first sight of Hayes when she’d come into the room. Death was always a shock even if it happened to a criminal like Hayes, but knowing the icy callousness of the man who had killed him was overpowering. “Lance Dietrich,” Kendra repeated. She was trying to connect Hayes’s death with the man she’d seen so briefly on that rooftop. “And you think this Dietrich killed Hayes?”
“It’s a possibility,” Metcalf said. “If they were partners, maybe Dietrich thought we were getting a little too close to Hayes and was afraid he might talk.” He paused. “It was odd you just happened to catch sight of Hayes and he led you right here, where he took the bullet himself. Almost as if he was trying to get you to follow him. As I said, we’ll know more once I get back to headquarters and start doing an in-depth search on Dietrich. We should know all the basics about him and any known associates within an hour or two, and then we’ll go from there. I should be able to call and give you an initial report tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?” Suddenly the anger and frustration that had been brewing within her erupted. “No, I want to go back to the office with you. I want to know the minute you know.”
Metcalf frowned. “You’re not being reasonable. It’s much better that you go home and take a shower and rest. Let us call you when we have a complete—”
“I’m going with you,” she said fiercely. “I don’t feel like being reasonable. We almost had Hayes. We were so close. Dietrich had to be one of the sons of bitches who killed Elaine and Mr. Kim, and now he thinks he can clean up his mess by putting a bullet in Hayes’s head? Screw him!”
Metcalf took a step toward her. “I know you’re disappointed, but that doesn’t—”
“Drop it,” Lynch said quietly. “You’re going to lose this one, Metcalf. It’s been a rough day for her. Give her what she wants in the most convenient way possible for you.” He reached in his pocket, pulled out his car keys, and handed them to him. “We’ll meet you back at the regional office. Have someone drive my Lamborghini back to the parking lot. I’ll take one of your vans parked at the curb that you can fumigate later.” He took Kendra’s elbow. “Let’s go. Battle’s won. Metcalf was only trying to be considerate.” He smiled. “Or maybe the aromatic fumes we’re emitting are going to his head. But arrangements can be made to take care of that. What about it, Metcalf?”
“I still think I’m right.” Metcalf forced a smile. “But whatever you say, Kendra. And I agree you do desperately need a shower. Take her to the forensics department on the second floor where there are shower stalls, Lynch. I’ll call ahead and have them dig up some clothes for both of you.”
“With ‘FBI’ blazoned prominently on the back?” Lynch asked. “See? One way or the other, they’re going to recruit you, Kendra.”
She ignored him. “I’m just grateful that you’re being cooperative, Metcalf,” she said. “This is important to me. Maybe I was a little curt.”
He smiled. “No problem. Like Lynch said, you’ve had a rough day.” He turned away to talk to another agent.
“You actually apologized,” Lynch murmured as he led Kendra from the hotel out to the street. “Incredible. You were throwing so many sparks around that I didn’t believe it possible. I was just hoping to yank you out before you hurt poor Metcalf’s feelings.”
“Yeah, that was going to happen. When I calmed down, I realized that it wasn’t Metcalf’s fault I was so upset. And you certainly didn’t have to step in and make explanations for me. That pissed me off more than Metcalf’s stubbornness. I could have handled him.”
“Right. But I did manage to get Metcalf to offer you a shower and clean clothes. Doesn’t that earn me forgiveness?”
“It might.” She thought about it. “Yes, I’d forgive the devil himself if he offered me a shower right now. It’s going to feel absolutely fantastic.” She headed for the van parked at the curb. “But he’d have to get me in that shower really, really fast.”
* * *
Forensics Facility
FBI Regional Office
But the shower didn’t feel as fantastic as Kendra thought it would. That fall against the wall of the sewer had really done a number on her, she realized. The muscles of her back and shoulders were becoming more sore by the minute, and the