Free Seeking Evil (Looking Into The Mind Of A Killer Series) by Mary Eason Page A

think my transplant along with the others is in some way connected to the killer? ”
    “ Yes. Maybe. I don ’ t know. I ’ m pulling the records of all the victims. ” His gaze locked on Anna . She knew her records would be included in that list. She wasn ’ t sure she was ready to relive those days when she’ d faced death almost daily.
    Anna realized John continued to see things she didn ’ t want him to see. “ What do you need me to do? ”
    He hesitated for a moment longer and she knew. John needed her to take another look at the case. Profile it. See what she could come up with .
    “ There have been two murders before he came after you. My partner is checking on those two victims ’ medical history right now. ”
    “ Al l right, I ’ ll do it ,” s he answered a little too quickly, surprising him. He ’ d expected more of a fight. She couldn ’ t let John see the truth. She’ d help solve his case and catch the man who wanted her dead, but she’ d do it because she needed answers more than she wanted to remain in fear.
    She needed to know the secrets Aaron had kept from her .
    John watched her for a second longer then slowly he nodded.
    He got to his feet. “ Good. I ’ ll have the files delivered to a safe house. You ’ ll be more comfortable there. If you ’ ll excuse me for a moment, I have to brief Mark on the latest findings. ”
    He left Anna in the hands of two of his subordinates. Of all the places in the world, the Hoover building had to be the one that represented safety to the wor l d, but today, nothing about the place represented safety for Anna . Aaron ’ s ghost was everywhere around her , as were the questions she desperately needed answered. And every beat of her heart chime ed unfinished business. Unfinished business.
    * * * * *
    John had seen that look in Anna before. The night Aaron filed for divorce. She'd come to him asking for his help in understanding the change in Aaron. He ’ d skirted the issue. Convinced her she was making too much of Aaron ’ s irrational mood swings, his distant behavior. In truth, he'd begun to suspect something was different in his friend beyond the affair with Cheryl Larsen or even the other women that Aaron had hinted at. Those were just symptoms. John knew Aaron didn’t love any of them, including Cheryl. He'd loved Anna once. They were a sign. A sign that something was seriously screwed up in Aaron’s world.
    John reached Warren ’ s office door. This was not going to be a pleasant meeting. AD Warren ’ s growing distrust of John was becoming more evident with each passing day. He suspected John of holding back evidence. It was only a matter of time before Warren put the screws to Rick for answers.
    John knocked once and waited.
    “ Enter. ” The flat - lined tone in Warren ’ s voice did little to encourage.
    He steeled himself for the confrontation he knew was coming and walked into the room.
    Mark Warren eyed him for a moment then pointed toward one of the chairs.
    “ You have news for me? ” Warren ’ s gaze never left John.
    “ I do. ”
    “ Good. Then maybe that can explain why you ’ ve managed to keep me in the dark about these new developments in a case I personally closed a year ago , and why I had to find out from the Washington Post instead of my senior agent that the RCK was still at large. ”
    John knew no matter how he chose to play this, he ’ d made a powerful enemy of the AD.
    “ Because I didn ’ t believe it was wise to jump to any unnecessary conclusions without proof, Mark. You of all people should remember the public ’ s reaction to the last series of murders. We had to be sure. ”
    “ And you believed I was a liability? ” The AD harrumphed.
    “ No. No, of course not. ”
    Warren held up a hand. “ We ’ ll resolve this after we catch the killer. As it is, we look like a bunch of bumbling clowns in the public ’ s eye. I need to know what you have that ’ s new. And it had better be good. ”