Sloan walked up to him and Yael, who had fallen asleep on the drive back and looked exhausted. An EMT had cleaned her up but there were still bloodstains on her clothes and a shellshocked expression on her face.

“I don’t know whether to throw you two off this team or give you both commendations.”

Yael had sent the video of the white van to Ashley Chen earlier and the entire state had set up roadblocks and BOLOs. Unfortunately, they still hadn’t located the vehicle or found the killer.

“Please don’t blame Ms. Brooks. I was the one who dragged us out there.”

Sloan looked from one of them to the other. “Yael said it was her idea and you say it was yours.” She held up her hand to stop him from arguing. “Whoever it was—it was damn good work and frankly gave us leads we didn’t have before. Plus, you both survived so I don’t have to deal with that paperwork. But next time you go off without clearing it with me first, you’ll be done working this case.” Sloan held his gaze. “Understood?”

He nodded. “Ma’am.”

“Are you okay, Yael?” Sloan asked suddenly.

“Yeah. Shaken. Frustrated.” Large brown eyes shot to Sloan and her jaw tightened. “If we’d arrived a few minutes earlier, we might have caught EG but I slowed Agent Livingstone down—”

“What?” he cut in. He hadn’t realized she was blaming herself for that. “No. Zenko slowed us down by laying boobytraps.”

“I was the one who refused to be left alone in the woods.”

Sloan cut in. “And you’re the one who provided footage of the suspect leaving the scene. You did good work, Yael.”

The woman in question didn’t look convinced.

He held out the plastic bag with Zenko’s cell and Ashley Chen came over and grabbed it. The agents planned to clone it and then have it examined for physical evidence.

Yael swayed on her feet.

“I think I should maybe drive Yael home—”

She shook her head. “If there’s a meeting, I don’t plan to miss it.” Despite her fatigue, her eyes sparked with angry fire.

He nodded.

She was still mad at him. Rightfully so. But they’d followed the evidence and found Zenko. He was kicking himself he’d likely been close to the bastard responsible for Scotty’s death but the guy had gotten away. And sure, Zenko had set the explosives, but he’d done it on Evi1Geni-us’s instruction. Somehow, Shane didn’t figure EG would find it so easy to recruit anyone else to help him, not now that Zenko’s death was plastered over every news station in the country. It would be one less worry to deal with.

Alex Parker walked in and immediately came over to Yael’s side.

“Are you okay?” He shot Shane a look that promised retribution if she wasn’t.