Page 15 of Killer Knows Best

“Oh no, you don’t.” Nikki gives a throaty laugh as Buddy continues to jump-bark around her as if he, too, were giddy at the prospect. “This train isn’t moving forward until I get some down and dirty details.”

I cut her off with a flat hand. “Nope. You’re not getting the details, Knight. Focus.” I glance at Jack, who’s smirking in theway that’s infuriating and… okay, a little attractive. “It’s bad enough I have to work with him. Now I’ve got to deal with the fallout of a workplace romance rumor mill.”

Nikki cocks her head my way and I can tell she’s not getting back on track until I’ve given her something titillating to think about.

“Fine. We kissed, the end. What have you got on Delaney and Gwen?” I ask with as much enthusiasm as Jack just emitted. I’m not sure what that says about us in general.

“No way!” Nikki laughs so loud that three different agents poke their heads in the room just to make sure there’s not a situation brewing. “You kissed him?” Her mouth falls open as she gawks at me in this whole new light. “I want to see you do it.”

“What?” I inch back. “No way.”

“That’s right,” Jack says, nodding at me. “When we’re good and ready, we’ll be selling tickets to the main event.”

“I’ll grab my popcorn.” She laughs again. “And I’m not above paying a premium to see this either.”

“You’ll have to,” I say. “Our dead divas aren’t the only ones who know how to turn a profit while having a good time.”

“You think Jack will be a good time?” She hikes a brow as if genuinely amused.

“Am I shooting too high?”

“Hey”—Jack looks up from his screen—“I’m sitting right here.”

Nikki scoffs, “Not our fault if you’re eavesdropping on a little girl talk.” She winks my way. “I’ll fill you in on what I’ve heard later.”

Jack perks up again. “What did you hear?”

“A lot about our victims.” She barrels right into business.

And I couldn’t be more relieved.

11

SPECIAL AGENT FALLON BAXTER

Buddy’s tail thumps against the cold concrete floor of the cyber analysis hub as if he, too, were anxious to hear what Nikki has to say.

“And by the way, you two are the worst-kept secret in Denver,” Nikki goes on. It’s clear she’s not letting go of the little tidbit she just gleaned regarding Jack and me. “But once I manage to snap a candid pic of the two of you locking lips, I’ll win fifty bucks in the office pool.”

Jack straightens. “There’s an office pool?”

“I want in on it,” I tell her. “I’ll split the money with you in exchange for the photo op.”

Jack inches back. “What? You’re not givingPeoplethe exclusive?” he teases with a stern look on his face that lets me know he’s not thrilled in general.

“I’m dealing with the FBI,” I retort. “I can’t help it if they’ve sussed out the info before we could give it to them. It’s what they specialize in.”

“Whatwespecialize in,” Nikki corrects as she pulls up a page on her screen. She clicks her mouse, and several screens light up with photos and data. “Like I said, we’ve got the scoop onDelaney Riggs and Gwen Alderson,” she starts, pointing to the two profile shots displayed on the monitor.

Delaney is the brunette with the kind of wide-eyed innocence that makes you feel as if the world is still a decent place. That is, until you realize she ended up dead in a ritzy yet blood-splattered hotel room.

“Delaney was a student at Winston Grand University,” Nikki continues, scrolling along. “Majored in English, minored in theater. Your classic bookish type. I’ll shoot you both her class schedule. She was working at the local library over in Blue Creek. Had herself a partial academic scholarship, but apparently, she wasn’t as financially stable as it seemed. I bet that’s how she got pulled into the ring.”

My chest tightens as I look at Delaney’s smiling face on the screen. You can tell from the photo that she was bright and hopeful. I’d bet she was the type of girl who had a five-year plan that didn’t involve anything that was going to happen and that did happen in that hotel room last night.

“What about Gwen?” Jack asks with his eyes glued to the second profile picture.

Gwen has a more street-smart look about her. You can tell she’s a bit tougher and rougher around the edges. If I’m being honest, she looks like trouble. A girl that I would have recommended Delaney stay far, far away from.

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