Page 71 of Solanum

"Later." She grinned, leaning on the counter as she watched me head out.

I tossed a glance back at her for good measure, before ducking back into the streets. My smirk remained steadfast while I snapped a picture of the side of my cup before pocketing my phone.

Roderick met me in the hallway as soon as I stepped out of the elevator. "Something happened at the Seattle P.D."

"What?" My brow furrowed as we headed back to our posts.

"Walsh called Wilkinson to say one of their homicide detectives was shot. Gunned down even."

"Shitty, but unfortunately not uncommon—"

"No. I'm not finished." He grabbed my arm and pulled me to a halt. "It was the detective that last worked on the Four Point case. Apparently, the gunman wore a mirrored mask and uttered Four Point's catch phrase."

"Are you fucking kidding me?" I rolled my eyes and lowered my cup before taking a sip. "A copycat?"

"Maybe. Everyone's in a frenzy."

"Thanks for the heads up. I better go find—"

"Donovan!" Wilkinson bellowed per usual when he appeared in the hallway five feet from us. "I need you in my office."

"On the way. Literally standing right here." I waved my hand in front of us and he scowled.

"Just get inside." He nodded toward his office and I followed him.

"Roderick told me about the copycat—"

"I'm sending Brody out to Grays Harbor. Doctor Oliver is already there and she's going to consult." He signed off on something then passed it off to his secretary when she poked her head in the door. "S.P.D. has a handle on most of this, but Brody can assess the situation better."

"Wait, so you don't think it's a copycat?"

"A one-time shooting of a police detective publicly named as the detective who helped close the Four Point case with the most overt signature features used as part of this guy's ruse, no. I don't think so. At least not yet. Maybe a targeted event, but not a copycat." He came to stand on the other side of his desk, leaning back against it while crossing his arms over his chest. "I've notified the Canadians, however, and they're placing the living victims in protective custody. With that said, I'm taking this one myself. I'll need you back here running the show."

"What about Jackson?"

"I'm keeping him on the serial rape case because of the newest lead. I'll need you here to supervise the remainders of both teams," he said, blandly.

"Fine." I sipped my coffee then set it down on his desk. "Which detective was shot?"

"Maggie Miller. A full recovery is expected."

"Met her a few times. Good detective, abrasive attitude."

"She's also the girlfriend of Sali James, as I've been suddenly informed—"

"Wait a second here." I held my hands up to him. "This perp shot the girlfriend of one of Scott Alexander Clark's living victims and you don't think this is a copycat?"

"I said I don't think it's a copycat, but a targeted situation."

"For fuck's sake, Wilkinson."

"Seriously, Donovan. I need to handle this one myself. It's delicate and I can only trust you to lead the unit. Jackson is good, but he isn't a global thinker when it comes to teamwork," he explained. "And he's not the one I'd recommend filling my shoes when I edge closer to retirement. So, I'm trusting you with this."

"Fine. I'm good for it. Do what you have to do." I shrugged and turned toward the door. "I'll brief the team." I slowed my pace to look back at him. "Not a copycat?"

He shook his head. "It's too soon…"

"Maybe that's the glory of it. No one would suspect."

---