“The cop who ran the Dallas crime lab?” Esteban was both a sworn officer and a crime scene investigator—many jurisdictions required at least one member of their forensics team to be a law enforcement officer.

Tony nodded. “He might see something in the forensic reports that others have missed. I’ll have Ryder send him everything we have before he leaves, and Esteban can get started before he gets to Spokane.”

“Good.”

“What’s up with the candidates I put on your desk this morning?” Tony asked.

Matt sat back down, realizing he couldn’t avoid this conversation. “No, no, and absolutely not.”

“We need this team staffed, Matt. I don’t like sending you out West with only three people besides yourself—two of whom aren’t going to be there for more than twenty-four hours.”

“I’m not bringing in just anyone.”

“I thought the kid out of Sacramento would be a good fit.”

“Can we talk about this after we stop the Triple Killer?”

Tony sighed and rubbed his eyes. “I have a few more files to go through—I’ll send them through Ryder after I vet them.”

Matt stood again. “I’ll call you after I talk to Catherine.”

“If she’ll let you in.”

“I’ll break down her damn door if she doesn’t.”

4

Georgetown, Washington DC
8:10 p.m.

The doorbell chime made her jump.

Catherine reddened, embarrassed that the sound of a visitor made her heart race. She knew who it was. She’d been avoiding Matt’s calls for the last two hours, but Matt was stubborn, and he would never take her silence in the way it was intended.

Which was: Leave me the hell alone.

She was even more irritated because she lived in a secure building, and no one could come here without her buzzing them in through the main doors. No one, that is, except Mathias Costa because they had once been friends and her husband, Chris, had given him a key to the condo years ago. When Matt came to the city, he would stay here because they had an extra room. And until she’d separated from Chris, the condo was rarely used.

Now he was abusing their friendship. What did she expect of him? Respect? Understanding? Common decency?

This was Mathias Costa. He thought he was a demigod and the world revolved around him.

Angry, she walked through the living room and foyer and opened the front door before he used his key to come in.

He already had it in hand.

A charming smile crossed his face. “Hello, Catherine.”

She sighed and let him enter. She shut the door behind him and was surprised that, when she turned around, he pulled her into a hug.

“Don’t,” she said, stiff.

He squeezed her before dropping his arms. His dark eyes followed her as she walked into her gourmet kitchen. She straightened her spine, felt her bones creak. She had been inactive for far too long. She hadn’t left her condo in two days, even to go to the community exercise room.