Weren’t those all good things?
Jane waited.
“But the old ASAC mentioned you flout authority and like to make your own rules.”
ASAC Nicholas Wade hadn’t been a fan. He’d also been wrong on several accounts. Jane was glad he’d been promoted and moved out of the Seattle office.
“I wouldn’t say I make my own rules,” she said carefully. “I do believe in doing my job to the best of my ability.” How to say Wade had been a pain without saying that?
“I’ve also been told you speak the truth no matter how it sounds.” Grimshaw smirked. “How am I doing so far as your supervisor?”
Not one to stand on ceremony, Jane answered, “You seem competent and come with great recommendations. You could loosen up a little, but I suppose that will come with time, when you realize you can fully trust us to do our jobs.”
“A fair assessment. Do you want to know what I think of you?”
“Not really.” A tiny lie she covered with the truth. “I just want to do my job.”
Her supervisor laughed. “Right. Well then, fill me in on this morning.”
“Not the home invader I was looking for. Teenage love gone wrong, is my guess. But Greg can tell you more when he gets back. He stuck around. The targeted family had money, which might fit with his serial robberies.”
“I see.” Grimshaw steepled her fingers under her chin. “What made you realize it’s not connected to your home invasions?”
“It felt off. They had a cat.”
“A cat?”
Jane explained about the previous crimes. She’d only been called in to help, having worked with one of the detectives on the first case a while ago. It didn’t hurt that one of the murdered CEOs had previously done business with the government.
But now after two families had been murdered, both worth millions and who had connections with a lot of high-powered politicians, the FBI had officially been invited to step in.
Grimshaw nodded. “Right. Have we found those dogs yet?”
“No.” And that bothered Jane. The killer had murdered two entire families, including young children. But the fish hadn’t been harmed, and the dogs had disappeared. “Nothing has been reported missing from either house, though we’re learning about missing financial assets. Unfortunately, the subpoenas for the bank records are taking some time.”
“Typical.” Grimshaw rolled her fingers over her desk. “Was either CEO’s company contracted with the government?”
“We know the Duvall’s manufacturing business did some workwith the military, but nothing relating to government secrets. At least, not according to the Army’s lawyers.”
Jane tended to believe them. Duvall Manufacturing had supplied the military with furnishings for several posts around the country. Nothing that should get people killed.
Grimshaw frowned. “Hmm. There was plenty in both homes worth serious money. Especially the jewelry, which wasn’t touched, right?”
“Exactly. The killer targeted rich families. He enjoyed the kills. But from what we know so far, he only stole from their money market accounts and CMAs. We just recently learned our killer also cleaned them out of millions more.”
“You said before you’re leaning toward a male killer. Just one?”
“As we know, most killers are male. The brutality of these murders feels like just one guy to me. We’re still looking into what connects the families other than that both were rich. I need to get with our forensic accountants on the most recent targets.”
“Well, get to it.”
“If we’re done?” Jane stood and waited.
“Yep. Keep me in the loop. That’s all I ask. Don’t blindside me, and we’ll get along just fine, Cannon.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Now that was how a supervisor should act.
Collected, confident, and direct.
