“Then you need to make a list and check the records to find out if any of them are now free and their last known locations.”
She nodded. “I will.”
“It could be one of the cartel members you put away when you were on that mission we worked together in Maryland.” He waited for her response, knowing he was feeding her bogus information. He and Avery had never worked a cartel mission together in Maryland.
She nodded and glanced toward the victim. “I’ll look through prior assignments and let you know if any of them are possibilities.”
A flash of anger pulsed through Grant. The woman had sidestepped his direct attempt to fluster her.
“I’m headed back to the sheriff’s department,” Melissa said. “I need my computer, WIFI and phone reception.”
“I’m headed to my hotel and my laptop.” Imposter Agent Hart turned to Sheriff Taylor. “Let me know if your deputies find any witnesses.”
“Will do,” Sheriff Taylor said. “Ready?” he asked Agent Bradley.
She nodded. “Agent Hart, want to regroup at TJ’s Bar and Grill?”
The imposter nodded. “Seven?”
“Seven,” Melissa confirmed. “You’re welcome to join us, Mr. Hayes.”
“Thanks,” he said. “I have some loose ends to tie up for a colleague, so don’t wait on me.”
“Offer’s open,” Melissa said and walked away with the sheriff.
Alone with the imposter, Grant tried to think of something else he could say to trip her up. “Agent Hart?—”
“Sorry,” she raised her hand. “I just remembered something I needed to ask Agent Bradley. Please, excuse me.” She sprinted after Melissa Bradley, leaving Grant staring after her.
Which was just as well. If she thought he was on to her at all, and if she was involved with the killer, she might make a beeline to him, to let him know her cover was about to be blown.
All the more reason to let her go.
And follow her.
As he slowly made his way back to his rental car, his gaze followed the fake Agent Hart to a black Jeep Cherokee with a Nebraska license plate.
Interesting…although she could pass off the license plate, claiming the vehicle was a rental. Unless she was a suspect in the murder case, who would question it?
Since Grant knew she wasn’t the real Agent Hart, he would. He made a mental note of the plate number and hurried to his own rental car.
As he approached, his heart skipped several beats. Avery’s head wasn’t peeking over dash as he’d seen it when he’d walked away.
He sprinted the last few yards and yanked open the door.
Avery stared up at him from where she crouched low against the floorboard, her eyes wide.
When she saw it was him, she let out a whoosh of air. “Oh, thank God, it’s you.”
He shook his head and slid into the driver’s seat. “When I didn’t see you looking over the dash, I thought you’d left the vehicle.”
“I didn’t dare,” she said and scooted up into the seat, still slumping low. “That reporter was snooping around, heading toward the car. So, I hid as low as I could. Since I didn’t know if she’d passed, I stayed down.”
“Good. I don’t think now is the time to confront the other Agent Hart.”
“I don’t like it,” Avery said. “Even if she’s not working with the killer, she could jeopardize the case when we do find evidence.”
“It’s uncanny how much she looks and sounds like you,” Grant said as he started the engine and turned the car around. “I understand why Agent Bradley assumed she’s you.”
