Page 29 of Mine to Save

The FBI’s office was on the third floor of the federal building. This field office had ten agents, and Robash was the agent in charge of violent crimes. She had a team of three, but rumor had it that she wasn’t easy to work with or for.

Emmett stared at the numbers inside the elevator as it lurched upward in a jerky motion.

“I hate these things,” Trinity whispered. “I’m always afraid I’m going to get stuck in one.”

“You met Jamison. He’s broken a few people out of these things. It’s not that horrible.”

“That doesn’t make me feel better.”

The doors slid open, and there stood Robash, wearing a pair of dark slacks and a dark shirt. One of her men stood next to her, and he didn’t look all that thrilled to be there.

“I’m surprised you drove all this way to see me when you could have called,” Robash said as she eyed Trinity. “And you brought someone else from your department. I’m beginning to feel like this is an ambush.”

“I wouldn’t say that,” Emmett said. Let the games begin. “This is Trinity Hughes.”

Robash’s eyes grew wide.

“She’s Jeff Allen’s biological daughter, and she’d like copies of everything in the envelope her father left for her—which he instructed me to give to her, and you mentioned you spoke to her about.”

“No.” Robash narrowed her eyes. “All I said was that the family had been notified, which is true.” She wiggled her finger in Emmett’s direction. “Don’t try to misconstrue my words.”

“I wouldn’t dare do that.” Emmett took Trinity’s hand and squeezed. They had spoken to her mom on the drive down. Yes, Jenna Robash had called to inform the family that Jeff Allen was dead and gave them a big fat sorry about him being a serial killer. But that was it. Nothing about the envelope. “I must have heard wrong. However, there is still the issue of the envelope that Jeff wanted his daughter to have, and we’re here to collect it.”

“I’m sorry. That’s part of our investigation. I can’t release it,” Robash said. “This case might be nearly closed, but I need to preserve evidence for years. You know that.”

“Doesn’t mean you can’t get a family member copies of personal things. Jeff told me there was a note for Trinity in there. She has a right to read it.”

“I’m sorry. There was no note to Trinity.” Robash leaned closer. “May we talk in private?”

“Whatever you have to say, you can say in front of Trinity.” Emmett continued holding Trinity’s hand, rubbing his thumb over her soft skin. He told himself he was lending her support as a friend. That this was him being a kind, decent person.

Not a man who found himself having feelings he shouldn’t.

“The only items in that envelope were things helping us to close this case neatly.” Robash widened her stance and folded her arms. “I don’t know why he wanted his child to have it unless he was trying to hide the evidence. Would she have protected him? Would she have helped him hide from the police? Would you have helped her?” Robash glanced down at their entangled hands.

“Excuse me?” Trinity took a step forward.

Emmett tugged at her arm. “No. All she wants is to see what was in the envelope. It’s not that big of an ask.”

“I can tell you it was a list of his kills. Names. Dates. Times and places. Specific things about each victim like what they were wearing and things they said right before they died. It was quite detailed.”

That was not what Emmett had seen in that package. Not even close. And he had pictures to prove it.

“I’d like to see that,” he said.

“I can have my office send copies to yours as a courtesy, but again, there was no note for his daughter. He must have been playing games with you. Trying to buy time or something,” Robash said. “Was there anything else you needed to see us about? Because I’ve got a lot to do today.”

“I’d like to go through all the evidence you have,” Emmett said.

“Why?” Robash shifted her weight. “We’ve done a thorough investigation. We had more than enough to go to trial, and we would have gotten a conviction.” It appeared as though Robash tried to soften her look as she glanced in Trinity’s direction. “I know this must be hard for you to hear, and I’m truly sorry. However, there is no reasonable doubt in this case. Jeff Allen murdered all those victims, and we proved it. Case closed.”

Time to take a sidebar. Emmett let go of Trinity’s hand and took five steps to his right.

Robash followed.

He glanced over his shoulder before leaning closer to Robash.

“My office could learn from this case, and since I was there when he was taken down, I want to know all the details,” he said softly. “And, to be honest, if someone Trinity knows and trusts looks everything over and tells her the same thing you just did...” He did his best to act as if he were tired of the whole thing. “We both know what really happened. I need to help her accept it and move on.”

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