Read Online Web of Secrets (Agents Under Fire) by Susan Sleeman - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Susan Sleeman
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victims was foolish until they’d decided how much information to release to the public.
“Good, though if they’re still here when the OSP anthropologist arrives, it will tip them off that we’re looking at a skeletonized victim, too. I don’t plan to let that happen.” He spun and marched over to the women.
Sam and Connor traipsed after Vance.
“Kait,” Vance said cordially, then turned his gaze on Becca. “And Agent Lange. Good to see both of you again.” Vance was a master as schmoozing when he needed to be, but Connor knew the hammer was coming.
“We’ve come to a standstill in our investigation while we wait for additional resources. We appreciate your help thus far, but you’re free to go now. I do ask that you not mention to anyone what you saw here today, or that we suspect Van Gogh has resurfaced.”
“No,” Becca said.
Vance’s eyebrows shot up. “Excuse me?”
“I won’t mention this to anyone, but you said I was free to go.” Becca planted her hands on her hips. “And I choose to stay. So my answer is no.”
Vance widened his stance. “Perhaps I wasn’t clear. We appreciate your help, but now you need to leave.”
“No,” Becca said again.
If the situation hadn’t been so serious, Connor would have laughed at the shocked look on Vance’s face.
“Again,” Becca said. “I choose to stay.’
Kait tugged on Becca’s arm. “We’ve done our part, and we should go.”
“Our part?” Becca’s voice shot up, startling birds into flight. “If Van Gogh isn’t behind bars then our part,”—she put air quotes around the words—“isn’t completed.”
Vance sighed. “I get that you’re personally committed to finding Van Gogh, but it looks like it’s clouding your judgment. I see that as an even better reason to ask you to take off.”
Becca jutted out her jaw. “My judgment is just fine, thank you very much.”
“Look.” Vance took a step closer. “Since I haven’t gotten a call from your supervisor, I’m sure he doesn’t know you’re here. If I tell him you’re refusing to leave, he’ll make you go. So why not take off on your own?”
Becca eyed Vance, obviously considering her options. Connor thought he’d realized the depth of her conviction regarding these girls, but it obviously ran deeper than he thought. She looked at him, begging him to help her. And he wanted to help, wanted to stand up for her, to do whatever it took to remove the look of panic on her face. But Connor knew his lieutenant, and Vance wasn’t going budge. If Connor interceded on her behalf, it would only make things worse. He offered her an apologetic smile.
“Fine, I’m going.” She met Vance’s gaze with one that brooked no argument. “But I will work this investigation. No matter what you say, or my supervisor says, I’m not going away.”
She stepped off, flashing a disappointed look at Connor as she passed.
“Look after her, Kait,” Sam said. “Try to keep her out of trouble.”
Kait frowned. “I’ll try, but no one keeps Becca from doing anything she’s set her mind on.”
Connor almost mentioned that the same was true of Kait, but he sure didn’t need Sam or Kait mad at him, too.
When they were out of earshot, Vance faced Connor. “She stays out of this unless I approve. Got it?”
Connor nodded.
“Fine. Now that we’ve settled that issue, let’s get to work on formulating a plan.” With a scowl on his face, Vance strode over to Dane.
Connor and Sam followed, and the three of them briefed Vance on the investigation.
“So you’ve done the basics, but we really don’t have much to go on.” Vance fixed his gaze in the distance. “What about Marcie? Did she give us anything?”
“Only that the girl’s been here about a week and was likely strangled. But you know Marcie. She’s not going to say much until she completes the autopsy.”
Vance nodded and turned to Dane. “Get another set of pictures before Marcie takes the body. And once the
“Good, though if they’re still here when the OSP anthropologist arrives, it will tip them off that we’re looking at a skeletonized victim, too. I don’t plan to let that happen.” He spun and marched over to the women.
Sam and Connor traipsed after Vance.
“Kait,” Vance said cordially, then turned his gaze on Becca. “And Agent Lange. Good to see both of you again.” Vance was a master as schmoozing when he needed to be, but Connor knew the hammer was coming.
“We’ve come to a standstill in our investigation while we wait for additional resources. We appreciate your help thus far, but you’re free to go now. I do ask that you not mention to anyone what you saw here today, or that we suspect Van Gogh has resurfaced.”
“No,” Becca said.
Vance’s eyebrows shot up. “Excuse me?”
“I won’t mention this to anyone, but you said I was free to go.” Becca planted her hands on her hips. “And I choose to stay. So my answer is no.”
Vance widened his stance. “Perhaps I wasn’t clear. We appreciate your help, but now you need to leave.”
“No,” Becca said again.
If the situation hadn’t been so serious, Connor would have laughed at the shocked look on Vance’s face.
“Again,” Becca said. “I choose to stay.’
Kait tugged on Becca’s arm. “We’ve done our part, and we should go.”
“Our part?” Becca’s voice shot up, startling birds into flight. “If Van Gogh isn’t behind bars then our part,”—she put air quotes around the words—“isn’t completed.”
Vance sighed. “I get that you’re personally committed to finding Van Gogh, but it looks like it’s clouding your judgment. I see that as an even better reason to ask you to take off.”
Becca jutted out her jaw. “My judgment is just fine, thank you very much.”
“Look.” Vance took a step closer. “Since I haven’t gotten a call from your supervisor, I’m sure he doesn’t know you’re here. If I tell him you’re refusing to leave, he’ll make you go. So why not take off on your own?”
Becca eyed Vance, obviously considering her options. Connor thought he’d realized the depth of her conviction regarding these girls, but it obviously ran deeper than he thought. She looked at him, begging him to help her. And he wanted to help, wanted to stand up for her, to do whatever it took to remove the look of panic on her face. But Connor knew his lieutenant, and Vance wasn’t going budge. If Connor interceded on her behalf, it would only make things worse. He offered her an apologetic smile.
“Fine, I’m going.” She met Vance’s gaze with one that brooked no argument. “But I will work this investigation. No matter what you say, or my supervisor says, I’m not going away.”
She stepped off, flashing a disappointed look at Connor as she passed.
“Look after her, Kait,” Sam said. “Try to keep her out of trouble.”
Kait frowned. “I’ll try, but no one keeps Becca from doing anything she’s set her mind on.”
Connor almost mentioned that the same was true of Kait, but he sure didn’t need Sam or Kait mad at him, too.
When they were out of earshot, Vance faced Connor. “She stays out of this unless I approve. Got it?”
Connor nodded.
“Fine. Now that we’ve settled that issue, let’s get to work on formulating a plan.” With a scowl on his face, Vance strode over to Dane.
Connor and Sam followed, and the three of them briefed Vance on the investigation.
“So you’ve done the basics, but we really don’t have much to go on.” Vance fixed his gaze in the distance. “What about Marcie? Did she give us anything?”
“Only that the girl’s been here about a week and was likely strangled. But you know Marcie. She’s not going to say much until she completes the autopsy.”
Vance nodded and turned to Dane. “Get another set of pictures before Marcie takes the body. And once the
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