Had he just given her a compliment? She was frustrated that the words flustered her. She did not need his approval. “Why am I here?”

Elliot raised a mocking brow. “It’s probably best if I let Darby explain.”

Signy propped a shoulder against the nearest wall. “What’s going on, Darby? Where’s your guard dog Winters?”

The young woman turned to face her, eyes wide and haunted. Mouth drawn into a thin line. She looked how Signy felt except with more ingenue. Signy blamed the red hair and velvety green eyes. Not to mention the freckles. Dammit. Darby O’Roarke looked like an Irish fairy.

“Eban’s at the vigil,” Darby stated quietly.

Exactly where Signy should be. Before she could say as much, Darby continued.

“Apparently, the FBI are worried a serial killer might be responsible for the two murders that occurred here.”

Signy straightened. “What do you mean?”

Darby drew her sock-clad feet up onto the chair. She was shivering though the room wasn’t cold. “The FBI believe the person who committed the murders in Fairbanks may have also committed other murders throughout Alaska. Quite a few other murders.”

Signy pushed away from the wall. Shit. “I need to be at the vigil.”

She took a step toward the door and collided with Elliot’s hard body. He steadied her and a tremor ran through her.

She looked up and saw heat flare in his bright blue eyes before it was banked.

“The agent in charge of the Behavioral Analysis Unit thinks that the killer might have fixated on Darby.”

Signy took a step away from Elliot and he released her.

“I need to go. Killers often attend vigils and memorials.”

“Which is exactly why Eban is attending the service. You’re on sentry duty.”

Signy slumped in disappointment. “The FBI are taking over the case.”

This would be a career changer for whoever solved it and the FBI had marched in and taken over.

Darby let out a small sob and then covered her mouth. Signy glanced at her and, for the first time since she’d seen Martin Carstairs’s dead body, she felt a bolt of sympathy for the girl. Could she really be the target of some deranged killer? What was it about her that would drive such hatred or passion?

“I have no idea who is leading the investigation. What I do know is that Eban Winters called me thirty minutes ago to ask a favor,” Elliot said patiently. “He asked me to sit with Darby and promised to arrange a plain-clothed police officer to assist with actual firepower. I suggested a female officer might make Darby feel safer, but I only discovered it was you after Chief Jacobs called me back a few minutes ago to say you were on your way over and to give me your cell number. I doubt Darby would have agreed to this particular arrangement had she known you’d be the officer assigned.”

Signy frowned. Her job was to catch criminals, not make nice with suspects. Still, a sliver of regret rooted inside.