Page 67 of Solanum

Chapter Nine

I didn't go that night, and I didn't go a dozen nights more, but we kept up our promise. Nothing happened, save for sleeping and hugging, and I was gone each morning before she opened her eyes.

When Nora moved out of Seattle, those nights faded for a while, and part of me felt relieved over it. It tortured her, both being apart and together, and I was the cause of it all. One decision led us down a dead end, where the only way out was none at all.

Roderick and I returned to the FBI headquarters after a week in Kennewick, assisting on yet another batch of rape victims describing the same sort of attack. Two more this time, one of which seemed connected. Nora didn't accompany us, like last time, only Chin.

"How are we going to catch this royal douche, Donovan?" Roderick asked me while we headed toward Wilkinson's office.

"I'm not sure. Jackson couldn't connect it either. We know he travels. Eventually, he'll mess up. Eventually, he'll get cocky enough to think he's invincible and mess up. My concern is how many victims he'll leave in the wake of such."

"Same." He drew in a slow breath. "So, what do we do?"

"Keep moving forward. It's all we've got."

When we turned the corner toward our work area, the entire team gathered around Gordo's workstation, save for Wilkinson, staring at his giant monitor. Their faces, a tangle of confusion and wide-eyed interest, lured both of us over to them as well. Nora did a double-take when she saw me leaning over her shoulder to look on. She smiled right away, and I tossed her a wink.

"What are we looking at here, people?" I broke the revelry to ask.

"Gordo's new tech. Check it out." Taylor pointed at the screen. "Some analyst from Seattle P.D. sent us portions of her database search when we were down there today. She said she thinks that the rapes we're picking up are only part of the signature. There's a dozen more near misses that match it. Take a look."

"Shit, really?" I leaned closer and tapped through the large touch screen display. "What's the name of the analyst?"

"Rose Bryant."

"Get me on a call with her tomorrow. She might've found our missing piece," I said.

"On it," answered Taylor right away.

Everyone continued to stare while Gordo's digital map filled with red and blue dots, connected by matching lines. My hand fell to the small of Nora's back when she angled to move around me and away from the crowd.

"Brody, Donovan," Wilkinson called from his office doorway on the landing above us. His narrowed eyes looked between us before he headed back inside.

Nora and I broke away from the others right away. We shared a glance before ascending the stairs together and heading into Wilkinson's office.

"Close the door," he said, not looking up from the papers he signed on his desk.

I nudged it shut, taking a stance beside Nora while we stared at him. At first, he said nothing, continuing to do whatever the fuck he did with the papers on his desk.

"You wanted to see us, Sir?" asked Nora first, as if unable to tolerate the discomfort a second longer.

He remained quiet, closing the folder then grabbing another one. We just stood there, and my agitation only grew.

"Wilkinson, what the fuck—" I started but he cut me off.

"You both know why you're in here," he began, still never lifting his gaze to us.

Nora tensed immediately, her hands balling to fists at her sides when she looked at me. I wasn't as easily riled, however, and managed to maintain my composure.

"Sir—"

"Listen to what I'm saying to you both." He set his pen down now, folding his hands on top of it when he finally looked up at us. "You both know why you're in here."

Nora's cheeks reddened and her weight shifted when she glanced at me again.

"Afraid not, Sir," I said, frowning at him and waving my hand in his direction. "Why don't you go ahead and enlighten us?"

"Agent Donovan." He rose from his chair now, his gaze locked with mine. "You both know why you're in here. And I suggest you handle it." He softened for a moment, glancing from me to Nora. "Because I don't want to."

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