her to give in. To work with him, but maybe that wasn’t such a good idea. At least not if he didn’t want to be distracted from finding Barnes by this very captivating woman.

  6

  Sierra stepped onto the wide rental house deck overlooking the ocean, the moon casting bright beams onto the waves pounding against the shore. The rhythmic swells were both soothing and unsettling at the same time. She’d always loved coming to the beach. But tonight the rushing water reminded her of her parents’ duplicitous behavior. Even so, the scene gave her a peace that she couldn’t explain.

  “The ocean always reminds me of God’s power,” Reed said, coming up behind her.

  She looked over her shoulder at him and studied the contours of his face in the shadowed light. His wide jaw looked firm and imposing. His cheeks high and attractive. But his eyes caught and held hers again. She only allowed them to touch her heart for a fraction of a moment before turning back to the ocean.

  He stepped up beside her. He was too close for her comfort, but she wouldn’t move away and alert him to the effect he had on her.

  He leaned his elbows on the railing. “Who other than an all-powerful God could create such power that is also breathtaking?”

  “Agreed,” she said, thinking about God in her life. “When I was a kid, I felt closest to God in my mom’s flower garden. The colors were so vibrant. Colors man couldn’t replicate.” Memories flooded over her. The scent of the flowers, the bright sunshine. She was surprised to find they didn’t bring tears to her eyes. “I would sit there for hours. A favorite book. Alone. Just the way I liked it. Not a brother in sight. They were too macho to go near flowers, so it was my hiding place.”

  “Do you still like to read?”

  She nodded. “Though these days it’s more likely to be a forensic or crime magazine or journal. Not much time for reading for enjoyment. I still have to hide out from my brothers’ interference in my life, though. But if they’re trying to butt in where they don’t belong, I just don�
�t return their calls.” She risked a glance at Reed and found him staring into the ocean, and she loved looking at his chiseled profile. “What about you? A reader?”

  He gave a firm nod but didn’t look at her. “I started as a kid, too. Used it to escape the fact that our parents died. Now, I’m like you. More professional reading than anything else.”

  “And your sister? Are you close?”

  “Very.” His emphatic response put a slice of concern in her heart.

  Was he just close or did he like to boss her around like her brothers did?

  He looked at her. “Any boyfriends in the picture?”

  Why was he asking that?

  “Sorry. You don’t need to answer. I’m not one for personal discussions on the job. Guess the scenery is making me relax.”

  “No boyfriend,” she said figuring it didn’t hurt to answer his question. “What about you? Anyone special in your life?”

  “No girlfriend at the moment,” he said. “But I want to get married and have a family someday, so I’m looking.”

  “Not me.” She shifted her focus to the moon hanging full in the sky. “I’ve had enough of a big family butting into my every move, and I like being on my own.”

  He shook his head. “It’s hard for me to understand that. After my parents died, all I wanted was a family. Sure, our foster parents were great, but we knew it was temporary. Ten plus years of temporary made me want exactly what you have.”

  “I get where you’re coming from,” she said, feeling bad for him. “But a big family would make me crazy and isn’t what I see in my future.”

  “I was old enough when my parents died to remember what being a part of a permanent family was like. It’s hard for me to understand why you’re fighting to break away from yours. I mean, I get the recent issue concerning your biological dad, but otherwise.” He lifted those broad shoulders in a shrug.

  “I guess we agree to disagree here,” she said, not sure why that thought made her sad.