Page 32 of Her Last Promise

"Yes, that's right."Tanya groaned a bit as she moved around on the other end.Rachel heard the faint sound of shuffling papers."Let me just look through these folders.I know I have it somewhere..."

At that very same moment, the office door burst open without warning, causing Rachel to jump slightly.She and Novak both wheeled around at once.Officer Ryan stood in the doorway, his face flushed with urgency.

"Sorry to interrupt, but this is big,” he explained.

“What is it?”Novak asked, ending his call with Anderson.

“We just got a call from St.Mary's Hospital.A nurse—she was leaving her shift, heading to her car.Says she saw another nurse by the name of Jennifer Martinez driving out of the parking garage in a hurry…and she’s pretty sure there was someone else in the car, in the back seat, pressed really close to the back of the driver’s seat."He paused, catching his breath."This woman said that a few seconds later when she was headed to her own car, she found Martinez's hospital ID badge discarded in the parking garage."

Rachel's heart rate quickened.She turned back to the phone."Mrs.Mitchell, I'm going to have to call you back."She hung up without waiting for a response."Ryan, do we know if Jennifer Martinez had any connection to the Mitchell case?"

"Not sure, but the nurse who called it in is still on the line.I figured you’d want to talk with her."

"Take me to her."Rachel was already on her feet, following Ryan out into the bullpen.Several other officers were milling about with interest, picking up on the fact that something of importance was taking place."While I'm talking to her,” Rachel said to Ryan, “pull up everything you can find on Jennifer Martinez, please—especially her license plate number."

They reached Ryan's desk, where he diverted to another area, sitting at another desk to do as he had been asked.Meanwhile, Rachel grabbed the phone, taking it off hold."This is Special Agent Rachel Gift with the FBI.Who am I speaking with?"

"Meredith Barker."The woman's voice trembled slightly.

"Ms.Barker, are you close with Jennifer Martinez?"

"No…not really.I mean, we’re not really friends or anything.We've worked together for about three years now, though."

Rachel's fingers tightened on the receiver."Do you know if she ever had any involvement with the Mitchell family?Marjorie Mitchell's case?"

There was a sharp intake of breath on the other end."Oh yes.Jennifer was definitely involved with them.I saw her talking with Nathan Mitchell several times over the past few weeks or so.Hell…maybe months, at this point."Meredith lowered her voice."There were even rumors going around that Nathan might have tried to bribe her to...you know...to accidentally unplug his mother.It was ridiculous, of course, but that was what was being said…"

Rachel's blood ran cold.The pieces were falling into place with devastating clarity.“And did you interact with Jennifer at all today?”

“A bit.Just polite, passing conversation.”

“Did she seem any different than normal?”

“Not really.Not that I could tell.”

That was fine.She had more than enough to confirm a few different things.She thanked Meredith and hung up, standing motionless at Ryan's desk as the implications washed over her.

If Jennifer Martinez was indeed the fourth victim, then Nathan Mitchell couldn't possibly be the killer.He'd been in their custody for hours.Which meant they’d been wasting their time while the real killer was still busy making moves.

She spun around, nearly colliding with a uniformed officer as she rushed back toward the small office where Novak was on another phone call.Her mind was already racing ahead, calculating how much time they might have left.Judge Smith and Dr.Walsh had both died from complications of whatever drugs the killer was using…apparently in an attempt to sedate them.If Jennifer Martinez had just been taken, they might have a chance to save both her and James Harrison—but only if they moved fast.

Rachel waved at him urgently, causing Novak to look up from his call.The expression on her face must have told him everything he needed to know because he immediately said, "Excuse me, but I'm going to have to call you back.Something's come up."

"It's not Nathan," Rachel said as soon as he hung up."He's been here with us for hours, but Jennifer Martinez was just abducted from St.Mary's parking garage.I just got confirmation that she had connections to the Mitchell case—there were even rumors she might have been willing to help end Marjorie's life."

Novak's face darkened."If it's not Nathan..."

"Then we need to figure out who it is, and fast."Rachel ran a hand through her hair, her mind racing."We need to get back in there with Nathan.He might know something he hasn't told us yet—something that seemed unimportant before but could lead us to the real killer."

They hurried toward the interrogation room, their footsteps echoing in the hallway.Rachel's phone buzzed in her pocket—probably Tanya Beswick calling back with Michael's contact information.But that would have to wait.Right now, every second counted.

The hallway lights seemed to flicker and shine with the same urgency Rachel felt in her chest.They had been so sure, so convinced that Nathan was their killer.Now that certainty had crumbled, leaving them with precious little time to prevent two more deaths.

Novak reached for the door handle, then paused."How do you want to play this?"

Rachel took a deep breath, steadying herself."We tell him the truth.His cooperation right now could mean the difference between life and death for Jennifer Martinez and James Harrison."She met Novak's eyes."And we apologize.We were wrong about him, and we need to own that."

Novak nodded, his jaw set in a grim line.He opened the door, revealing Nathan Mitchell still sitting at the metal table, his head in his hands.He looked up as they entered, his eyes red-rimmed from exhaustion and stress.

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