Victims into killers…
Her gaze darted to Joel. She found him already watching her.
“Are you concerned that our least favorite FBI agent is going to be dodging our steps?” he asked her.
“Potentially.” But she had bigger concerns at the moment. One in particular was nagging at her mind. “He’s lower on the list.” Chloe jumped away from the desk. Her nose twitched at the antiseptic smell in the lab.
“Why is he being brought in?” Joel asked as he pulled off his gloves and tossed them into the trash.
That answer was easy. “Because his boss thinks we have a serial on our hands.”
A pause from Joel. “His boss got that impression because you told him?”
“No, I believe Cedric did.” She slanted a glance at Ruben. “Am I right?”
“How would I know?” His voice rose.
How indeed. “I’ll have to call Richardson’s boss later,” Chloe murmured. “Make sure he understands that his agent is already not playing nicely.” Wanting her to keep her hands off Ruben’s files. What utter nonsense.
“Are you going to tattle on the man?” Ruben wanted to know.
“Of course.” But she had other goals at the moment. “Thank you for the assistance, Ruben. And are we still on for our hurricane date this weekend?”
“Uh, Chloe…” He crept closer to her. “Cedric told me what happened to you. And though I do certainly think you look gorgeous—as always…” His hand rose and his index finger gently slid under her eyes. “I know how to see through makeup.” His lips turned down. “How badly were you hurt? And are you still hiding that pain from everyone?”
“I got a bump on the head. A slight bruise on my shoulder. Nothing I can’t handle,” she assured him.
He didn’t look assured. “You went off on your own.”
Cedric had certainly been the over-sharer. She’d have to talk with him about that.
“If you have a partner, why were you on your own?”
“I had a new partner. Cedric was taking him into custody, so I was improvising.”
Ruben’s eyes widened. “A new partner?” He nearly rubbed his hands together as he came even closer. “Tell me more.”
She let her gaze drift over him. “I like the new hair color. I don’t typically picture you as a blond, but it really works.”
His right hand flew to touch his hair. “Do you? I mean, it’s not too much?”
“It’s perfect. Brings out your eyes.” She glanced over at Joel. “If you need to examine the body more, I can wait for you outside.”
“I’m done.” Clipped.
Ruben side-eyed him. “Are you mad about the new partner? You are. I can tell.”
“She doesn’t have a damn new partner. She has me.”
Ruben fanned one hand. “All this tension….”
“Do not play with me right now, Ruben,” Joel warned. “This is not the day.”
“Fine. I’ll leave the playing to Chloe.” Now he made a shooing motion toward the door. “It would be better if the two of you are not here when the Feds arrive. Less stressful for me that way. And I am trying to cut out stress. That’s why I am trying yoga. Also why I will need at least two hurricanes when we meet for drinks, Chloe.”
She strode for the door, aware that Joel was shadowing her steps. She held the door while he turned back to Ruben—
“Thank you,” Joel told him.
Ruben beamed. “Still working on those magic words, are you? Have you noticed what an incredible tool they can be?”
A growl was Joel’s response.
“If you try saying ‘please’,” Ruben added, “maybe you can replace the new partner that Chloe has. Just a word of advice, you know. Though I do think I’ve advised you to use ‘please’ with her before. Remember that time when I told you to try saying, ‘Chloe, please let me—’”
“Good-bye, Ruben.” Joel marched out the door.
Chloe met Ruben’s stare. “Was that fun for you?”
“The highlight of my day, thanks for asking.” But his expression sobered. “You…will take precautions, won’t you? I don’t like hearing that my drinking and gossip buddy got her head bashed in.” His nostrils flared. “That type of news quite upsets me.”
“I will take precautions,” she promised. “I would hate for you to be upset.”
He nodded. “Good. Because the last thing I would ever want…” A slow exhale. “Is for you to come across my table.”
There were many things that she wanted to accomplish that day but… “Believe me, that item is not on the to-do list.”
***
“What’s the next stop?” Joel asked as his fingers curled around the steering wheel.
“I have a suspect that I’d like to interview.”
“A suspect.” His head swiveled toward her. “You know who the sonofabitch is?”
If only. “There is someone who is conveniently here when I do not think he should be.”
“Chloe…”
“I know you do not like the man, but I think it is necessary for us to pay a visit to your former shrink.”
“What?” His jaw dropped. He quickly closed his mouth. Shook his head. Then… “You think Gordo could be guilty of—”
“He’s a suspect in my mind because of his tie to you. I’d like to interview him, but I completely understand if you do not want to be present,” Chloe added carefully. “The last thing I want to do is make you feel—”
“Where you go, I go.” Immediate. “But…Gordo? You think it could be him?”
She noticed that Joel’s knuckles had whitened around the wheel. “He relocated to New Orleans. He knows your past. He knows killers.” Her voice remained steady. “We can’t overlook him.”
“If it’s him…”
“We’ll find proof,” she finished. Because there would be no mistakes. They would find their prey.
And then he would pay.
Chapter Sixteen
“Not again!” Dr. Gordon Jennings leapt to his feet as alarm flashed across his face. “You cannot barge into my office a second time while I am with a client—”
“Certainly, he can,” Chloe replied before Joel could. “He just did it.” She turned her head to the woman at her side. “I will need you to stop touching me right now. I don’t like it. I don’t know you, and I do not want your hands on my person.”
Gordon’s office manager let her go. But glared. “You should not be here. I will call the cops and let them know—”
“Excellent idea,” Chloe praised her. “I should have thought of that myself. When you telephone them, do me the courtesy of asking for Detective Cedric Coleman, would you? I think he might be interested in our visit today. And…” she added, almost conspiratorially, “Cedric is a good friend. He’ll leap into action.”
The office manager didn’t seem to have a ready comeback, Joel noted. It was the same woman—Wendy Hyde—who’d been there the previous day, and, as luck would have it…the client was the same, too. Same guy with the sturdy build, glasses, and tousled hair. Standing nervously and with a definite what-the-hell expression on his face.