Page 7 of Girl, Undone
‘Female victim, found in a cabin out in the woods.And she was butchered.’
'Butchered how?'Ripley asked.'Butchering comes in many forms, and they all mean something different.'
‘I don’t know, but as a Milwaukee native, anything that happens near my hometown gets my attention.I’m close with the mayor there, and she’s not the type of person to ask for help unless the world is ending.She wants this handled quietly – and by the best.Which is why I’m sending you.’
Wisconsin in the ass-end of February.Just thinking about it made Ella’s skin prickle.‘Understood, sir.If you get any details before we leave, could you-’
‘No,’ Ripley snapped.‘This isn’t alright.You can’t just send us into a case blind, just because you’re buddies with the mayor over there.What if the profile suggests it’s a bomber, and we walk into a trap?I’ve seen two agents die that way.’
‘Mia, butchery and explosions don’t go-’
'I know they don't go together, but that's not the point.Murder isn't uniform, and we shouldn't treat it like it is.Every killer is different, but it's easy to forget that when you're more concerned with statistics than actually doing things right.'
Vernon went quiet, and for a second he looked embarrassed.‘You’re right, Ripley.Again.But I’m not doing it because of that.I’m doing it because I trust you to see it through.’
‘That’s a nothing answer.’
‘Okay, you want me to be honest?Yes, of course I want this to take priority, because my hometown is important to me.I’m sure Edis sent you to Illinois more than any other state, correct?’
Ella nudged her partner.‘He did, actually.’
‘Shut up, Dark.’
‘Right, so does caring about my people make me an asshole?I have to assign you two tooneof the new active cases, and I want this one closed more than any other.I know this job wrecks the soul, but sue me for still having a heart.I care about my people.Is that a crime?’
Ella held her breath as she waited to see which Ripley would show up: the agent or the stone-cold bitch.Vernon had just outmaneuvered her with a confession, which was a move Ripley herself would never make and therefore one she couldn’t prepare for.
‘Fine.I’ll go to Wisconsin.’
‘Here’s my offer.Take the jet.Head over to Cedarburg, see what’s waiting for you.I understand this is new territory, but you two have weathered much worse.’
‘Yeah.’
‘And speaking of weather, it’s going to be cold over there, so wrap up warm.’
‘Thank you, sir,’ Ella said.‘We’ll update you when we can.’
‘Appreciated.Just head to the parking lot.I’ll get a handler to rush you through security.’
They left the office and converged outside.Ella felt a phantom casefile under her arm.‘This is weird,’ she said.‘I don’t even know what to think.’
‘Don’t think anything.Let’s just get to Wisconsin.’
‘At least it’s not California.’
‘They call Wisconsin the dead heart of America for a reason.’
‘Do they call it that?’
'Yes.Maybe.I don't know.Somebody said it once, and I just remembered it,' Ripley said.'Come on.At least we get to fly private, and I plan on drinking the whole mini-bar.Oh, and thanks for sticking up for me back there.I knew I could count on you to kick me when I'm down.'
‘You need to stop this, Mia.The guy is fine.He’s bending over backward to accommodate you, and Edisdidsend us to Illinois more times than I could count.’
‘Fine.Let’s go.We’ve got....something waiting for us in Wisconsin.’
That was the difference between her and Ripley, thought Ella.Back in that office, Ripley had seen a fight to be won, but Ella’s mind was already on a poor woman dead in a cabin somewhere in Wisconsin.
CHAPTER FOUR
