Page 41 of So Wicked

“Thank you.” She sipped the rich brew and shook her head. “So what now?”

He took a deep breath. “Well, I’m having some junior detectives follow up on the other attendees to see if maybe it was someone on the outside of the panel. Foster’s refusing to divulge the names of her customers, but IPD is going to work on her and get us that information as soon as they can. In the meantime—”

The door to the break room burst open, and Faith flinched and gasped.

ASAC Tabitha Gardner glared at her, her hands clenched into fists. “Bold? What the hell are you doing here?”

Faith blinked. “I… um…”

Slade tried to come to her rescue. “Faith and I were in the same criminal justice class. I heard she was in town and invited her over for a chat.”

His efforts came to naught. Tabitha didn’t even come close to buying his excuse. “A chat with a suspect, perhaps? Several suspects of several killings? Did you, perchance, Detective Slade, accept Special Agent Bold’s offer to assist in a serial killer case?”

Slade swallowed. “Faith was kind enough to offer her perspective on a case that I—”

“Yeah, I thought so. Bold, walk with me.” Turk growled low in his throat, and Tabitha stared at him in amazement. “Is your K9 unit threatening me?”

“He’s not threatening you, he’s just upset,” Faith replied. “Turk, calm down, boy.”

Turk glared at Tabitha but stayed silent.

“Walk with me,” Tabitha insisted. “Detective, you stay here. Your captain wants to have some words with you.”

Judging by Slade’s expression, he expected that his conversation would be as painful as Faith’s was. Judging by the look on the police captain’s face when Faith passed him in the hallway, Slade was right to be nervous.

Tabitha led them outside. She walked stiffly, her arms jerking back and forth rather than swinging, her heels clacking against the concrete. Faith had seen the Boss upset many times before, but she knew how to handle him when he was like that. Tabitha was an unknown quantity, and the little that Faithdidknow suggested that she would be far less forgiving than the irascible but generally lenient Monroe.

When they reached the side of the building where they could talk without being overheard, Tabitha spun around and glared at Faith. “You start, Special Agent. Tell me why you thought this was a good idea.”

“Detective Slade asked me for my assistance. The Carmel Police Department is unused to these kinds of cases, and he was afraid that they wouldn’t be able to stop this killer before he struck again.”

“And you thought thatyoushould be the one to handle it and not the Indianapolis Field Office?”

Faith didn’t have an answer to that. Well, she did, but one she knew Tabitha wouldn’t accept.

“I’m waiting for your answer, Special Agent.”

Apparently, she’d have to give an answer anyway. “Slade asked formyhelp.”

“Your help specifically?”

“Yes. He knows me by reputation.”

“I’m so glad you mentioned that, Special Agent,” Tabitha said with mock cheerfulness. “We’re going to come back to that. In the meantime, I want to know why you didn’t tell him to contact the Indianapolis Field Office.”

Faith’s shoulders tensed slightly. Turk started to growl at Tabitha but remembered Faith’s command to stay calm and sat instead. “I wanted to help, ASAC Gardner.”

“That’s close to the truth,” Gardner said, “but I don’t think you wanted to help. I think any help you’re providing would just be icing on the cake. I think you wanted to work, and this was your way of getting around our instruction that you lay low. I don’t think this was about the victims at all. I think it was about you.”

Faith bristled. “That’s not true, ma’am. Turk and I discovered the second body. We were the ones who called it in. I’ve seen hundreds of bodies of people who have been used as showpieces by murderers. I have a unique skillset that makes me well-suited to hunting this specific type of killer. I’m better at it than anyone else. I don’t say that to be arrogant, ma’am. I’m only stating a fact. Iamthe most qualified individual to assist with this case.”

“And I assume you also believe you’re the most qualified individual to lead the Messenger case.”

Faith’s shoulders tensed a little further, but she held Tabitha’s gaze. “Yes, ma’am.”

Tabitha nodded. “Okay, Special Agent. Here are a few things to consider. I’ve also seen hundreds of bodies used as showpieces by brutal murderers. So have many, many field agents and managers and even directors in the FBI. It’s personal for all of us. You do have a unique skillset, and that skillset isthe only reason you still work for us. You are the only agent who could get away with your continual flagrant disregard for policy and procedure and not permanently lose your position with the Bureau. That has paid enormous dividends. It’s also incurred enormous costs. Right now, Special Agent, the Indianapolis Field Office is enduring a near-assault from dozens of reporters wanting to know where you are, what you’re doing, and if you’re going to be transferred here to protect you from the Messenger.”

Faith flinched. “I wasn’t aware of that.”

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