Page 3 of Haunted By Sin

It was clear from Agent Tirelli's tone that he didn't appreciate the way Miss Reynolds had handled her situation, but fear was a powerful motivator. The woman should be afforded some leeway, especially given that three other women with the same name had lost their lives in what could only be described as gruesome deaths.

"Are you at Miss Reynolds’ residence right now, Agent Tirelli?"

"No. One of the local deputies gave me a heads up."

"While I appreciate the warning, my colleague and I will keep the appointment we have scheduled with Miss Reynolds," Brook replied as she turned off the vehicle's cruise control. She pressed the gas pedal so as not to lose speed while activating her turn signal. Their exit was just up ahead. "I'll keep you apprised of the meeting, as well as provide you with an address as to where my team and I will be staying for the time being."

"Don't say I didn't warn you, Sloane."

Brook's previous experience as a former federal profiler hadn't seen her in the field often, but that had changed drastically when she handed in her resignation years ago. She was now part owner and operator of S&E Investigations, Inc. The private investigative firm had not initially been set up to consult on serial cases for the Bureau, but the direction of the firm had been altered early on in the firm's infancy.

The offices of S&E Investigations were located in Washington, D.C., and the firm employed several other team members who had become like family to Brook over the years. Considering that she had basically isolated herself from everyone to concentrate on hunting her brother, it spoke a lot to her colleagues' characters that she viewed life differently now.

"Do you know him?" Sylvie asked about Agent Tirelli after Brook had disconnected the call. Sylvie fastened the flap of her laptop bag before lifting it over the middle console to store it in the backseat. "Personally, I mean?"

"No." Brook eased off the gas as she guided the SUV toward the exit. "I read Agent Tirelli's file on the flight here, though. He seems to be a solid agent. He is merely a point of contact. We have full reign over the investigation."

Brook gently pressed on the brake pedal, bringing the vehicle to a smooth stop at the intersection. She had turned off the annoying voice programmed into the GPS, but the directions were clearly instructing her to turn left. She had a different plan in mind. The gas station on the right side of the highway not only promised a quick break for both herself and Sylvie but also the ability to make contact with Theo and Bit.

Theo Neville and Bobby 'Bit' Nowacki were driving the firm's Mercedes Sprinter Technical Van outfitted with everything the firm would need while in the field. Bit was the firm's tech specialist, and he had spent months putting together a mobile office with top-of-the-line surveillance equipment. The van had been a game-changer for the team when on field assignments.

Whereas Theo and Sylvie were both former federal agents, Bit had learned everything in his specialty through life experiences. Not all of them had been on the right side of the law, either. Brook couldn't pass judgment considering the extreme measures she had taken over the years in her search for Jacob.

"Go ahead and use the restroom," Brook instructed as she deftly pulled the SUV parallel to a gas pump before cutting the engine. "I'll top off the tank."

Brook unfastened her seat belt before grabbing her cell phone. The corporate credit card she needed to purchase fuel was in the sleeve of her phone case. By the time she had swiped her card, removed the gas cap, and inserted the nozzle into the gas tank opening, Sylvie was already inside the convenience store. Brook took advantage of her time alone and accessed her speed dial list. She pressed her thumb firmly on the second name listed on the display.

"We're so switching places next time," Theo said in irritation without any preamble. "This entire van smells like onions, and we’ve only been on the road for the past hour."

"Hey, Boss!"

Brook ignored the sideways glare she received from the male subject on the other side of the pump. She was well aware that she shouldn't be on her cell phone while pumping gas. Pulling on the handle, she opened the driver's side door and climbed in behind the steering wheel. The SUV had a large fuel tank, and she could monitor the intake from her seat.

"Sylvie is doing just fine," Brook stated, answering the unspoken question from both Theo and Bit. They were both worried about Sylvie, and their concern was very valid. "We're at a gas station, maybe eight miles from Mary Jane Reynolds' neighborhood."

"I'm switching to video," Theo advised, prompting Brook to pull the phone away from her ear. Theo's face suddenly came into view, and his position in the passenger seat told her that Bit was driving the van. No wonder Theo wasn't in the best of moods. "Arden is all set to pick up the kitten this weekend."

Arden Hinnish was a former private investigator who manned the offices of S&E Investigations when the team was called out into the field. At sixty-eight years of age, his experience offered a different perspective, albeit a welcome one. He had also become a father figure to those at the firm, and it had been his idea that had put the entire pet idea into motion.

"We have no idea how long this investigation will take," Brook pointed out as she sat sideways in the seat. The tank was only half full. In her opinion, so was the plan to pick out a kitten without Sylvie's knowledge. "We could be here for weeks, Theo."

Brook understood that the team wanted to ensure Sylvie was okay after losing her father to pancreatic cancer. She had also mentioned several times that she wanted a kitten to come home to after working the types of caseloads the firm dealt with daily, but the travel involved was an obstacle that couldn't be overlooked.

"Arden has already declared himself the uncle of said furball, and he already has plans in place to take the kitten home with him when we’re required to travel out of the city." Theo readjusted his hold on the phone so that Brook had a better view of his good eye. The black patch covering his right eye had been the result of an injury sustained in the field during his tenure with the Bureau. In her opinion, the impairment caused others to underestimate his abilities. "Sylvie needs this, Brook."

Considering that Brook didn't always read certain situations correctly when it came to others' personal lives, she had made the conscious decision to leave it in the hands of the others. She wouldn't change her mind now, which was why she chose to change the subject.

"Fine," Brook muttered as she stepped out of the SUV. "Hold on a second."

She set her cell phone in the seat so that she could remove the nozzle and replace the gas cap. The male subject across from her was now using the squeegee to clean his windows, and Brook didn't want him to hear the rest of the conversation. Once she had taken the receipt and stored it on the side of the door for safekeeping, she picked up the phone to reclaim her seat.

"...too close. If the guy brakes, we're going to..." Theo was now holding the phone with one hand while resting his palm on the ceiling of the van with the other. "Bit, go around him. Do you want me to drive? I can..."

Brook spotted Sylvie walking back toward the SUV. She was casually scanning those individuals standing at the gas pumps, but there was also an alertness in her body language that hadn't been there before her attack.

"Is there anything that Sylvie and I should know before we meet with Mary Jane Reynolds?" Brook asked as she guided their conversation toward the case. "Agent Tirelli called a little while ago to inform us that her video had done its job. The press is already camped out in front of her house."

"I just received the file on the third victim," Theo replied right as Sylvie opened the passenger side door. She hoisted herself into the seat with ease. "I've also put in a request for the local authorities to send all evidence to our forensics lab for retesting. I've designated the chain of emails numerically so there won't be any confusion."

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