Serial Games (Virginia Justice Book One) (26 page)

Doug rolled his eyes. “An unidentified witness? That’s just what I need. You’re right. Parker did mention someone else was on the inside — close to the defendants — but we didn’t get a name before—”

“Before he wound up dead.”

Hands bound behind his back, mouth taped shut, and shot execution-style in his own apartment. “Nothing at the scene pointed to another witness, and we combed every inch of that place.”

“Reread that witness’s statement. See if you can’t decipher another clue about who it may be.”

Doug masked a grimace. He knew this case inside and out. He didn’t miss anything; he’d already been re-reading the case notes since day one. But he’d examine them again if it would help. These disappearing witnesses troubled him.

Engelwood cleared his throat. “Does your team need any help?”

Doug remained silent for a minute, considering. He led a task force of five agents, including himself, and he only answered to his boss. The team worked well together. In less than a year’s time, the agents had achieved a relational balance. Doug saw no reason to upset it.

“I think we’re good.”

Engelwood stood upright. He shrugged. “We might not have a choice. There’s been a request to rotate a probationary agent here. Apparently, the office in Norfolk didn’t get the agent it wanted and is looking to get rid of this newbie.”

Doug’s gaze hit the ceiling and he let out a long breath, annoyed at the possibility of having to add supervising a new agent to his list of duties. A new agent required constant monitoring and wouldn’t be allowed to handle any assignment on the case without another agent present. There was no way they’d make a mistake on this one — the Manicotts weren’t going to get away this time.

Known for their gyms and the representation of some fairly well-known mixed martial arts fighters, the Manicotts had a level of prominence in the community. All the sons of Julius Manicott were MMA trained and at least one of them fought professionally.

Engelwood gripped Doug’s shoulder and gave it a small shake. “We won’t let him get in your way. Have him do your paperwork, which will free up your other guys to find that witness and get that evidence.”

Doug nodded in agreement. “I can find something for him to do.” He hoped. Doug not only enjoyed his work, he needed it. Work was reliable, steady — a constant companion. It didn’t reject or leave him and wasn’t duplicitous or oppressive. Work allowed him to excel. He could prove his value and shake the stigma of being the son of a criminal. He took extra shifts and completed other agents’ paperwork just to keep his mind occupied and their opinions of him favorable.

“Good man. He should be here tomorrow.”

Doug’s hands dropped from behind his head and he surged forward in his chair. “Tomorrow? What? Boss, come on… I’m drowning in investigative write-ups. The newbie can’t write the ones he wasn’t there for and the interviews—”

Percy held up his hands in surrender as he backed away toward his office. “Didn’t I say we have no choice? It’s part of the job, Fairbanks. Suck it up and do it.” He turned his back, entered his office and shut the door.

Doug pinched the space between his brows and squeezed his eyes shut. His head snapped up at the sound of a loud thump. Ricardo “Rico” Tonoeli had landed in his chair across from him and placed his feet on his desk directly adjacent to Doug’s. He leaned dangerously far back in his chair — nearly hitting the chair that belonged to the desk behind him — and crossed his arms over his chest.

“What’s this I hear about our team taking on some new guy?” He popped his gum loudly and then rubbed a few fingers over his lips to search for stray strands.

“Don’t get me started. Another witness has refused to testify and now we have to babysit some newbie. Did we ever hear back from forensics on the secretary’s laptop?” Doug shuffled a few stacks of paper around as he searched for the forensic report. “I know she’s not likely to be privy to any private communications between the family members.” Doug glanced up when his friend didn’t respond. Rico’s eyes were fixed on something behind Doug.

Doug smirked. Rarely did anything hold Rico’s attention for very long. Unless it was a woman. They were the only ones left in the office, and Doug couldn’t recall hearing the chime of the elevator doors directly behind the rows of desks that filled the open area. Doug reached across his desk and punched a sole of Rico’s shoe. “Yo, Rico, are you listening to me?”

Doug inhaled a fragrance of something a bit tropical, a bit musky. His breath hitched. His heart seized in his chest; paralysis rendered his limbs useless. He wouldn’t — couldn’t forget that scent.

Please God, no. I’ve spent too much time trying to let go
…

“I’m looking for Agent Engelwood?”

Doug worked his jaw before he attempted a painful swallow. That voice…

Rico nearly tumbled out of his chair and surged to his feet. He extended his hand. “I’m Rico Tonoeli.”

“Sara Deckker. Is Agent Percy—”

“Yeah, yeah, Engelwood. He’s the SAC.”

“Well, I’m the transfer.”

Rico cleared his throat. “From Norfolk?” His voice held disbelief. Doug watched as his friend’s eyes drifted down and then back up. “I thought we were getting a guy…” he said in afterthought.

Doug ignored the last part. “No, DC.” Doug heard his own raspy voice and felt the crack of his dry throat. He could kick himself for his reaction.

“Dougie?”

That nickname. Doug bit back a sharp response. Her voice held all the haughtiness he remembered. He didn’t look up. He didn’t even turn to look at the woman who had caused him to uproot his life in DC and return home, where he could be safe. Instead, he kept his eyes on the papers on his desk, refused to believe she stood just a few feet away.

Rico choked on a laugh. “Dougie? Is that what they called him? Dougie… I guess that kind of fits.”

Doug cringed at the hilarity in Rico’s gaze. He’d punch him for it later.

“Well, not everyone,” Sara answered. “Actually, just me.” She laughed nervously. Her uncharacteristically timid chuckle drew Doug’s eyes to her form.

She was every bit as gorgeous as he remembered. Long legs in snug jeans, a simple white shirt laid flat against her taut stomach, and platinum blonde hair pulled back into a high ponytail that accented her sharp cheekbones. She sent him a taunting smirk that both electrified and irritated him. He left DC because of her and now she’d followed him to Richmond. What did she want from him? He had nothing left to give.

Doug stood and restrained any further physical reaction to her presence. His control soon crumbled when Sara flashed a high-voltage smile and sauntered to him like a cheetah stalked her prey. Despite the pounding blood that coursed through his veins, heating him from his head to his toes, every muscle jelled and rendered him immobile. And on fire.

She was supposed to be prey, not him.

Sara had a way with men. During their days together at the profiling unit, there wasn’t a Friday night she didn’t have a date. Much like the present feeling in his legs, men turned to putty whenever she made an appearance. She’d cast some spell just by being in the same room with them, and they all succumbed. Doug shot a desperate glance to Rico, who stood, dumbfounded, his gum teetering on the edge of his bottom lip. Doug eyed the beautiful cat who now stood so close he drowned in the shimmering green pools of her eyes, suffocated in the sensation of warmth her scent caused.

“Dougie,” she purred. “Where’s the SAC’s office?”

The look of impatience in her eyes snapped Doug out of the haze he often experienced when he worked with the lovely Sara Deckker. He swallowed, tilted his neck to one side until a joint cracked, and then cleared his throat. Sara just smirked at his attempt to not appear fazed by her power.

Doug turned sharply on his heels in the direction of his boss’s office. “Follow me.”

Without knocking, Doug threw open Engelwood’s door and marched inside. “Boss, the new guy isn’t coming. The new guy isn’t a guy at all.” Doug thumbed over his shoulder as Sara entered the office.

Engelwood peered over his reading glasses and assessed Doug before he yanked the frames off and tossed them onto the desk. “Okay, who is it then?”

“Agent Engelwood? I’m Sara Deckker.” She walked confidently to the front of Engelwood’s desk and extended her hand. Engelwood hesitated, his eyes wide with surprise. He surged to his feet, gripped her hand and gave it a vigorous shake. “I’m on loan from the profiling unit in DC.”

“Welcome to Richmond.”

“Actually,” Sara plopped into a nearby chair and crossed her long legs, “I’m familiar with the area. I have…” she hesitated and fingered her ponytail, “I have family in town.”

Doug moved to a far corner of the office and crossed his arms. He grew impatient as he waited for Sara to explain why she had the right to interrupt the sanctity of his life…again.

“Is that right?” Engelwood asked. “Did you grow up in Richmond?”

Sara nodded. “That’s right. My father, James Deckker, still lives here.”

“Last I heard, we were expecting someone from Norfolk.”

“Yeah, about that…”

The hairs on Doug’s neck stood. Something was wrong.

Sara continued. “I called in a favor with the SAC down in Norfolk. Um,” she cleared her throat and shifted in her seat, “my father is unwell. I’m here to see how serious his condition is.”

“Ah. So, this isn’t a permanent move for you.”

“No, sir, Mr. Engelwood. I’m quite happy in DC.”

“We aren’t so formal around here so please, call me Percy.” He smiled.

Sara nodded.

Doug sighed and rubbed his head. Her presence here had nothing to do with making his life miserable; her father was ill.

“Well, I hope your father isn’t too bad off. Perhaps he’ll have a quick recovery.”

Sara didn’t respond to Engelwood’s supporting sentiment. Doug wished he could see her face, to know what she was feeling, but he only saw her rigid back and squared shoulders.

His parents were dead. Only he and his twin sister remained, and Daniella had moved to Europe to pursue her career in modeling and walk the runways.

“You’ll be assigned to Doug’s team.” Engelwood nodded in Doug’s direction. “I’m sure he’ll bring you up to speed on the investigation he’s running.”

Sara turned to look over her shoulder at Doug. He met her hard gaze and suppressed a chill that threatened to shoot up his spine. Squaring his shoulders didn’t cause her to back down and he shifted his feet uncomfortably. She’d fight him at every turn. Margaret Weston, their old team leader, had his respect. She’d put up with the two of them bickering all the time. Well, it was Sara who bickered — he just tried to stay out of her line of fire. Always failed.

Now he was the one in charge and he’d have to manage her. The task seemed more daunting than finding the missing witnesses.

Doug straightened from the wall. “Boss, can I speak to you a minute?” Sara made no attempt to get up. He fixed her with an even stare. “Alone.”

Sara arched a brow at him, and then a corner of her tiny lips turned up into a smirk. “Sure.” She stood and didn’t break eye contact until she passed him and walked out of the office.

Doug shut the door behind her with a slam. “Boss—”

“So that’s what they’ve got up there in DC.” Engelwood locked his hands behind his head and leaned back in his chair, eyes on the door. “Guess I should’ve taken that transfer when they offered.”

“Boss,” Doug spat through thick teeth.

“What is it, Doug?” he asked with a note of impatience. “You leaving her up in DC doesn’t make any sense.”

“I can’t work with her.”

Engelwood snorted, an incredulous look in his eyes. “What?”

“We, ah — we didn’t get along in DC. Can you just assign her to some other duty and let me and my team work the Manicott case, alone?”

His boss stared at him through narrowed eyes. “You two had a relationship?”

Doug swallowed thickly. He was the last person she’d be in a relationship with. And she had never let him forget it. “No.”

Engelwood drew his hands down the sides of his face, weariness heavy in his voice. “No? Then what is it?”

Doug licked his lips and grappled for an excuse. “Just different personalities.” It was true, just lame.

Engelwood chuckled. “Get over it.” He pointed at the door. “She’s on your team. Whatever you two had or didn’t have in the past, bury it and do your job. There’s the door.”

****

“Where in the world is that road?” Sara’s global positioning system no longer had her car icon on a street. When had she last updated the maps? Sara flicked a few loose blonde strands behind her ears in frustration. She hadn’t been in this part of Richmond, Virginia in more than ten years. With her GPS no longer guiding her, she now relied on memory.

And it was faint at best — on purpose.

Sara made a right turn onto another gravel road that would take her deeper into the forest. She’d only passed two residences since she’d entered the thick greenery and she didn’t recall those homes when she had last seen the area.

The location of her father’s cottage gave her the creeps. After spending years in the bustling city of DC, the quiet forests outlying the city made her jumpy. Strange sounds and movement in the bushes never seemed to cease and, coupled with her father’s odious behavior, Sara vowed never to return.

Until now.

Jim Deckker.

This was her father’s fault. He’d done some terrible things in the past but this stunt was a low blow. Dead in a month? She couldn’t believe it; wouldn’t believe it until she saw his medical records — or his body lying in a casket. But even then, would it matter?

Sara remembered each and every time she wished ill on her father. No matter how hard she fought the memories of his abuse, how much she excelled over the men in her FBI academy class, or the number of men she seduced and then laughed at the next morning when
she
walked away, nothing could erase the glare in Jim Deckker’s eyes when she didn’t succeed, nor the sting of his hands across her mouth if she dared contention. She had no relief from his control, witnessed no love from the man she couldn’t stomach to call “Father.”