A Covert Affair (Deadly Ops #5)(45)

Burkhart gave one sharp nod. “Yes.”

“What about the first body? Any news from the lab?” They had an ID, but they needed more than that. If they got the right piece of evidence, it could help them pinpoint where the women were being kept. Or at least where the deceased woman had been kept and the cause of death. From there it would be about following down more leads.

“Nothing yet.”

Nathan had started to respond when Cade and Dax strode up, both wearing neoprene suits and dive shoes identical to his own.

“What’s the 411?” Cade asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

“You three go get some rest. You two start at the crack of dawn tomorrow,” he said to Cade and Dax. “Nathan, your alias has a meeting with a potential suspect midmorning. I’ve sent a file to your encrypted account. Get some damn sleep and coordinate with Elliott in the morning. It’s just a meet-and-greet, so you’ll be going in alone.”

He nodded once. Mercado wasn’t their only suspect, so Nathan would be working every angle he could to eliminate or take down their suspects. He wanted to be back at the lake, though, searching for more bodies. He felt almost compelled to do so, hated the thought of those bones wrapped up at the bottom of the lake. Some had been scattered, obviously by gators.

But that wasn’t his call and he knew he’d be more use in the field trying to find out who was behind this. The remains weren’t going anywhere and if he could help the women still alive, he would do everything in his power.

“I’m going to stop by the lab on the way home,” Nathan said. Though he had no intention of going to his NSA-owned condo, Miguel’s home base for the duration of the operation in Miami. He’d be heading straight to Amelia’s after the lab. He needed to see her, especially after today. But he wasn’t ready to go there just yet. He was too edgy. And knowing that she was keeping something from him about why things had gone south so many years ago wouldn’t make him the best company until he got his shit together.

“I’ll go with you,” Cade said, pretty much at the same time Dax murmured the same sentiment.

He shook his head. “Not necessary. Go home to your ladies. Is there an extra vehicle I can use?” he asked Burkhart, not wanting to get into a conversation about his teammates coming. Normally he’d welcome the company, but he needed to regroup.

Once he got an extra set of keys to an SUV, he grabbed his duffel bag from Cade’s vehicle and changed into dry clothes. In the half hour it took to drive to the lab, he kept the radio off, not wanting to listen to anything. Nathan had contemplated calling or texting Amelia, but he felt as if he were walking a tightrope right now.

He knew himself well enough that he’d be a dick to her right now. He needed to lash out at someone, and he wouldn’t let her become an easy target. She didn’t deserve that.

At the security gate of the nondescript building on the outskirts of downtown, he showed his badge and did a retinal and palm scan. He’d have to do it again a couple more times before being allowed into the actual lab. Which meant another twenty freaking minutes.

He’d thought the downtime would help him to regroup, but all he could think about was finding that first tarp-wrapped body. Bones, at this point. At the bottom of a cold, dark lake. He’d seen humanity at its worst before. Nothing should surprise him anymore. And really, someone using women, killing them, and then disposing of them didn’t surprise him, because he knew what kind of evil was out there.

But it did piss him off. The way humans so often hurt each other for superficial gain was a horrifying mystery to him.

It was one of the reasons he’d joined the NSA when Burkhart recruited him. Did he always agree with the methods the agency took? No. But he knew without a doubt they were doing a lot more good than harm.

By the time he placed his hand on the final biometric scanner outside the lab doors, about half of his pent-up energy had started to fade.

The doors opened with a quiet whoosh of air. One lab tech was at a computer and another stood next to Dr. Tai Nguyen at a table where the body of Ester Pajari was stretched out.

A pale blue sheet was pulled up over the lower half of her body as Dr. Nguyen and the tech spoke in quiet tones.

“Give me one moment, Agent Ortiz,” Nguyen said without looking over at him. Her long black hair was pulled back in a coil at the nape of her neck, as usual.

He remained where he was, not wanting to get in her way. Moments later she strode toward him, her white lab coat buttoned up. In the lab she rarely wore heels, and today—or tonight—was no different. In flats, she was about five feet one. She should have appeared fragile, but she had a commanding presence.

“You have good timing. I was just about to call Burkhart.” Her expression was unreadable. No surprise, since she rarely showed emotion while working.

“How bad is it?”

“Not . . . what I expected.” She pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and dialed before holding it between them. She pressed the speaker button.

Burkhart answered after two rings. “Tell me you’ve got something, Tai.”

“I’m with Agent Ortiz and have news.” She didn’t wait for him to respond, just jumped in as she always did. “The victim recently gave birth and, in simple terms, when she died, her body was in excellent condition. She’d been taking prenatal pills and getting the recommended amount of exercise. At least her body’s health would indicate so.”