Darby knew this was a big break. This victim might be able to tell them exactly who this killer was and end this thing. And the reason Eban wasn’t personally investigating this lead was because he was worried about her.

“Go, Eban. I’ll be fine here watching the videos. I promise I won’t leave the room except to go to the restroom. What could possibly happen to me?”

“Nothing,” Allan Robertson assured her. “We identified the officer who’d called the media night before last, and he has been suspended pending a full investigation. Tim Carstairs received a tip-off from the doorman of the hotel who recognized you and was an old friend of his from school. No one here believes you had anything to do with any of this. Not anymore. We are here for you, Miss O’Roarke.”

A shot of relief burst through her. She hadn’t realized exactly how tightly wound she’d been walking in here even with Eban at her side. Her throat went dry and she swallowed to try to moisten it. “Thank you.”

She took Eban’s hand in hers and gave it quick squeeze. “Go. I promise to stay here. I won’t leave until you get back.”

“Don’t leave at all,” Eban warned.

She smiled. “Okay, fine. Now go. Catch this person before they get away.”

* * *

Excitement raced through Signy as she grabbed her parka and quickly changed into her winter boots. The snow had come down heavily overnight and odds were good that she and Allan would once again be tromping through the frozen wasteland that was Fairbanks in January. They were getting closer to this killer, she could almost smell it. And while Eban Winters might be part of this investigation, he didn’t seem interested in the glory. He simply wanted the killer off the streets or, more specifically, somewhere they couldn’t threaten Darby O’Roarke.

If Signy had to choose between keeping people safe and her getting a promotion, she’d definitely choose to keep people safe—it was why she’d gone into the job in the first place. But if she could do both? Dream-case scenario. Catching this UNSUB before the other FBI agents turned up was not just her priority right now, it was looking increasingly possible if this victim was awake and could remember anything.

She headed outside to her departmental vehicle and unplugged the heater, then got in and started the engine. Eban Winters climbed into the passenger seat much to her surprise. She said nothing, instead followed Allan to the local hospital that was only a few blocks away from the precinct. She parked behind the patrol sergeant’s cruiser and the three of them entered together.

Signy went to the emergency admissions desk and flashed her badge. “You had a patient brought in with a stab wound?”

The clerk buzzed them inside and they all three hurried down the corridor until they reached a curtained-off area.

Several doctors and nurses surrounded a blonde woman lying unconscious on a bed. She had a knife sticking out of her upper right chest. Signy was in the right place.