Into the Night(47)

Macey wasn’t particularly surprised that Tucker was already at it—he’d worked other cases with her and she knew how dedicated he could be.

“Is Captain Harwell here or is he at the crime scene?” Macey asked because she wanted to talk with Harwell about their perp ASAP.

The officer frowned a bit and glanced down the hallway. “His door was locked this morning and had a message telling me that he had a few things to run down this morning.”

“Thanks, Officer O’Neil,” Bowen said.

Macey nodded to the officer and then she hurried toward the conference room. When she opened the door, Tucker was inside and staring at the photos they’d tacked to the wall—photos of their victims. He turned his dark head and his blue eyes—piercing, bright blue—skimmed over Macey and Bowen. “Morning, Macey. Bowen.”

“Tucker.” Then Macey’s gaze slid to the right, to the other agent in the room.

“Good to see you again, Macey,” Jonah said as he came toward her and offered his hand in a brisk shake. His hair was a dark brown, his eyes a pale green. His jaw was freshly shaven and a pair of wire-rimmed glasses perched on his nose. He’d always reminded her a bit of Clark Kent. He gave her a quick half smile, one that flashed the dimple in his right cheek. “Guess I finally made it to the big leagues, huh?”

She shook his hand. “Glad to have you on board.”

His smile slipped away. “I’m here because of you. I know you went to bat for me with Samantha, and I appreciate that.”

She withdrew her hand from his. Yes, she had gone to bat for the guy, but it had been because she legitimately thought they could use him on Samantha’s team. His computer expertise would be invaluable. Especially since she already thought they were dealing with a tech savvy perpetrator. The way he’d gotten his phone calls to appear as if they’d come from the police station...

This guy is good. And we all will be needed to bring him down.

Macey glanced back at Bowen. He’d been quiet that morning. Back to their rules. Lovers in private, partners in public. “Jonah, I believe you and Bowen have worked together before, right?”

Jonah headed toward Bowen and, once more, offered his head. “Briefly, but yes.” He didn’t flash a smile. His face was very serious. “Heard about what happened last night. I know it wasn’t easy for you.”

Bowen inclined his head as he shook the other man’s hand. “Before I left the cabin this morning,” he said as he pulled his hand back, “I spoke with Samantha.” His face was grim and anger gleamed in his eyes. “Because of the shooting, I’m being asked to take a back seat on the investigation. Tucker, I believe you and Macey are now partners.” His arms crossed over his chest. “This perp is pulling us into the line of fire. I need to know that you’ve got her back.”

“I won’t let Macey down,” Tucker said quietly.

“And I won’t let him down,” Macey retorted briskly. “Now, look, we should get started. We can divide up—we need to get back at the crime scene and we also need to talk with the ME here in town. And there’s an oddities museum I want us to check out ASAP.” As she spoke, Macey headed toward the lone window in the conference room. “Tucker, did you talk with Dr. Sofia Lopez before you left North Carolina? Did she discover anything else about Gale Collins or about Daniel Haddox’s death?”

While she waited on his reply, Macey stared out of the window. The view showed the back of the station. She saw Captain Harwell’s personal vehicle—she knew the Jeep belonged to him because she’d seen him in it the day before. And...the sunlight was glinting off something near the Jeep. Macey pressed a bit closer to the window to get a better view.

“Dr. Lopez didn’t have anything new for me, not when I left, but she’s going to fax over more files to us today,” Tucker assured her.

But Macey wasn’t quite focusing on him. That object out there... Her eyes narrowed. “Excuse me, okay?” She turned back and saw the three men staring at her in surprise. “Sorry. There’s just something I need to check.” She hurried out of the conference room and rushed down the small hallway that would take her to the back of the station. Macey threw open the door and was outside in moments. She quickly approached the object she’d seen moments before, and realized she was staring down at a police badge. Crouching, Macey went for a better look at it.

Was that a smear of blood on the badge?

“Macey?” Bowen’s footsteps padded behind her.

Macey looked up at the white Jeep that was right next to her. “Are we sure that Captain Harwell is out running down a lead?” Because she was looking at a captain’s badge. Macey didn’t touch the badge, not yet, but the ice in her gut told her that, yes, that was blood on the badge.

Macey heard Bowen’s low curse and knew that he’d spotted the badge, too. “Let’s make fucking sure.” Then he was pulling her back to her feet and they were running into the station once more. Bowen was shouting for Officer O’Neil at the front desk and everyone in the station seemed to whirl toward them.

Jonah stood in the conference room doorway. “What’s going on?” he asked Macey.

“We need to get inside Captain Harwell’s office,” Macey said, her words directed at Officer O’Neil. “Now.”