“Why not just see where this leads? It’s new. Yes. But he likes you. And you like him, right?”
After a pause, Jane admitted, “I do.”
Jenn grinned. “Why was that so hard to say?”
“Because I’m emotionally stunted, probably.”
“Well, you’re honest.”
“To a fault sometimes.”
“Look. It’s a well-known fact you’re not big on sharing details of your personal life. Everyone knows you’re committed to the job. You have a reputation for doing great work. Allow yourself to have a personal life, too. A well-balanced agent has a life outside the Bureau.”
Jane frowned. “Didn’t Williams used to say that?” The traitorous scum.
“He did.” Jenn’s smile remained bright. “I’ve decided to let all my anger at that jerk go. He no longer taints good memories. And that piece of advice has always been golden. Balance makes a happy life.”
“So the therapy is working then?”
Jenn snorted. “You know it. I dragged my feet about going, but it’s really helped. Don’t tell my aunt or she’ll spend the rest of my life saying, ‘I told you so.’”
Jane smiled. “I like Aunt Susan.”
“I love her, but she can nag like nobody’s business. A lot like youruncle.” Jenn laughed. “Oh man. I can’t wait to see him again. Hunky Uncle Chris.”
Jane cringed. “Please. Don’t.” Though she was well aware that her uncle’s aura of danger and adventure, not to mention his chiseled frame and handsome face, enamored those he met.
“Will your cousin be there? Raine’s funny. Any other hot uncles?”
“You’re making me regret that I invited you.”
“Hey, I gave you free advice. I swear I won’t mention Matthew to anyone. Though I’d be surprised if your uncle doesn’t already know. The guy seems to know everything, doesn’t he?”
Jane groaned. “Let’s just keep our visit simple. You can make me uncomfortable by flirting with him. He’ll enjoy shaking me up, just to keep me on my toes. Then we can practice at the gun range. And if you’re really nice, he might even invite you to some one-on-one practice to criticize your ‘pathetic FBI training.’ His words, not mine.”
“Oh wow. Best weekend ever!”
And that was why Jenn and Jane were friends. Aside from their similarities at the job, they shared a passion for martial arts in several forms.
Even after Uncle Chris kicked Jane’s butt and then Jenn’s, ranting about proper stances and holding before counterattacking with force, then demonstrating by tossing Jenn over his shoulder time and time again, Jenn, who lay flat on the mat, breathing hard, turned her head to Jane and smiled.
Despite being covered in sweat and no doubt bruised, she mouthed,Best. Weekend. Ever.
Chapter 28
Monday morning,Jane and Ray sat outside the Harte home.
Ray snorted. “To be honest, I’m just happy the guy is still alive.”
“Well, I guess all his friends dying and our warnings to be careful finally got through to him.” Though Jane would have felt much better if she’d been able to talk to Stephen right after the theft in his home.
She had a feeling the ME’s examination of Sabrina Johnson’s death would yield little. Their killer was clever, previously leaving nothing behind. The fact that he’d left then returned to finish the job—right under their noses—illustrated his talent for stealth and murder.
This killer wasn’t afraid to get caught. That made him more than dangerous.
She could say with 99% certainty that the man she’d fought and the person who’d killed during the home invasions were one and the same. He’d even told Stephen he felt bad he couldn’t treat Stephen’s “wonderful children the way he’d treated the others.”
With any luck, the description she’d turned over to the local police would help identify the suspect. Since they had no DNA or fingerprints on the guy, utilizing CODIS and AFIS were out. If she’d had a digital picture of her perp, she could have reached out to Quantico, maybe gotten a hit with NGI-IPS, the FBI’s Next Generation Identification-Interstate Photo System.
