Page 46 of The Girl He Claimed

"The same way it pointed atDr. Chang?" Sauer demanded. "Do you understand the kind of complaintsI've been getting from Dr. Neil of the St Just Institute? He has some powerfulfriends."

Paige felt her face flush withembarrassment and shame. "I understand, sir. We were wrong about GiaRamirez, and we apologize for the inconvenience we've caused. But frankly, Dr.Neil is the one who should be the subject of any complaints. We've heard howbadly run the St Just Institute is. There are doctors selling prescriptions,guards attacking patients. They let Adam Riker escape twice, and-"

"And you haven't done anythingthat might catch him," Sauer said. "So far, your efforts have yieldedcomplaints, an injured tactical agent, an assault on a suspect and no sign ofeither Riker or the Exsanguination Killer."

Those words were enough to stunPaige into silence because, quite simply, they were true. Sauer leaned back inhis chair, his expression thunderous.

"I brought you onto this casebecause I thought the two of you might have the motivation to catch theExsanguination Killer. Now I see that my earlier fears were justified. You'reboth too close to this case to e objective, and it's clouding your judgement.I'm taking you off the case."

Paige felt a lump form in her throat.Being removed from the case felt like a failure like she had let her fatherdown all over again. Christopher looked just as defeated, his shouldersslumping.

"But sir—" Christopherstarted.

"No buts," Sauer cut himoff. "I'll assign a new team to the case. You two need to take some timeoff, clear your heads, and come back with fresh perspectives. Maybe then we canmake some progress. Go back to the St Just Institute and pack up anythingthere, because Dr. Neil's causing too many problems there. We'll keepinvestigating, but we won't be able to use it as a base. In a couple of days,I'll assign you to something new."

Paige nodded, knowing there was nopoint in arguing. She stood up from her seat and left the office withChristopher trailing behind her.

Paige and Christopher were silentas they left Sauer's office and headed back toward their desks. Paige couldn'tbelieve it. She had never been taken off a case before, let alone one that hadsuch a personal impact on her. She felt like she had failed her father like shewas letting down everyone who had been affected by the murders.

"We should head over to the StJust Institute to pack things up," Christopher said. His voice was dead,without emotion.

"You're giving up, just likethat?" Paige said. "This doesn't affect you?"

"Of course it affects me,Paige!" Christopher replied. Suddenly his voice was filled with pain."I blew it. I lashed out, and now we don't have a chance to catch thekillers who have taken so much from both of us. But what am I meant todo?"

Paige didn't have an answer forhim. She could understand how he was feeling, but she couldn't bring herself togive up so easily. They had to keep trying, keep looking for clues, even if itmeant going against Agent Sauer's orders.

"Let's go to the St JustInstitute and pack up, but let's also look around, see if there's anything wemissed," Paige said. "We can't just give up."

"You heard Sauer, we're offthe case."

Paige could hear the desperation inChristopher's voice and knew she was feeling the same way. They were out ofleads, out of chances, and out of hope. But she couldn't just give up, notafter everything she had been through.

"And he'll assign new agentsin the morning, but that still gives us tonight," Paige insisted.

"To do what?" Christopherasked. "We're out of leads. Gia Martinez was our last shot."

"Let's go to the St. JustInstitute," Paige said. "Maybe we'll find something that will give usa new lead. We can't give up just yet."

Christopher looked at her withsurprise, and Paige thought that he might not agree with what she wassuggesting. He'd been an agent longer than her. The idea of going against whattheir boss said was probably harder for him.

Finally, though, he nodded.

"All right, we have to gothere anyway. We might as well see if there's anything we missed. I don't seehow we're going to catch these two tonight, but it has to be worth ashot."

It was the only shot they had. Inthe morning, they would both be gone from the St Just Institute. They wouldundoubtedly not be allowed back there. Dr. Neil would see to that even if Sauerdidn't.

This was their last chance to catchthe killers. Paige was determined to take it.

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

The St Just Institute loomed ahead.Paige just hoped that it would have answers in it.

It was dark by the time theyarrived at the St Just Institute, the aging building lit up by only a few outerspotlights. They were probably there to make it easier to see anyone escaping,but they actually lent the place a more sinister air.

They went inside and headed throughto the library. Paige was a little surprised when Caroline walked in just afterthem. Paige frowned at the librarian.

"Caroline? It's pretty late,I'd have thought you would have gone home by now."

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