“Yes. Sorry. Deputy Director George McCromby. He’s a mentor to me.” The firewood killer had been bludgeoning elderly men with pieces of split wood, and she’d successfully analyzed his behavior at the crime scene to lead to a suspect and then arrest. She could most likely sway her boss’s decision, but she was uncertain about returning home permanently.

“Just let me know when you do, okay? If I need to look for a new job, I’d like to get on it.” Kate reached for a pen.

That was more than fair. “For now, while I’m here, we have a new case, and I’d like to schedule a meeting about it in an hour or so. Where is Walter?”

“He went to grab us all a late lunch and should be back any minute.” Kate typed efficiently on a laptop. “What kind of case?”

“Murder, probably ritualistic.” Laurel paused. “Would you please invite Captain Rivers? We’re going to coordinate with Fish and Wildlife on this one.”

Kate reached for an older-looking office phone. “Of course.” She kept her voice professional. “It’ll be nice to work with Captain Sexy again. Why is a grumpy man with a chiseled jaw so appealing?”

That was one mystery Laurel didn’t have any interest in solving. “Thanks, Kate.” She strode down the center hall, flanked by offices, a conference room, and a computer room, to reach her office at the rear. The entire floor was quiet. If the unit became permanent, they’d need to hire staff besides Walter and Kate. Although Kate’s three teenagers were always happy to help out, they’d just started another semester at school and no doubt had better things to do.

She paused at the sight of two stylish white rolling chairs on the closest side of her desk, with another one behind it. “Kate?”

“Four extra chairs were sent with that spectacular conference table, so I put three in your office. They’re better than the ice cream stools you’ve been using,” Kate yelled back. “I’m going to use the fourth but haven’t rolled it this way yet.”

Laurel set down her laptop bag and hung her coat on a nail protruding from the wall. The high-end chairs looked comical surrounding her desk, which was an old, weathered door plopped over cinder blocks. While she didn’t mind using the old door, it would be nice to have a drawer or two. She sat and inserted the USB into her laptop, pausing at the sound of heavy footsteps in the entryway and then the rumble of a low voice.

Her heart sped up.

“Go on back,” Kate called a little loudly, no doubt to alert Laurel of Huck’s presence.

Long strides brought the man to her doorway within seconds.