Page 6 of The Girl He Wanted

“Adam Riker is very manipulative, but he gave this information away accidentally,” Paige said.

“The information being that the Exsanguination Killer is a woman?”

“And that he had met her in the St. Just Institute. That combination led me to a woman named Anne Dawson, a former patient at the facility.”

“Have you spoken to her?”

“No, sir.”

Paige heard Sauer sigh. “That’s one good thing, at least.”

Paige was about to ask what that meant when the door to the conference room opened, and Christopher walked in.

He looked … tired. Grief stricken, worn. There were dark bags under his eyes and lines on his face that Paige didn’t remember being there before. Paige wanted to ask him how he was doing, but Sauer was faster.

“Marriott, how are you feeling?”

“I … want to work,” Christopher said.

Paige knew that grief could affect people in many different ways. Some fell apart, and others buried themselves in their work. It worried Paige that Christopher hadn’t gotten in touch, hadn’t picked up when she’d called. They were meant to be partners, friends.

“Then I have a case for you both,” Sauer said. “If you’re up to it.”

“The Exsanguination Killer?” Christopher said, determination in his voice.

Agent Sauer shook his head rapidly. “You know I can’t let you work that case right now.”

“But we’re the ones who are most motivated on this,” Paige argued. It didn’t get her very far.

“You’re also the one who conducted an investigation behind my back,” Sauer said, “and Marriott, I’m not sure that I can trust how you’ll react. No, it has to be another case.”

"I don't want another case," Christopher snapped back.

Paige could understand that. She didn’t want to walk away from this either, not when the Exsanguination Killer might be within their reach.

"What you want doesn't come into this. You know that. You can take this case, or you can be given compassionate leave until this investigation is concluded."

It was clear that Sauer wasn’t going to let them work on the investigation they wanted.

"What's the case?" Paige asked. She didn’t want to work some other case either, but it sounded as though there wasn’t any choice.

"It's in a town up by the coast. Winterly. Two bodies have been found, the most recent one by a couple of kids climbing a clock tower. The other was found on a water tower. We have a serial killer who leaves his victims in high places, and the local cops have come to us for help."

Paige paused, considering that. Could she and Christopher really go off to investigate another case when Christopher's wife had been murdered?

But then again, maybe it was exactly what they needed. Something to focus on, to distract them from the Exsanguination Killer case.

When the alternative was suspension, what choice did they really have?

"We'll take it," she said firmly.

Christopher looked at her, surprise written all over his face. "What about the Exsanguination Killer?"

"We'll have to let Sauer handle it," Paige said, her heart heavy. "Christopher, you know he's right. We can't be the ones to investigate this. Any lawyer would tear the case apart, even if we found the killer. It's out of our hands now."

Christopher looked as though he might argue. He looked as though he might shout, or rage, or fight. Instead, though, he nodded slowly, then turned to Sauer. "Fine. We'll take the case in Winterly. But we'll be back."

Sauer just looked at him for a long moment before nodding. "I hope so, Marriott. I really do."

---