If she visited her mother later.There was a strong chance she was going to be up to her ears preparing for yet another review board and possibly a career change upon its conclusion.
“I’m sorry,” Marcus said, his voice thick with emotion.“I had him.Damn it, I had him, and I missed the shot.”
Kate sighed.“We both made mistakes, Marcus.Don’t take this all upon yourself.”
“I know, it’s just…”
His voice trailed off, but he didn’t need to finish.Kate understood.She felt the same frustration.Once more, Cox had slipped through their grasp.
“Baltimore PD thinks he might have washed into the Patapsco.That stream was flowing at eight hundred cubic feet per second.If he fell into the water, he wouldn’t have been able to get out in his condition.I know I got him at least once.He might be dead.They’re dredging the river in case they find a body.”
He offered that with a touch of desperation, but it was clear he didn’t believe it.Kate didn’t either.That would be too easy.
No, Cox was still out there.Licking his wounds, hiding until he was healed enough to strike again.Kate’s only question was whether he would still cling to the façade of God’s commandments when he did, or if he’d shed the last trappings of sanity and admit he was nothing more than a common killer.
Kate doubted it.Cox had slid too deeply into his insanity to turn away from it now.
Realizing she hadn’t answered Marcus, Kate said, “Maybe.”
The door opened, and Winters entered.She wore a crisply tailored navy business suit with a beige-colored blouse and polished heels of the same color.She wore a moderate amount of lipstick in a shade of oxblood red.Kate’s stomach turned, and she looked away as Winters took her seat.
“How are you feeling?”she asked Kate.Her formal tone left no room for Kate to speculate on her mood.
“Recovering nicely,” Kate replied.“The doctor wants me out of the field for four weeks, but I think—”
“We’re going to make it eight weeks,” Winters interrupted.“I don’t want you reinjuring your ribs.”
She folded her hands on top of the desk and stared hard at Kate.Here it comes.
“Baltimore police found Ian Bolger.They picked him up yesterday.He confirmed that Cox panicked when he saw the assault team approach.The two of them were separated when Cox made his escape through the park.”
“He was there?”Kate asked.
“He was.He said he was instructed to wait in the car.”
Kate shivered.He could have shot them while they approached the church, and they would never have seen him coming.
“He claimed to have distracted Agent Reid long enough for Cox to escape,” Winters continued.“He also claims Cox survived his injuries, although we don’t believe that to be the case.”
Marcus started.“I thought that was Cox.Are you telling me I was chasing his accomplice the whole time?”
“No,” Winters replied."Mr.Bolger was uninjured.We believe he's lying.Almost certainly, Elijah Cox died in that culvert."
“We need to be sure,” Kate said.“We need to find his body.He’s survived serious injury before.He could survive it again.
Winters sighed.“We’ll make sure.We’re looking for a body as we speak.In the meantime, Kate, we’re pulling you back off the case.We’ll reassess upon the completion of your medical leave, but considering how many times you’ve nearly been killed pursuing Cox and his disciples, I want to warn you that I’m strongly considering permanently reassigning you.”Kate’s eyes widened in alarm, and Winters added, “I’m not going to separate you two.If you’re reassigned, Marcus will also be reassigned.But… Well, we’ve given this its fair shake a few times.We have to start considering that this might not be the best fit.Youhave to start considering that owning this case isn’t worth your life.
“That’s it for the lecture this time around.Overall, you two did excellent work.Decoding Cox’s cipher and finding him at the cathedral was a stroke of brilliance.”
She looked at Marcus.“I’ll give you time to walk Kate to her car.Then you and I need to go over our strategy for your review.”
Kate started.“Marcus is facing a review board?”
“He fired several shots, some of them in an open space near a residential neighborhood.Any time there’s a situation like that, there's a review board.I wouldn't worry too much about it.The evidence is pretty strongly in favor of justified use of force.I just want to make sure that when we talk to the board, we keep the focus on the imminent threat to your life, Kate.”
Her brow furrowed.“How did Cox find you before the tactical team arrived?”
Kate sighed.“I worried that he would flee the moment he saw the tactical team.He wanted me alone.If I showed up in force, then he would have just disappeared.I knew he’d have a way out planned because he always has a way out planned.I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but I knew you’d overrule me, and then we would have lost our chance at him.”
