“Who asked us to take a look at this?”Kate asked.
“Dayton Police Department,” Winters replied.“Schulz was the most recent victim.They took a look at the scene and decided it was similar enough to the others that they were probably dealing with a serial killer.They notified the Bureau, and Jack passed it along to me when he spotted the similar MOs.”
“Except that Schulz’s MO was different,” Marcus reminded her.“He was hit from behind before he was strangled.”
“He was also six-three and two hundred fifty pounds.He’d be a lot for Cox to handle.”
“He’d be a lot for most people to handle.”
Winters’ brow furrowed.“Is there a reason you’re having so much trouble with my orders, Agent Reid?”
Marcus, six-three and a solid two-ten to -twenty himself, lifted his hands, palms up.“I’m just saying, a guy bigger than me is a lot for most people to handle.It’s not enough evidence to suggest that Cox is involved.”
“Which is why I want you two to look at the crime scene photographs.Take a look, decide if there’s something worth pursuing, and bring it to me.”
“I’ll get right on that,” Marcus said, snatching the unopened file and heading for the door.
“Reid,” Winters called sternly.“Both of you.”
Marcus’s shoulders bunched.He turned around, gentle brown eyes not so gentle as they pinched together on either side of a nose bent permanently from a break that never healed properly.With that nose, his buzzcut, and his burly weightlifter’s build, he should have been the opposite of Kate’s type.Instead, she found him the most attractive man on Earth.She hated that she noticed that now in the middle of everything else.Fuck Tuesday.
“Ma’am, I respectfully submit that including Agent Valentine on this case is a mistake.”
Kate flinched.Hey, look at that.Not attracted to him anymore.“What?”
“I believe—it is my professional opinion that you will see connections that aren’t there out of a desire to see Cox apprehended.”
Kate started laughing at apprehended and kept laughing when she replied, “Really?That’s what you’re gonna do?You’re gonna pull out the old, ‘she’s obsessed’ card?”
“You are obsessed.You’ve been obsessed.Your record is replete with proof that you’re obsessed.”
Kate felt the edges of the giant melon baller as it dug into her ribcage and scooped out her heart.Marcus had always supported her work on the Commandment Killings.Even when he was worried about how far she was taking things, he always had her back.Hearing him talk about her like this hurt worse than anything that had happened between them, far worse than when they broke off their burgeoning romance.
She was so hurt that Winters spoke before Kate could formulate a reply.“Your complaints are duly noted, Agent Reid.Now workwithKate to solve this case.”
“Were any ciphers found at the scene?”Marcus demanded.
Winters sighed.“No.”
“Oh, for God’s…” Marcus turned around and put his hands on top of his head.
“Again, your complaint is duly noted,” Winters said drily.“Now workwith Kateand get this done.Will that be a problem for you, Agent Reid?”
Marcus chuckled softly.“No, it won’t be a problem, Director Winters.I live to serve.”
“And that is the limit of the disrespect I will tolerate,” Winters said and meant it.
Marcus lowered his eyes and growled a reluctant, “Yes, ma’am.”
“Dismissed.”
Kate followed Marcus out of the office, noting that he didn’t bother to gesture with his head this time.She waited until they were back in the office they shared, then slammed the door shut and demanded, “What the hell was that, Marcus?”
“The truth.”
“Screw you!You know, I get that you and I aren’t in love anymore, but—”
“Who said we were ever in love?”
