Cold & Deadly (Cold Justice: Crossfire #1)(39)
He rubbed the hint of stubble on his jaw. “Some of these deaths might be natural, but the rate of attrition is way above the national average, especially when we add Van and Calvin Mortimer to the list.”
“Not to mention you…”
“I’m not dead yet.”
The grin he sent her made her mouth go dry. “I suspected Van had been murdered and Calvin Mortimer obviously, but if you’re right…”
“If we’re right, the FBI is looking at a serial killer targeting agents.”
Ava’s fingers clasped one another. “You need to talk to Aldrich again.”
Sheridan looked away. “I thought we could take this information to someone higher than Aldrich.”
“Who?” Ava crossed her arms over her chest. She was so cold she felt like there was a winter storm brewing inside her. A soft, woolen blanket settled over her shoulders. Sheridan moved on as if the act of kindness meant nothing.
“I’ve made a couple of inquiries to people I know,” he said grimly.
“Aldrich isn’t all bad.” She wasn’t sure why she was defending the man. Probably because no one could have replaced Van. Aldrich had never stood a chance as her boss.
“He was an accountant,” Sheridan said like that explained everything.
“I shouldn’t have ignored his orders.”
“He suspended you after someone shot at you—”
“I know what he did!” she snapped and immediately regretted it. Sheridan’s expression turned blank.
“Sorry…” Ava began.
“Forget it.” His tone was brusque and had lost that low urgent intimacy. “What you might not know is Aldrich not only suspended you but also reported you to OPR, and if he finds out you’re still pursuing this case you will lose your job. I guess I should have spelled that out when I called you.”
Ava’s mouth opened in surprise. OPR? The Office of Professional Responsibility. Internal affairs for FBI agents. They could take her job from her in an instant, all because she was trying to get to the truth. She slumped her head onto her arms as they rested on the kitchen island.
She couldn’t lose her job. This was all she’d wanted to do since she was seven years old. “We can’t ignore the evidence—”
“We don’t have any evidence.” Sheridan’s fist clenched as he sat heavily beside her on a stool. He rested his injured arm on the granite counter. “We have a lot of dead agents and a really bad feeling and nothing but curious circumstances suggesting the cases might be related.”
A doorbell chimed throughout the house. Sheridan’s brows rose. Ranger started barking.
“Want me to get that?” Ava asked, climbing to her feet. She dropped the blanket onto the stool.
“No, it’s fine. I asked someone to meet us here, but they’re earlier than I expected. Someone who can help us figure this out and possibly help you keep your job. Assuming you want to keep it?” Those battered indigo eyes assessed her searchingly.
“More than anything in the world, SSA Sheridan.”
The grin that tugged his mouth took her by surprise. “Then you may as well start calling me Dominic. Looks like we’re going to be stuck with each other for a while.”
Ava followed him into the hallway, unsettled by the appeal of that statement. Could Dominic Sheridan really help her get her job back or was she gonna crash and burn just like he had last night?
*
Dominic strode to the front door and threw it open, expecting ASAC Lincoln Frazer from the Behavioral Analysis Unit. He blinked at the sight that greeted him.
A neighbor from the opposite side of the road stood on his doorstep carrying a large casserole dish. Her black Mercedes was parked in the driveway. Rain sluiced off her designer raincoat, hair and makeup perfect despite the weather.
“Suzanna. What can I do for you?”
“Oh, Dominic. Hi. I heard what happened yesterday…about the accident. And, oh my gosh—your poor face. Does it hurt?”
He wanted to laugh. Of course it hurt, especially as he was avoiding taking anything stronger than acetaminophen. “Looks worse than it is.”
She raised the dish in case he’d missed its significance. “I know you don’t keep much food in the house so I brought over that beef casserole you like…” She trailed off as Ava strolled into view. “Oh, you have company. Sorry, I assumed you were here alone. I worried you’d be hungry and in need of someone to look after you, but obviously not.”
He looked at Ava who raised both brows as she stuck her hands in her back pockets. Amusement danced in her eyes. “Hey.”
“Suzanna, this is a, er…colleague of mine.” He deliberately paused over the word colleague, giving it an emphasis that suggested much more than a working relationship. Ava smiled politely, not missing a beat.
“Would you like to come in?” Dominic offered.
“Oh, I-I,” Suzanna stammered. “Well, now, no. I can see you are working. I’m so sorry to interrupt.” The pot that had been raised high slumped slightly. “Please take the casserole. I wanted to make sure you had something healthy to eat.”
“This is really kind of you, Suzanna. Thank you.” He took the heavy dish from his neighbor. His injured shoulder screamed in protest, but he didn’t complain.