Page 116 of Chameleon Killer

Now that made me curious. How the hell had he identified that from a blank card? I turned the information over and filed it away for future research. Trust—but verify.

“And?”

Brewster spared me an impatient look. “And there are eleven active systems within the city limits using that series of access cards.”

“So, that got you to eleven buildings.” I waited.

“Three matched the address parameters.”

Bullshit. “You didn’t know the address parameters.”

His expression didn’t change. But it was a gap. Not proof. Not even close. It was enough to irritate me though.

“You had another source,” I said.

“I’m running an investigation.” Brewster didn’t bother to hide his irritation, but he also wasn’t meeting my gaze. He was focused on the monitors.

“That’s not the same thing,” I countered as I studied the same monitors. I could see his reflection

“It is when we are running the investigation.”

Two figures moved along the far side of the garage entrance. Dark clothes. Low profile. Tactical team, probably four to six agents staggered across the block.

“You brought company.” I wished I could have said I was surprised.

“Always have a contingency.” Brewster didn’t defend the choice. Not that he had to, I supposed. “We’re after an unsub who has killed more than a dozen men.”

“Allegedly,” I corrected him.

He shot me a look. “We know he killed those men—I know he did.”

“You don’t even know who he is, Agent Brewster.” I shouldn’t have to remind him. “Though, if we’re shifting our system from innocent until proven guilty to just guilty—then it’s allegedly.”

What I didn’t add was that if he really did know who the guilty person was, why hadn’t he arrested them yet?

“I’m taking the threat seriously, even if you aren’t. I doubt the unsub would believe otherwise.”

“No, probably not. But what he will believe is that she didn’t come alone.” That had to be bad. I had to think that because while the Auditor—allegedly—that left the card and the message told her alone, it didn’t indicate what would or wouldn’t happen if the conditions weren’t met.

“Should I point out that she didn’t come alone?” Brewster asked in a dry voice as the tactical team continued to move.

“Not visibly.” I motioned to the screens. “I’m also not about to stage a raid.”

“Semantics.” He waved a hand dismissively.

But I shook my head. “No, it’s not. It’s strategy.” It put me where I could back her up if she needed me and made sure I knew where she was if she went missing.

His mouth compressed.

I had seen that expression in men who wanted control but had been forced to accept information instead. So, what was he angrier about? That I was here and she’d trusted me? Or that she’d cut him out entirely?

I had my guess. But all I asked was, “How many agents?”

“Enough.”

“Not a number.”

“It’s the one you’re getting.”