“Oh,” she said, finally catching on. “You’re making a sexual innuendo that Dr. Ortega called me because he finds me attractive.” At least now she understood what he was trying to say. “Are you serious about that or are you just trying to be insulting?” She really didn’t know.

His mouth opened partially and his eyes squinted.

Huck coughed and almost covered a laugh.

She cleared her throat. “If you’re serious that there has been a breach of protocol, then you should file a report through proper channels. If you’re merely trying to insult me, you failed. I care nothing about your opinion.” Perhaps now that they had that out of the way, they could get back to the case. She glanced toward Dr. Ortega. “Why did you call me?”

“For professional reasons only,” the doctor said, a small smile playing beneath his goatee.

“That’s what I thought.” She looked again at the frozen body. “Let’s focus on the poor woman who was brutally murdered.”

The sheriff took a step toward her. “Listen, you—”

“I wouldn’t.” Huck moved toward him, his voice holding such a strong threat of harm that even Laurel caught it.

She looked from one to the other, pausing. What in the world was happening? They had a victim on the ground in front of them, naked, violated, and frozen. It wasn’t a time for egos or anything but rational thought. “We’re in the middle of a crime scene. Let’s get this done.”

The sheriff flushed a deep red. “I don’t need your help. This murder occurred within my city limits, which gives me jurisdiction. It was a mistake to call you.” He gestured toward the doorway. “Get out of my crime scene.”

This was exactly what she’d wanted to avoid. What had she done wrong? Hadn’t she been polite? “I’m sorry, Sheriff, but 28 U.S.C. §540B grants the FBI the right to investigate serial killings, and I believe this one is connected to our victim out at the creek.”

His eyes gleamed. “Only if the state officials request FBI involvement. I am not requesting your help.”

“I am,” Huck said mildly. “As a state off icer, I have the authority to request FBI assistance, and I’m doing so right now.”

Laurel waited, wondering how smart the sheriff actually might be.

His smile gave her one hint. “Fine. However, ‘serial’ is defined as three or more killings within the United States Code, and we only have two. So fuck off.”

Huck took another step toward the sheriff, and Laurel pivoted slightly, putting her hip against his thigh.

He remained in place and his words were clipped. “I’m taking the case, Sheriff. You don’t have the resources to solve a murder in the city, so it’s a state matter. The state has decided to coordinate efforts with the FBI. We’re done now.”