Page 36 of Elliot

Jessica frowned. “Okay.” She looked from Elliot to Maya and shook her head. “I’ll get this done before I leave for the day.”

“Perfect,” Maya said as she picked up her things.

Elliot watched her leave and then turned to Maya. “Not fair play.”

The woman laughed. “But it was true. I’m going to make it an early night. Aren’t you?”

Elliot glanced up and saw the checkpoint personnel shaking hands with two men. “I believe my replacements are here.”

Maya glanced out the door. “Nope. No replacement for you.”

Elliot looked down at her. “Don’t make me spank you.”

Maya barked out a laugh. “You wouldn’t dare.”

“Challenge accepted.” He turned and headed to the door.

“That wasn’t a challenge!” Maya called after him.

He laughed, drawing attention from just about everyone in the office. As he caught up with his substitutes, he stopped, checked in with them, and then headed to the New York office.

The trip wasn’t exactly quick, but traffic wasn’t insane, which was a bit of a miracle, given the time of day. The car entered the parking garage and took him to the third level. Crime scene tape blocked their forward movement.

Elliot got out of the vehicle and lifted the tape to bend under it as Ross waved him over. Elliot walked up and stopped short. Two men were laid out on the ground. A single bullet hole through each of their heads. Two rifles were laid out beside them.

“An execution?” he asked, crossing his arms as he took in the way the men were laid out neatly on the ground.

“Somewhere, but not here. They were placed here. Not enough blood,” Ross said as they moved a bit so the photographer could get the angle he needed.

“I needed to see this why?” Elliot asked, still taking in the gruesome lineup.

“See those rifles?”

“I do.”

“They’re the exact gauge to fire our bullets from last night.”

Elliot frowned and looked at his friend. “So, someone killed our killers?”

“That’s my bet.”

Elliot scrubbed his face. “Shit, just when we think we’re starting to unravel this knot.”

“Exactly,” Ross said, putting both hands on his hips. “Asher has had Kates on ice, but we need to charge him soon, or he’ll have a wedge for his fucking lawyers, who are now pounding on our door. Want to sit in?”

“I’m here. I might as well.” Elliot stared at the dead bodies. “How did they get in here without being seen?”

Ross looked at him. “That’s a damn good question. Either the killer works in this building, or he has tech like we do.”

Elliot frowned. “What companies work in your building?”

“I thought you’d never ask.” Ross reached into his pocket and handed Elliot a paper with a list of six companies. “Accountants.” Elliot glanced up at him. “They’re all accountants?”

“Yep.” He laughed. “When we were shopping for office space, we figured they’d be quiet neighbors.”

“Nothing on the cameras. That’s … odd.” He tapped his earpiece. “Hey, Con?”

There was nothing for several seconds, but Con finally answered, “What?” He was eating something.

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