The officer who had cuffed him took hold of Sean’s elbow and pulled him to standing, then escorted him to the squad car. “Watch your head,” he said and helped Sean into the back.
The cop closed the door and Sean was alone. His eyes burned. Rage and embarrassment tore him up inside.
And fear. Fear that this setup was going to get him killed. He had enemies in prison. So did his brother. So did Lucy.
Maybe that’s why he was bring framed for Mona Hill’s murder. It wouldn’t matter when the cops realized he was innocent, by then he might already be dead.
Chapter Three
When Lucy Kincaid walked into the FBI office that morning, her boss Rachel Vaughn called out to her before she sat down. “Lucy, the ASAC needs to see you.”
There was something about her tone that caught Lucy’s attention, and when she put her briefcase down and turned to her, Rachel’s expression was blank. Yet … something in her posture said concern. Her tension told Lucy that something was definitely up, even though her face was emotionless.
Lucy mentally reviewed all her cases and couldn’t imagine what was wrong. Was she in trouble? Did she screw something up? She would have heard or sensed something, wouldn’t she?
“Is there anything I need to know?” she asked Rachel. She wished her boss would give her some sort of clue.
“She’s waiting for you.”
Then Rachel turned, walked into her own office, and closed the door.
Not good.
Lucy put her purse in her desk drawer, then walked slowly from the Violent Crimes squad to the opposite side of the building where the administrative offices were housed. She hoped someone would approach her and give her a clue as to what was going on. Everyone seemed to be going about their business and didn’t give her a second glance. A few people said good morning. If something was going on, only Rachel knew about it.
She braced herself for a reprimand, though she couldn’t imagine about what. Or maybe one of her cases was falling apart and she needed to go over evidence with the US Attorney’s Office. Or she was being transferred.
Last year she’d seriously considered requesting a transfer because she felt that there were some serious problems for her in the office, but over the last few months, everything had been great. She and Rachel now worked well together after an initial rough patch. The Violent Crimes Squad was fully staffed, Lucy got along with everyone, and she was no longer a rookie.
Maybe it’s nothing bad.
Except Rachel hadn’t looked her in the eye.
It’s bad.
She walked into the administrative wing and ASAC Abigail Durant was standing outside her door talking to her admin. She saw Lucy and a cloud crossed her face, then she covered it up.
“Agent Kincaid, thank you, you can come in.”
Had someone died? Been injured? Was she being written up? Something more serious?
Stop. Listen.
She walked in and was surprised to see SAPD Detective Tia Mancini sitting at the small table. “Hello, Tia.”
“Lucy.”
Tia also looked serious.
Abigail told her admin no interruptions, then she closed the door and sat down at the table.
Lucy had a million questions, but didn’t say a word. She looked from Tia to Abigail.
Abigail spoke first. “Detective Mancini has some information for you. She told me first and asked how to handle it. I said be up-front and to tell you everything she can.”
Lucy hadn’t worked with Tia on a case in more than a year, but they’d become friends. Tia was a sex crimes detective and had been helpful in several of Lucy’s investigations.
When Tia didn’t immediately say anything, Lucy said, “Tia—just tell me. Straight-out.”
“Fuck,” Tia muttered. “There’s no easy way to say this, Lucy. I was asked to come down here because my boss knows we’re friends. And because we’re friends, I can’t be involved in the investigation at all.” She hesitated, then said, “Sean has been arrested. I just received confirmation that he’s in custody.”
It took Lucy a second to process arrested. “Sean?”
“Houston PD arrested him for murder.”
“Murder.” She was repeating the words but they weren’t registering.
“I don’t have all the details, because like I said, this isn’t my case. It’s a Houston case and we loaned out four SAPD officers to transport him. He’s on his way to Houston right now for booking. I’m sure he’ll call a lawyer, but of course if you want to start the process, go right ahead. This is a courtesy conversation, but dammit, I know you’ll pull out