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They were now in a briefing room, preparing a game plan for the case, but even still, Jake seemed distracted.
Lauren’s transfer couldn’t be a coincidence. Fiona didn’t know it for sure, but if she had to guess, Lauren and Jake had experienced some drama in their relationship, and maybe it was even over.
“I think we should go to the crime scene first,” Jake said, leaning his palms on the table while Fiona sat. “They’ve taken samples of the hornets, but we should see if there’s anything else on the scene that stands out.”
Fiona’s heart jumped. Did she hear that right? On the last case, Jake and Lauren didn’t have Fiona on the scene at all, not until the very end, when Fiona had rushed into the forest after Jake as they’d chased the killer. But Jake hadn’t wanted her there. It was a good thing she’d gone, though—otherwise, Jake might be dead.
But now, he wanted her there. She almost didn’t believe it.
“You want me on the scene with you?” Fiona asked.
Jake nervously looked away. “Yeah, well… it’d be good to get another pair of eyes on this with me, and you know what to look for when it comes to these bugs.”
Fiona nodded, although she couldn’t help but feel like if Lauren were here, Jake would want Fiona to stay behind in the lab.
Either way, she was glad that Jake was giving her a chance to prove herself on this case. She had wanted to do more fieldwork, but knew she had to earn it.
“Sure, I can do that,” she said, giving him a small smile.
Jake nodded, and Fiona could tell that the conversation was over. She grabbed the file and stood up.
“Let’s go then,” she said.
Jake nodded again and then followed her out of the room. As they walked, Fiona glanced over at him, and she could feel the tension between them.
It was obvious that something had happened between him and Lauren—something that had caused him to shut Fiona out. Fiona wished she could help, but she knew it wasn’t her place. At the same time, she’d been the one to tell Jake, on their first case together, that it seemed like he’d been distracted by his relationship with Lauren at work.
If they were to be working as a team, maybe it was best they actually talked about these things.
As they made their way through the halls, Jake was quiet, so Fiona said, “So… is everything okay, Jake?”
He looked at her, dazed, as though he’d been lost in his thoughts. “Uh, yeah, Fiona. Why?”
“You seem distressed, that’s all.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “This transfer with Lauren caught me off guard.”
“Did she not tell you she was leaving?”
“No, but…” Jake sighed and looked around, but they were alone. “She did tell me last night that we’re over. I didn’t think she’d leave her job as my partner so damn fast, though.”
Fiona’s heart sank. She had no idea what had happened between the two of them, but it must have been bad. She reached out and put a comforting hand on his arm.
“I’m sorry, Jake,” she said softly. “I know how hard it can be to lose someone like that.”
Jake nodded, and for a moment, Fiona thought he was about to open up to her. But then the moment passed and he straightened his back and cleared his throat.
“Let’s focus on the case,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “We have a dead senator and a lot of questions to answer. That’s all that matters right now.”
Fiona nodded and squeezed his arm before dropping her hand. She understood that Jake didn’t want to talk about it any more than she wanted to press him.
“You’re right,” she said. “Let’s get to work.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Fiona took in the mansion before her, marveling at its height and grandeur. The structure was enormous and seemed to stretch up into the sky, with four floors and white columns reaching up to the heavens. Its expansive windows were adorned with intricate details that spoke to its age and craftsmanship. The estate was surrounded by lush gardens, fountains, and blooming trees, creating a picturesque view.
So, this was where the senator had lived—and been found dead. Fiona knew a bit of Senator Chris Barlow’s bad reputation, but it was of no concern to her; he was a murder victim, the victim of a heinous and violent crime, and she was determined to find out who had done this to him. To die by being stung by dozens of giant hornets was something no one deserved.
