Free Brutal Obsession (The Safeguard Series, Book One) by Kennedy Layne Page B

this individual would go to in order to be with her, as Coulter so clearly explained. “You also think it’s a man instead of a woman and that he may have done this before.”
    “Yes.”
    “And you’re suggesting it might be someone I work with here in the office?”
    “I’m not ruling anyone out,” Coulter said before he shifted his focus to Keane. “Thirty minutes. I want to be gone before Mr. Wright brings in his technician.”
    “Wait,” Ashlyn objected, holding up a hand to halt the conversation. “You think Victor is—”
    “I’m saying that I want to keep everything above board. Victor Wright is the head of your cyber division and it’s only natural that your colleagues would want to assist you. It’s not my intention to make anyone uncomfortable, but I will be having my fellow agent in the cyber unit monitoring your system. I highly doubt this suspect is going to just vanish after all the time and trouble he’s taken to garner your attention. Just so you’re aware, I’ve set up interviews with your staff through your assistant. I’ll be conducting those discussions tomorrow morning.”
    “We’ll be there in thirty minutes,” Keane informed him, deliberately bringing this meeting to a close. He and Ashlyn had personal things to discuss before leaving this office and now it appeared they had a time constraint.
    There was literally no sound as the FBI agent left. Keane turned his focus to Ashlyn, who was still looking at the door Coulter had just closed. She rested her French manicured nails on the hard surface in front of her and he wondered just how long she would allow time to pass before actually acknowledging him.
    Keane didn’t alter his expression when Ashlyn’s blue eyes finally turned to him, as if his try in the barrel had arrived. She regarded him with what appeared to be caution as he paused a moment to think through what he was going to say. He had to remind himself to keep this professional, but the chance of that was nearing zero at the moment. She would always be personal to him.
    “Townes Calvert thought it best if I took this case due to our previous involvement,” Keane offered rather directly, not willing to prolong the awkward nature of this initial meeting. He stood and walked toward the window where she had her blinds open. He reached for the long string but didn’t immediately pull the slats closed. He observed the disarray of the city street below, watching the traffic and pedestrians battle for the right of way as darkness finally descended. “Calvert assumed we have an established trust that will make this situation a bit easier, but you let me know if that isn’t the case. I’m sure a replacement can be up here by tomorrow morning, and I can find better things to do. No problem.”
    Keane tried not to let it bother him when Ashlyn didn’t reply right away, telling him she was actually considering the out he’d given her. He looked across the street, noticing the building and the easy access any number of people could gain to its upper floors and where she could be observed from that particular location should someone have the right equipment. He made a mental note to run that by Calvert and see if there was any cross-decking between these two municipal buildings. The one he was staring at was part of Judiciary Square and held the Juvenile Probation Office, among other things.
    “I’m surprised you even agreed to come up here and take this meeting,” Ashlyn said softly after clearing her throat. She’d certainly deflected answering the question nicely, but then again, she was rather proficient at that considering her profession. “The way things ended for us…”
    Keane pulled the crisp nylon string, instantly enclosing them inside the office with a resounding snap of the blinds. The light inside took on an artificial and bland cast, matching the moods of those inside their own little bubble of gloom. The overhead illumination appeared stark now, reminding