The director herself was known for dressing glamorously, more like an old-fashioned movie star than the head of an FBI field office.Today, however, she wore a conservative pantsuit, fitted well and attractive, but not at all her ordinary style.Her hair was conservative too, pulled back from her face and hanging straight down over her shoulders.
She looked up at Kate with a cool expression.Kate’s throat constricted, but she wasn’t sure if she should apologize or just listen.
In the end, she didn’t get a chance.Winters handed Marcus a file and said, “There’s been a murder in Pittsburgh.It fits the commandment killings profile.You two are to head there immediately and investigate.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Kate replied.“Ma’am, I’m—”
“Dismissed.”
Kate felt a knife twist in her chest.She never wanted anyone to get in trouble for her.
But they do anyway,the voice in her head said.And does intention really matter when the results are the same?
She swallowed, nodded curtly, and headed out of the office.
CHAPTER FOUR
It was late afternoon when their flight landed in Pittsburgh.The sun glistened off the three rivers that met in the heart of Pennsylvania’s second-largest city, and the double shine of the water and the sun lent the skyline a burnished brassy appearance.As far as cities went, Pittsburgh wasn’t the largest or the most impressive, but it punched well above its weight.
A respectable cluster of skyscrapers occupied the center of the city while numerous bridges spanned the Ohio, Allegheny, and Monongahela Rivers to the residential areas and suburbs beyond.Surrounding it all, the great red maple forest of Pennsylvania enveloped the urban sprawl in a cocoon of green.
It was strange how beautiful the world looked when one was certain that their life was about to crumble around them.
“Kate, relax,” Marcus said.“Nothing’s going to happen.We’re going to run this case by the book.Cox is in jail, Quinn Marsh is on trial and will soon be in prison, and unless there are even more skeletons hiding in your dad’s closet, nothing’s going to show up to make this personal enough that you have to do something risky and tip things over the edge.”
Kate bristled.Cox’s obsession for her typically manifested in connecting his murderous behavior and those of his disciples to Kate’s relationship with her deceased father.Quinn Marsh, in particular, was manipulated by Cox into killing because of her father’s choice to save another woman’s life rather than his mother’s during a clinical trial for a new drug.Hearing Marcus suggest that her father might have made some other “mistake” that Cox could use was icing on a very bitter cake.
She didn’t bring that up, though, instead offering a fairly generic, “Does telling women to relax usually work for you?”
He reddened with something akin to shame, and Kate immediately regretted that.“I’m sorry.You’re right, I’m probably overthinking it like I always do.It just sucks.I don’t want Winters to lose her job.”
“No one does.But it’s not likely she will, so let’s just put that to the side and focus on the case, okay?”
Kate got the distinct impression it wasn’t only Winters Marcus was talking about.He hadn’t volunteered any more information on the latest blowup with Cheryl, and she hadn’t asked, but he seemed more affected by this one than past fights.
Because he loves her.And you’re in the way.
Cheryl might not know about Kate’s growing feelings for Marcus, but she definitely resented the connection they had.From the little Marcus had allowed to leak about his personal life, Kate knew that Cheryl believed their marriage came second to the job, and from the little Kate had overheard Cheryl say about her, she knew that Cheryl was keenly aware of how well the partners got along and how close their friendship was.Marcus had put his own career on the line to back Kate up.Meanwhile, he refused to jeopardize or let go of his career to focus on his marriage.
The plane came to a stop at the gate, and Kate forced herself to forget everything but the murder they were here to investigate.She didn’t even know if she was right about any of that or just letting her imagination run away with her.Time to focus on the job and leave the rest in its place.
They were met at the gate by a brick-shaped sheriff’s officer in his late thirties with close-cropped blond hair and impossibly gorgeous blue eyes set in a head the rough size and shape of a basketball.He nodded briskly and said in an equally brisk Pittsburgh accent, “Afternoon.Thanks for coming down.”He stuck out a hand.“Brad Thompson.”
“Pleasure,” Marcus said, taking his hand.“Marcus Reid.”
Kate was next.“Kate Valentine.”
Thompson smiled.“Oh yeah, I heard about you.You caught that priest, right?”
“I arrested Elijah Cox, yes.”
“Fuckin’ criminal what these priests think they can do,” Thompson offered.“Pardon my French.”
“None taken, as what Cox did was very literally criminal.”
Thompson led them from the airport, talking constantly.Kate paid enough attention to pick up on the fact that Thompson was a Steeler’s fan (not surprising) drove a Prius in his off time (surprising) and was dating a supermodel (somewhat surprising).
Marcus kept up with the conversation as Thompson drove them to Etna, the small suburb just across the Allegheny where the murder took place, allowing Kate to wonder what surprises Cox had in store for her next.
