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Logan was having a hard time processing what they were hearing from Jeff. The way Davis died was diabolical and incredibly clever. “So you want all four of us to go to Bethesda to profile this guy?” he asked.
Jeff sighed. “Yeah. I need all of you. The police chief is convinced there will be more deaths. Unfortunately, I agree with him.” He nodded at Logan. “You’re lead agent on this one.”
“You think we have a serial?” Alex asked. Logan could hear the doubt in her voice. Frankly, he felt the same way. The UNSUB appeared to be focused on John Davis, and he was dead. Why would this guy continue killing?
Jeff nodded toward the screen and clicked the remote again. “This is the other side of the book page.” Someone had written a large number one.
No one said a word. Jeff was right. This might be only the beginning.
After the meeting, Alex called her neighbor Shirley Stewart. Shirley and her two children took care of Alex’s dog when she was called out of town. Krypto, a large, white pit bull, was her closest friend. She’d rescued him after he was dumped at a local shelter. It had taken a lot of love, but his sweet nature was stronger than the sadness that had overwhelmed him for so long. He no longer showed any signs of abuse. Krypto was a happy dog who loved everyone. If this were a long-term assignment, she could have taken him with her. But she could be home by tonight. And she didn’t worry about him when he went to the Stewarts’ house. They loved him, and he was great with their kids.
Alex hated not being able to say good-bye to Krypto, but she couldn’t do anything about that. The Stewarts had a key to her place so they could pick him up when necessary, and her go bag was in the back of her car. It went everywhere with her. That way, if she had to leave on a moment’s notice, she was ready without having to run home. Inside she’d packed personal clothes, essentials, her vest and FBI jacket, handcuffs, and ammunition for the gun she wore.
As usual, Shirley was more than happy to keep the big dog. “Of course he can stay here,” she gushed. “Maizie has missed him, and so have the kids.” She laughed. “Okay, we’ve all missed him. We all need some Krypto time.”
Maizie was the Stewarts’ cat. Not long after Alex moved to Quantico, Maizie had escaped from the family’s house. They found her later in the day, curled up next to Krypto, who had designated himself her protector. The two were now the best of friends.
“Thanks, Shirley. I might be back tonight, but I’m not sure. I’ll call and let you know.”
Alex looked at her watch. The kids wouldn’t be home from school for a while, but she was certain going straight for Krypto was the first thing they’d do. Alex smiled to herself despite the ache she felt inside every time she left him. He was her only family. She’d felt alone most of her life, but with Logan’s help, she’d recently given her life to Christ. She was still learning what that meant. Finding out God was real and that He actually knew her name and loved her was a revelation she was adjusting to. Thanks to church and a weekly Bible study she’d been going to with Logan when they weren’t working, she was learning how to trust God little by little.
She still had problems with people, though. She’d never had anyone she could count on. She wanted to let others in, but her instinct was to protect herself. She was grateful that Logan understood why she struggled so much in this area. He knew some of her past, and he was patient with her.
She walked outside with Logan, Kaely, and Monty to the government-owned SUV they’d drive to Bethesda. Black, of course. Logan had once joked that if their vehicles had to be SUVs, at least they should be bright yellow. It was a happier color. She laughed softly at his silly joke. The longer she knew Logan, the more she liked him. He was a great agent as well as a good man.
Her mind drifted to Kaely Quinn. She was excited to be assigned to a case with her. Although Alex shouldn’t be intimidated by Kaely, she was. Alex was a good analyst, but Kaely was legendary. Maybe some of the woman’s genius would rub off on her.
She hurried to her car and grabbed her bag. Her little blue Volkswagen bug was dwarfed by the huge SUV, and it reminded her of the story of David and Goliath. She had a company vehicle, but she drove her Volkswagen whenever she could. She really loved it.
She joined the others at the SUV. Everyone was there except Monty.
“He’s driving himself,” Logan said when Alex asked where he was. “He wanted to go by his grandmother’s place before meeting us. She hasn’t been feeling well, and her house is on the way. Jeff said it was okay as long as he didn’t run late to the meeting in Bethesda.”
Alex nodded and tossed her bag into the back of the SUV.
“Still can’t believe we’re working on a case that involves John Davis,” Kaely said. “He was one of my heroes.” She frowned. “We can start thinking we’re immortal, you know? Smarter than everyone else because we study the behaviors of criminals. But it’s the UNSUBs who don’t stick to the script that can get to you.”
A chill ran up Alex’s back. What Kaely said was true. They were first trained as FBI agents. Behavioral analysis was part of the basic training, but those who went on to work for the BAU received more intensive training. It could leave you feeling that you were smarter than the unknown subjects you profiled. But getting lulled into a false sense of security could cost lives.
“The email bothers me,” Logan said. “I would have seen it as a threat. Taken it seriously. I would have found some way to arm myself.”
“Me too.” Kaely shrugged. “We won’t know until we hear what the police have, but I agree with you. It seems strange that Davis didn’t do that.”
“He retired from the FBI a long time ago. Maybe his age and lack of agility cost him.”
“That’s possible,” Alex responded. “Or maybe it was his surroundings. He was probably approached regularly by people who think what we do is exciting. He may have chalked the email up to some fan.”
“I agree,” Kaely said. “He was in a hotel full of people who found him fascinating. I don’t think he would have automatically assumed the person who sent the email was dangerous. And the page in the envelope was simply from one of his books. Not threatening in itself.”
Alex sighed. Davis might have been able to figure a way out if he’d acted sooner, but once he was down to thirty seconds, there wasn’t anything he could do. Especially with the life of a loved one at stake.
“I’ll drive unless someone else wants to,” Logan said.
Alex shook her head. “That’s fine with me.”
“Me too,” Kaely said. She smiled at Alex. “You take shotgun. I’ll get in the back.”
“Sure.” Alex climbed into the front with Logan.
Once they were inside, Logan said, “Is everyone ready? No stopping along the way. If anyone needs to go...”
The women laughed as he drove out of the parking lot and headed toward the highway.
Alex couldn’t help but think about what Logan said. Could age have contributed to John Davis’s death? Would she someday find herself outwitted by an UNSUB who wanted to prove his mental superiority? As if the weather were in sync with her mood, the sun slipped behind gray clouds and rain began to make patterns on the tinted windows.
Alex shuddered even though the car was warm. She felt like she was getting ready to face an old adversary but had no idea who it was.
