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“Actually, she arrived close to dawn.”Details mattered.Colby had never seemed to understand how very important small pieces could be to the big picture.“That would have beenaftera masked man attacked her in her vehicle.Her vehicle was taken so the crime scene techs could check it for evidence.”With her vehicle out of commission, she’d needed a ride home.What should he have done?Left her stranded?Unprotected?Left her waiting for another attack?Oh, the fuck, no.“Lark fully believes that the man who attacked her is the same man who killed Amelia Wayne, Susan Peters, and Casey Gallows.”
Colby opened his mouth.Closed it.
“I drove Lark home after the attack, but when we arrived at her apartment…” Now anger slipped into his voice.“Someone had broken in.Apparently, she’s had a series of attacks.People throwing bricks into her home.Damaging her vehicle.”She’d been scared.Alone.Yet Lark had said that she’d reported her attacks to the local cops… “Whywas I not informed of these situations?”He’d realized that someone in power must have been deliberately keeping him out of the loop.
Oliver strongly suspected he was staring straight at that someone.
“The incidents are being investigated by the local police department.They did not fall in your purview,” Colby responded in his arrogant, slightly nasal, I’m-a-prick voice.“I assure you, the local cops are quite capable of dealing with vandals.Your job is serial killers, remember?That is your famous specialty.”
Oliver narrowed his eyes.
Colby beetled his brows.“After all, you had the chance to advance higher up in the Bureau, but instead, you basically had a position hand carved for you.You go to where the monsters are, am I right?That’s what the people in power at the FBI want for you.They want their monster hunter to hunt at their command.Well, the Bridal Killer has been captured.You should have moved the hell on by now.”
Oliver cocked his head to the right.“You’re still mad because they offered me the Executive Assistant Director job first, aren’t you?”The job that would have put him over the Criminal, Cyber, Response and Services Branch at the Bureau.Only Oliver had never wanted that job.And Colby was right—the people in power at the FBI really wanted Oliver out hunting.Not pushing the papers that Colby loved so much.
A muscle jerked along Colby’s jaw.“I’mpissedbecause your personal relationship with Lark Lawson could very well jeopardize the case the Bureau has built against her brother.If he walks, are you going to talk to the families of his victims?Are you going to tell them that a killer went free because you wanted to fuck the guy’s sister?”
Well, the gloves were clearly off.“I want to be sure he’s guilty.”
Colby’s chin almost hit the floor as his jaw dropped.Then he rallied even as his face flushed to nearly match the color of his red hair.“You’re the one who built the profile!You’re the golden boy!You’re—”
“After the attack on Lark last night, we need to make certain we are not about to send the wrong man to death row.Details like that matter to me.When I leave here today, I’ll be going to visit him.Having a one-on-one chat with Lane.”
Colby snorted.“Like the guy’s lawyer is gonna ever allow that.”
“It will be allowed.Lane will want to talk to me.”
“The man probably wants to beat the hell out of you.But, hey, you know what?Go for it.”A taunting smile tipped Colby’s lips.“You go in there, tell the guy you used his sister to build your case against him, tell him how much you fucked them both over, and when he starts swinging, we can have him for assaulting an officer.Win, win.”
“You’re a dick, you know that?”
“You shouldn’t talk to your supervisor that way.That kind of thing will get you reprimanded.”Colby walked around the desk.Moved to tower over Oliver as he continued to sit casually in the chair.“Even your golden boy status won’t save you.”
It was Oliver’s turn to smile.
Colby’s brow furrowed in the face of Oliver’s smile.Uncertainty flashed in his eyes.“What is your problem?”he groused.“Does anything intimidate you?”
“You don’t,” Oliver assured him.“I’ve been toe-to-toe with the worst monsters in the world.Twisted killers who slice up their prey, who torture for hours, and who get off on pain.”
Colby flinched.
Yeah, that was the man’s problem.He’d never had the stomach for field work.Never could handle the darkest of the cases.Most people couldn’t.
Golden boy?Bullshit.That wasn’t the title he had at the Bureau.But Colby had touched on Oliver’s real nickname.The monster hunter.And, yeah, he had job security because he could get in the heads of those bastards who tortured and murdered for sport.
And he wasn’t worried about Colby getting mad at him.Oliver had a direct line to the Deputy Director of the FBI.Oliver’s position at the Bureau didn’t slide into the traditional hierarchy.Which meant…I don’t have to answer to Colby.The bastard could bitch and moan, but a threat of a reprimand wasn’t gonna do jack shit for Oliver.“I’m not looking to jeopardize the case.”
“Then let someone else guard your precious Lark.”
She is very precious.It was good that Colby understood that fact.
“There are plenty of other agents and local cops who can do the job.Hell, we’ll even put her up in a safe house for you.That make you feel better?”Colby raked a hand over his face.“Not like I want the woman getting attacked.”
“Good to know.”
Colby’s hand dropped.
“Appreciate the offer of the safe house, but I’ll be sticking close to her.After I pay my visit to her brother, I’ll be taking a bit of personal time—”
