Burke nodded. “Whoever did this wants their story told. And Sara Parker was the one who could tell it.”
Denton’s tone was clipped. “We’ll handle the faculty interviews. University jurisdiction.”
Burke’s eyes sharpened. “You’ll coordinate with us. This isn’t a turf war—it’s a hunt.”
He continued. “Raines, Keller, and Sinclair—professors. Lauren Pierce worked as their administrative assistant. Coach Benton datedher, then cheated with a student. Lauren reported him. We need whatever came of that HR complaint.”
“McHan—Benton. Denton—Keller. Tessa and I will handle Raines and Sinclair. We run them back-to-back before word gets out.”
No one argued.
“That’s it,” Burke said. “Move.”
Special Agent Tessa Quinn
The meeting broke. She followed Scout down the hall, boots clicking softly.
He turned into the evidence room. She followed, closing the door behind them.
Rows of metal shelves stretched deep. Cold. Windowless. Every case tagged and boxed—their own ghosts tucked inside.
“Scout—wait,” she said softly.
He stopped near the back aisle, hand braced on a crate.
Her collar had shifted in the rush back to professionalism. Just enough to reveal a faint crescent of red low on her throat — where his stubble had scraped her skin raw the night before.
His eyes caught on it. Held.
She reached up and adjusted her collar — too late.
Then he looked away.
“Tessa,” he said without turning. “Don’t.”
“I need to explain.”
“There’s nothing to explain.” His voice was rough. Controlled. “You had someone. I should’ve known better.”
He turned then, eyes sharp, pain buried under professionalism.
“That’s on me.”
She stepped closer. “It’s not what you think.”
A beat.
The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, the sound sharp in the tight, windowless room.
His gaze dropped — not to her face — but to the faint crescent at her collar.
He swallowed.
“Doesn’t matter,” he said finally. “Sara does.”
He huffed a dry, humorless laugh. “I lost focus. I took my eye off the ball. Sara is the ball. That has to come first. Let it go.”
She almost reached out—almost—but protocol kept her hands still.
