Page 21 of Locked In Ice

“I think it’s late.I think I should be in bed, but I’ll probably be getting a shower first and then crawling between those crisp, hotel room sheets—”

“About Lane.You know why I want you with him.”

Well, of course, she knew.“You want me to profile your new protégé.”

“You’ll be training him, too.”

“Um, of course.That’s why he is paying me, after all.”She’d known the moment that Memphis asked her to work with Lane that a profile had been his objective.“You’re worried about him.”

“His sister is worried.Oliver Foxx is worried.”

Oliver.She knew him well.Once upon a time, they’d even worked together at the FBI.Oliver liked to think he was incredible when it came to killers.

If she’d stayed with the Bureau, she would have given him a run for his money.Or…I would have been better.Actually, she was better.“Did Oliver work up a profile on Lane?”

“He did that ages ago,beforeLane went to jail.He’s different now.”

“They say prison changes you,” she murmured.

“Ophelia.This shit is serious.”

“Like I don’t know that?”She was serious.Being locked in a celldidchange a person.One hundred percent.Her left hand lifted to press against the back of her head.It was vaguely tender thanks to that hit into the bricks.

And if her head was tender, what about Lane?He’d been hit by Thomas Bass.How was his head feeling?Should she go check?It would be nice and partner-like to check on him and any injuries he had.

“Lane wants to hunt the bad guys.Great.More power to him.But I need to know—” Memphis stopped.

So she graciously finished for him, “If he’s gonna go all Dexter on you and be the killer who hunts killers?You worried he lost himself in that cell and came out as someone brand new, aren’t you?”It took all of her power to make her voice seem flippant.Your past is yours.Buried deep.Keep it buried.

“I didn’t know Lane before the cell, so I can’t say what the hell he was like then.I just know he’s a hunter now.Before I pull him deep into the Ice Breaker fold, I want to be sure of him.”

Because Lane had obviously done something to set off Memphis’s alarms.“He has control.”Complete control.

“He also has rage.”

Don’t we all?But Ophelia just said, “Understandable, given his past.”

“But he has so much freaking potential.”

“Um.Potential.In spades.”

“And if he’s focused, if I know I can count on him, he’d be invaluable on the team.”

“Laser-like focus.Check.He’s got it.Don’t think you need to worry about that.”

“Ophelia.”

“Memphis.”

“I know I’m asking a lot of you.”

“Oh, just the usual.You’re cutting me open.Poking at my darkest spots and expecting me to feel no pain.”Her eyes widened.Crap.She had not meant to say those words.She was far closer to crashing than she realized.

“Ophelia?”Now worry laced her name.“I don’t know what you’re—” Memphis broke off before continuing in a far more careful voice, “If this is too hard for you—”

“It’s not too hard.I’m just tired.We’re heading back to Savannah tomorrow.I’ll profile him.I’ll train him.If I see any giant, waving red flags, you will know.Now, uh, the bed is calling and I must answer.Night, Memphis.”

She hung up before he could say anything else.

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