Page 19 of Forgotten Girls

“I don’t believe they’d take the laptop. It’s FBI property.” Styles touched her arm. “Why aren’t you looking at me? Is it the blood in my hair?”

Avoiding his gaze meant he couldn’t read her thoughts, and as he was so perceptive, often she couldn’t risk it. Maybe this time she should. Covering the awkward moment with a laugh, Beth turned to face him. “No, sorry. I was miles away thinking about the events last night and how they played out. It’s kind of hard trying to push them out of my mind. The killing and all.” She took a deep breath. It was now or never. “I don’t feel any remorse for killing them, Styles. I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Does that make me crazy like my dad?”

“Nope, that makes you a good agent.” Styles frowned and shook his head slowly. “I can’t imagine how it feels to have the burden of a psychopathic killer as a father hanging around your neck. I guess it’s normal for you to worry you might become like him, especially in a job like ours where killing people is a reality. If it makes you feel any better, I meant to hurt the guy I threw out of the window. He came at me with a knife with the intent to kill. I didn’t think twice about breaking the other one’s neck and would have before the third guy cut my throat if you hadn’t arrived on scene.” He shrugged. “When it’s me or them on the streets, I rarely think of them after the fact. I know in my heart it was a just kill. I don’t lose sleep over people who make the mistake of trying to kill me. You shouldn’t either.”

Breathing out a sigh of relief, Beth nodded. “The thing is, if I weren’t an FBI agent when what happened last night went down, I’d be locked up and viewed as a criminal.” She poked at her temple. “It would have played out the same. In here, I can’t understand how carrying a badge makes it okay.” She blew out a long breath and took her life in her hands. “For example, look at the Tarot Killer. Put him in my place and he’d go for murder one. He’d have killed the bad guys same as I did but ended up in jail.”

“Maybe not.” Styles rubbed his chin. “Five men breaking into a motel room with the intent to murder makes it self-defense.” His concerned gaze moved over her. “You’re exhausted and not thinking straight. Promise me when you get to the hotel, you’ll get some sleep. Fine if you want to work later, but right now, we both need some rest or we’ll be no good to anyone.”

Beth nodded slowly. “Okay. What are you going to do about Ginny?”

“Nothing right now.” Styles stared at the ceiling. “I’ll wait until we’ve wrapped up the investigation into Shoebridge and the doctor and then I’ll give her time to get her life back together. The Her Broken Wings Foundation will care for her and Billy. Later they’ll find her a place to stay and work. Once I know she’s stable, I’ll contact my mom and tell her I’ve found her. I really don’t want her to know the circumstances of what happened, but that will be up to Ginny.” He glanced at her. “I figure she’ll blame me for Shoebridge leaving—and she’ll be right. I guess it’s debatable if she’ll ever accept the truth.”

Footsteps came from the passageway and Beth watched the sheriff walk toward them. She pushed to her feet and glared at him. “Are we free to go?”

“Yeah.” The sheriff nodded and looked at Styles. “The director wants you to call him when you get back to your office. The exit is through the door and to the left.” He opened a door with his keys and allowed them to pass.

Beth shot him a stare she hoped conveyed everything she thought of the treatment she’d received by him and his men. “Thank you, Sheriff. I’ll be sure my report includes every aspect of our stay with you. If you’re real lucky, you might get someone from the Justice Department dropping by to give you a lesson on duty of care.”

TWENTY

WEDNESDAY

Rattlesnake Creek

A blue sky dotted with cotton clouds spread out across the mountains but an icy wind bit into Styles’ cheeks as he walked across Main and into Sheriff Cash Ryder’s office. He pushed open the door and held it to allow Bear to walk in behind him. The girl at the counter smiled at him and he nodded to her. “I’m Agent Styles. Is Cash in his office?”

“I’ll see if he’s in.” The girl pressed an old-style intercom and announced him. “Yeah, go straight through.” The girl smoothed a strand of hair over one shoulder and smiled at him. “I’m the new sheriff’s assistant.”

She looked straight out of college and Styles nodded. “Nice to meet you.” He hurried past the desk and to Cash’s office door, pushed it open, and walked inside.

“So you’re back.” Cash took his boots off the desk and straightened his chair. He held up one finger and pressed the intercom. “Bring in a fresh pot of coffee and two clean cups.” He waited for the girl to come in and replace the coffee pot in the machine and then get two cups. “Thanks, Amber, that will be all for now.” His gaze followed her out the door and when it shut behind her, he looked at Styles and grinned. “Recall when I put in a request for a deputy? Well, the mayor sent her. I’m not exactly sure what I’m meant to do with her as it seems the only thing she can do efficiently is answer the phone and make coffee.” He stood and went to the coffee machine and poured two cups. He added the fixings and walked back to his desk.

Scratching his cheek, Styles stared at him. “I figure, as she’s straight out of college, she’ll have some experience in typing, at least, and computer skills they all have at that age. All those reports you’re expected to write? You can just dictate them to her, and she’ll type them for you and then upload them onto the server.”

“You think?” Cash leaned back in his chair, making it creak. “I can’t imagine describing some of the crime scenes that we’ve investigated over the last couple of years to that young girl out there. I figured she’d either go running down the street screaming her lungs out or be traumatized for life.”

Styles removed his hat and dropped it on the desk. He picked up his cup of coffee and sipped the rich aromatic brew. “So I gather you didn’t have the chance to interview her and ask her if she was interested in law enforcement?”

“Nope.” Cash leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table and stared at him. “The mayor called me and told me she’d be arriving this morning.” He shook his head slowly. “I don’t know a darn thing about the girl.”

Frowning, Styles thought for a beat. “Maybe she is more experienced than you’re giving her credit for? Do you mind if I speak to her?”

“Nope, I’ll call her in.” Cash pressed the button on the intercom and made the request.

The door opened and the girl walked inside carrying a notepad and pen. She looked expectantly at Cash. Styles turned to her. “We have an ongoing investigation and we’ll be needing your assistance. I want you to check all the databases for any missing children, particularly girls, over the last week or so in this state. I also want you to contact all the employment agencies in the state and ask them to send you the names of any men in their fifties who have applied for a position of security guard in the last twenty-four hours. If you’re able to obtain any information, make sure everything is forwarded to my office.” He waited for her to finish writing and looked up at him. “Is what I asked within your job description?”

“Yes, of course.” The girl looked slightly confused. “Office management is only a small part of what I can do. I could also be a legal secretary or a court clerk. I’m very interested in all aspects of law.” She flicked a glance at Cash. “The mayor asked me specifically if I was squeamish when it came to taking down information about crime scenes, including violent homicides.”

“And what was your reply?” Cash was looking at her with an interested expression on his face.

“I’m not squeamish and I’m very good at what I do.” She straightened and gave him a tight smile. “Reading about forensic science and crime scenes is a passion of mine. I don’t figure there’s anything you can tell me that will give me nightmares.”

Biting back the need to smile, Styles nodded. “Good. That’s great. We’ll leave you to it.”

Once she had left the room, closing the door behind her, he looked at Cash. “There you go. She might be more help than you imagine, and looking at her more closely, I’d say she’s in her early twenties. Next time you get the chance, ask her what experience she had prior to taking this job. You might be surprised.”

“Sure, but now I’m intrigued.” Cash sipped his brew. “What investigation is behind the questions you asked her?”

---