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But also, sayingnowould cause tension and strife with Anderson. Jack was pretty sure Anderson would understand and maybe even allow him a bit of time off to spend with Rachel. But he may not be so understanding if Jack tried to decline a case right at the briefing.
So as he entered the small, darkened waiting area that led into Anderson’s office, Jack decided for himself that he didn’t even realize he wanted to make it until that very moment. He would tackle this case and even continue to assist with the case concerning the mystery white van. But when those were wrapped, he was going to ask Anderson for a leave of absence to help Rachel through the next few weeks. If she did indeed decide to undergo chemotherapy, she was going to need all the help she could get (whether she wanted to admit it or not).
He did his best to seem unbothered as he stepped into Anderson’s office. He could tell right away that this last-minute case had taken him,Anderson, by surprise. He’d tidied up his desk and closed his blinds—all things he tended todobefore leaving for the day. All the same, he sat behind his desk, a single lamp lighting the office from behind.
“Thanks for taking this one, Agent Rivers,” Anderson said, nodding to the chairs on the other side of the desk.
Jack sat down and did his very best not to feel the emptiness of the one beside him—the one that Rachel usually occupied. “So what are we looking at?” he asked.
“Two dead doctors. As I said, both happened in the Richmond area. The most recent was killed in his office inside the hospital in Chesterfield.”
“When was that?”
“This afternoon. The body has been moved to the coroner.” He slid a file across the desk to him. “It was violent. Very bloody. And according to everyone the State PD spoke to, none of the nurses or other staff members had any idea how it might have happened.”
“Any security cameras?”
“Two, but just for monitoring the parking lots. And because the corridor where his office is located is filled with staff offices, there are no cameras there.”
“Is State PD still on the scene over there?” Jack asked. He opened the folder and saw the pictures. Because the files had been transferred so recently, it looked as if Anderson had simply printed them off on the laser printer in the back of his office.
And he was right—it was very bloody. Someone had pretty much butchered the doctor in the images. In particular, there were two large gash marks along the left side of his neck, one of which made it appear as if his jaw had distended.
“They are, and I’ve told them someone will be over within an hour.”
“And the first victim? When was that?”
“Three days ago. Murdered in a similarly violent way in a parking garage after his shift. I sent you the files on that after I called you.”
“I’ll look it all over then,” Jack said as he got to his feet.
“If theseareconnected,” Anderson said, “it means this guy is moving quickly. And based on the state of the bodies, he thinks he has a point to prove. So this one…it’s pretty urgent that we knock it out as soon as possible.”
“Absolutely, sir.”
“One other thing, Agent Rivers.”
“What’s that?”
“Tonight, unless something unforeseen occurs, I don’t expect you to do much of anything other than check the murder scene over, maybe have a chat with forensics and the people that were at the hospital when he was killed. The coroner won’t be any good until tomorrow and we both know you won’t be able to get a word in with health networks in regard to patients until tomorrow. I say all that to let you know that I’m sending you solo tonight. But after you get a feel for it, let me know if you think you’ll need an assist. Maybe I can tag a rookie with you. Maybe someone out of the Violent Crimes Division.”
Jack nodded, but the idea of working alongside anyone other than Rachel made him feel physically sick. “Yeah, I’ll keep you updated.”
Then, as if reading his mind, Anderson said: “Have you seen her today?”
“Yeah, I have,” Jack said, pausing at the door.
“How is she?”
“Bored. She says she’s feeling fine…no symptoms for almost a week now. It’s just having to make the hard decisions now. Chemo or not. What to do about her daughter if things get bad.”
Anderson nodded curtly, and Jack was impressed to see genuine emotion. “Let her know I send my best.”
“I will. Thanks, sir.”
And with that, taking the folder with the recent files with him, Jack left Anderson’s office less than five minutes after he’d entered. As he took the elevator down to the lobby, he instantly found himself having an imagined conversation with Rachel in his head.
So much blood.
