They won’t notice me as I’ve spent the last four weeks in the supply room scanning documents. Nobody ever comes in there looking for me but you. Cover for me, and I’ll owe you big time.”
She has a point—regrettably.
I run a hand over my head while contemplating. If she’s investigating Megan, she won’t be here, exposed to a high-ranked man in her father’s crew, but then she’d be thrust into Megan’s line of sight. From the hospital records Isabelle unearthed on her months ago, there’s no doubt Megan is unstable, but I doubt her crimes are worse than Albert’s.
Believing an unhinged woman is the lesser of two evils, I dig my keys out of my pocket and place them into Isabelle’s palm. “It’s a blue BMW coupe half a block down.”
She looks utterly shocked—so much so, she darts down the corridor without a word seeping from her lips. Just before she reaches the stairwell, she pivots around and races back my way. I’m taken aback when she slings her arms around my neck and hugs me tight. “Thank you, Brandon. I would have never made it this far without you.”
I return her hug, both smug from her compliment and worried. “Be careful, Izzy.”
After inching back, she nods, winks, and then sprints back down the corridor. I wait until she clears the first floor of stairs before re-entering the office. The buzz of Megan’s antics is keeping the energy high. It’s been like this most of the day. Tobias always said good agents have a knack for feeling change in the air. Great ones make it happen.
With that in mind, I make my way down the corridor I saw Detective Carter guiding Albert down only minutes ago. I’m not surprised to discover the conference room walls have been frosted. It’s a pity for Agent Russell and Alex that Detective Carter has no trouble raising his voice to express his annoyance at the Bureau attempting to ‘piss on his turf.’
“I brought him here as a mark of respect for your tip, not for you to gloat. If I want to hear a rooster crow, I’ll visit a fucking farm.”
I can’t hear what Alex replies with, but I’m certain he’s the one who’s talking. His tone is too deep and low to be Agent Russell’s.
Barely three seconds tick by before the conference door slings open, and Detective Carter steps out. “Two minutes and not a second longer.”
His exit from the room is too quick for me to make out I wasn’t spying. It’s for the best. Detective Carter doesn’t seem like the type to believe shit is chocolate. “You’re the agent from the alleyway.” Since he’s not asking a question, it doesn’t sound like one.
“I am.” I fill the gap between us with three quick strides before holding out my hand in offering. “Brandon James.”
He hesitates for a second before accepting my hand. “Brandon, as in Izzy Brahn’s Brandon?”
My chest shouldn’t swell at his assumption, but it does. Still, I try and downplay it. “A lot of people are called Brandon—”
“Not in this town, they’re not.” He takes in the bland walls like they’re covered with family portraits while stepping closer to the main hub of the office. “Have you been here long? Prime commercial real estate like this hasn’t been on the market in years, so you’ve either been here for a while, or you don’t use the same channels as us regular folks.”
I smirk, amused he thinks a friendly persona will have me slipping up. Local authorities are aware the FBI has a task force in Ravenshoe, but they have no clue who we’re here for and exactly how long we plan to stay.
“I can see how this location can be popular for some, but it isn’t up to my standards.”
That gets a smile out of him, albeit reserved. “I thought this neighborhood would be right up your alley. Who doesn’t want a big fancy nightclub straight across the street.” He shifts on his feet to face me, his smirk smug since he knows who we’re targeting without me needing to mention it. “Especially if you’re a dancing type of guy.”
“I’m not much of a dancer, either.”
“No?” he fires back, his brows arching. “I wouldn’t have guessed that. I’ve seen you at a handful of clubs.”
My brows are dying to stitch, but I won’t let them. The more impassive I act, the more Detective Carter’s game plan will become exposed. “You don’t have to be a dancer to enjoy a nightclub.