“You got it,” Andy said.

Matt and Andy left the lab and walked down the long hallway that connected the forensics building with the police department. Andy nodded to a cop who passed.

“Miles is a smart guy, just prickly,” Andy explained.

“Not my problem. Jim’s problem. Delegation has never been an issue for me. I just wish I had my full team here now. What’s going on with your boss?”

“My apologies—I should have insisted you meet with him this morning when you arrived. We don’t get much violent crime in Liberty Lake.”

“What’d you tell him?”

“Unfortunately, he was out of the area yesterday. I immediately called about the homicide—but he didn’t know I had contacted your office until I sent a copy of my report. In hindsight, I should have asked you to contact him directly.”

“Does he want to be involved?”

“Not really—”

“Spill it,” Matt said when Andy’s voice trailed off. “We don’t have time for this shit.”

Andy cleared his throat. “He wants to be a part of every decision. Well, between you and me,” he said lowering his voice, “the chief wants credit for everything, but doesn’t really know what to do. He was elected Liberty Lake Chief of Police, but he wasn’t a cop. Everyone knows him.”

“I get it,” Matt said. “Let’s get a meeting together ASAP, okay? I can’t dick around with this shit, but I don’t want to cause any delays in processing evidence. If I have to take over the entire case, I will, but I’d rather work with you—and I’ll tell him that if I have to.”

“He won’t like threats, Matt.” Andy looked squeamish as he opened the door into the main police building. “Maybe the more-flies-with-honey approach?”

Before Matt could comment, a high-ranking cop hailed them as they stepped inside.

“Andy, have a minute?”

“Of course, Chief.”

Matt assessed him. He was a short, physically fit cop in his midforties with laugh lines around his eyes.

He glanced at Matt, then said to Andy, “Miles treating you well?”

“Very. Deputy Chief Brian Maddox, this is Special Agent in Charge Matt Costa. The FBI sent him and his team out from DC when they determined we may have ourselves a serial killer. A new mobile resource unit for rural communities.”

“Sounds like an interesting operation,” Maddox said.

“We hope it’ll be a valuable tool for local law enforcement,” Matt said.

Brian Maddox shook Matt’s hand. “I was a cop in Liberty Lake for the first twelve years of my career. Trained Andy here. Moved to SPD ten years ago last month.”

“Left us for the big city,” Andy said with a grin.

“Left for the money,” Brian countered. “Not much room for advancement in a small police department with one detective and a chief for life.”

“Not much happens at the lake, until now.”

“Just so you know,” Brian said to both of them, “our resources are your resources. I’m assuming if the feds are here, there’s something serious going on.”