Page 84 of Chemistry: The Chemist

Caught between a rock and a hard place, I resorted to what I knew best. Who I knew best. Egypt Johanson, the agent. I’d just met Eden. She had little influence at the moment.

“Open your eyes, people. They own the firm. Check the tax documents. Investors. Client list. Compare it all and I can guarantee you’ll find them at the end of the rainbow somehow, some way,” I gritted, disgusted with myself.

Fuck. Just listen. Don’t say anything else. Just listen.

“Rugger Childers. Has to be my favorite. A ghost she is, indeed. She has a degree in forensics. She mastered it as well. Double, actually. Science and psychology. She’s a fucking weapon,” Bradford whispered, looking over the files in his hand.

She was as fierce as she’d been described.

“She’s a total fucking nerd. So is The Chemist. These two are very similar. Given her occupation, her studies have aided in her ability to remain unseen, and unscathed.

“Untouched. She knows how to manipulate a crime scene or leave one without even a trace of evidence. We know she’s The Huntress.

“Who or what she’s been hunting, we don’t know. We haven’t linked her to anything or anyone. The case we thought she was involved in, they picked up a guy for last week.

“We thought he was our guy, The Hunter, but that couldn’t have been furthest from the truth. We’re back at square one with her. She’ll be the toughest to nail. The girl practically doesn’t exist.”

“We’ll get her, just like we’ll get the others,” Jack assured him.

“What is the plan?”

“You start digging. Now that we know we’re in the right place, start digging.”

“It won’t be easy.”

“We’re aware,” Jack confirmed. “But we believe in you. Whatever you have to do, Johanson. It’s time we nailed these fuckers. Been a pain in my ass for way too long.”

“Check-ins won’t be as easy, Jack. This is personal for him. I’m not business and up until now, neither was he.”

It would be best if you took me off the case, completely. He doesn’t deserve what I will bring to his door. No matter how much havoc he’s caused Clarke, he has only brought me joy. Elation. Peace. And so many orgasms I lost count.

The thought never pressed through. It remained just that–a thought.

“Whatever it takes, Johanson. It’s gotten personal for him, which is exactly what we want. He needs to trust you. The minute he lets his guard down, then you start digging. In the meantime, is there anything you can tell us about his residence? His lifestyle? Any habits? Anything that will stick?”

He ended a man’s life because his dirty nails grazed my skin. My neighbor has irreparable damage to his male parts because he asked me on a date. Bradford is on thin ice. The call I had with him put Chem in his feelings. If we’re not careful, he’ll find each and every one of you and end your lives.

“No.” I shook my head. “Just like we thought, he’s a criminal of another caliber. He’s smart. Calculated. Very careful. We’ve only had dinner here and there.”

“His home?” Macy asked.

“I have nothing,” I lied with a shrug.

I don’t have much, at least. I’m always blindfolded.

“You think we could get a tracke–”

“I’m not risking my life, Jack.” From side to side, I shook my head. “No wires. No trackers. No phones. Nothing that will alarm him. He is unlike anything I’ve ever encountered.

“There is hardly anything that’ll get past him. He’s always watching. Seemingly waiting. Paranoid in a sense. Like he feels something on the horizon. I can’t explain it.

“But, it feels like he’s always preparing for something. He’s restless for the most part. Always thinking. Planning. Working. Even when he says he isn’t, I can tell by the way he completely zones out.

“Sometimes it feels like he isn’t even in the room. But, his presence is so magnifying I can’t help but acknowledge it.” Not until I’d finished did I realize I’d trailed off.

The smile on Bradford's face was as wide as his head. He nodded. “That’s definitely our guy. You are on the money describing him, his demeanor… his profile. Fuck, you’re a Godsend, Johanson.”

“I need to get going,” I reminded them, taking a peek at the time.

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