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“His idea of protection would be to try to lick the burglar to the point of asphyxiation,” Olivia said dryly. “But if they didn’t know him, he’s big enough to make anyone think twice about attacking me. So, it all works out.” She reached down and Harley affectionately nuzzled her hand. “And what he does with the utmost talent and skill is give comfort and remind everyone that there’s still goodness and love out there in the world when all you can see is the cold and violence.” She added gently, “And I think you might have a little use for that talent tonight. I won’t take no for an answer. After dinner you and Harley will go up to your condo. He’ll run around and try to get in your shower with you, and then probably steal your towel and jump on your lap when you’re trying to dry your hair. Then he’ll try to persuade you to watch HGTV while you’re relaxing before bed.”
“And those are all supposed to be selling points? I don’t think so.”
“Nah, that comes when you go to bed, and he jumps up beside you and you feel his heart beating and the love he radiates. Then you remember that’s what life’s really all about, and you might actually sleep tonight.” She headed for the kitchen. “Now I’ll get your salad. You should go to bed. You’ll want to get up early to bring Harley back and have a bite of breakfast before you start out for Pine Valley.”
“Any other orders?” Kendra asked.
“Only one. But it bears repeating.” She opened the refrigerator. “Think positive!”
***
8:35A.M.
Next Day
Pine Valley
Kendra inhaled sharply as she stopped and gazed in horror down at the huge crater-like cavity at the bottom of the hill. Even though it was early, there were several agents in FBI windbreakers moving carefully about the destruction area. There were dozens of plastic evidence markers and areas of interest cordoned off by yellow crime scene tape. No one had updated her on their findings overnight, but why would they? she thought in frustration. She wasn’t FBI. She was only someone trying desperately to help find out what had happened here that had taken so many lives.
“Pretty grim, isn’t it?” Kendra turned and saw Special Agent Michael Griffin coming down the hill behind her. She hadn’t expected to see him here. As head of the San Diego FBI field office, he’d been at the hospital when she’d left last night talking to media and relatives of the injured. She’d thought then that he was doing a fairly decent job of it, considering that she’d never considered Griffin to be particularly warm and sympathetic. He was smart and tough and had the experience needed to do what he had to do under usual circumstances. But anyone would have been out of his depth with what had happened here at Pine Valley. He’d been curt to her last night, and he was scowling now. “It’s even worse than it looks,” he said. “I had to walk on eggs when I was talking to those reporters last night.”
“I saw all the forensic and medical vans parked on the hill.” She nodded down at the crater. “And the markers. Your team has been busy.”
Griffin nodded. “Special Agent Dean Cassalas has been in charge of the scene. He’s been out here all night. He wasn’t crazy about having you out here, but I let him know how helpful you’ve been on some of our cases in the past. He wanted to keep it strictly within the Bureau.”
“I got that impression.” She waved a dismissive hand. “But then so did all the other agents. The FBI can be like an exclusive private club when it closes ranks. I could understand it. I just wanted to help.”
“Metcalf? You worked with him on cases frequently.” He shook his head. “I didn’t think it was professional that he seemed to be that friendly with someone who wasn’t in the Bureau. But I liked him, so I let it go.” He gazed at her for a moment. “Was it more than…friendship?”
“No.” Griffin’s curiosity might be harmless, but she didn’t intend to trust it. That FBI mentality was too ingrained. “Metcalf and I are just friends. Have you heard anything new? I called the hospital before I left my condo and they said there was no change yet.”
He shook his head. “The other agent in ICU died last night but Metcalf had a fair night. He still has a chance.”
“I didn’t expect to see you out here today.”
“It’s my job. This is the crime scene. It didn’t seem right to be pushing papers back at the office when we lost so many good people here yesterday. This case has already attracted worldwide attention, and people want answers.”
“I understand,” Kendra said. “People are already wondering how our best and brightest walked into a two-year-old trap that a serial killer set for them.”
Griffin shook his head. “How could they have known?”
“I’m not blaming anyone. If I’d worked this case, I probably would have been standing right next to them. That’s why I want to find out exactly how this happened.”
“That’s why I told Cassalas to bring you today. You have a sterling reputation, and the media will believe everything you say. I can throw a dozen forensics specialists at them, and it won’t mean nearly as much as an interview with you.”
“Even though it means I’ll be talking to those same experts to get my information?” She met Griffin’s eyes. “Because I have no intention of sugarcoating your ‘mess.’ I’m going to do the job I usually do. I’ll find answers and the truth however I can.”
“That’s all I ask,” Griffin said. “This is my career; do you believe I’d not be honest in protecting it? I just want you to assure me that you won’t let the media influence you into hinting that this investigation isn’t entirely aboveboard. They do like sensationalism.”
“They won’t get it from me,” she said flatly. “But I do want to see everything to do with the investigation. I have no desire to get in your way, but, if you’re using me, be prepared to have me do the same.”
“No problem.” Griffin was looking up the hill at a tall, lean, thirtyish man who was hurrying toward them. “And here comes Cassalas. I’ve told him to cooperate fully with you, so that we can get this investigation wrapped up.”
“He wasn’t cooperating with me last night when I wanted to come out here and look around,” she said wryly. “Though he had a lot of seemingly good reasons.”
“One of them was me.” Griffin’s tone was faintly mocking. “But that was last night.” He waved at Cassalas. “And everything he told you was the truth. The only thing I told him to skip was that I didn’t want you to see all the body parts we kept finding at this site. It was dreadful. I was keeping that from everyone because I didn’t want the stories of gore and blood to appear on Fox News.”
“I can understand why.” She tried to force herself not to shiver. “But I would have come anyway. It would have been my duty to those agents who had died.”
