“They found a tiny singed area on the SIM card, just like Adam mentioned this morning. It looked like normal wear, which in and of itself wouldn’t be evidence of anything, since no sign of spyware exists in the phone’s files.”
“Did they also examine Patterson’s phone?”
The assistant director nodded. “And found the same singed spot. It’s unusual enough to raise suspicion.”
“That’s another link between the murders,” Shepherd put in. “The note cards may have been copied, but the phones suggest a connection.”
Hedgelin scrubbed a hand over his jaw. For the first time Jaid noted the fatigue that shadowed his face. He’d put in long hours on this case. It was undoubtedly the most high-profile of his career. She’d heard rumors that he had his eye on the bureau director’s job when the man’s term was up. A successful resolution to a case like this would go a long way toward impressing a future president and the Senate when the next opportunity arose.
Left unsolved, however, the case would be his career coffin.
“So far we’ve kept the detail about the card found at the site of Reinbeck’s shooting out of the press. Done a damn good job of keeping most crime-scene details suppressed, as a matter of fact. I want it to stay that way. The three of you will be assigned to determine if there are any other intersections in the two homicides. Did the victims know each other, have mutual friends, show up at the same social functions?”
“I assume DCPD compiled a client list for Mr. Patterson?” Adam’s tone was wry. “Given the bloodbath on Wall Street a couple years ago, it might also act as a list of potential enemies.”
The assistant director nodded. “I doubt too many came out on top of that disaster. But the specifics should be in the file Lieutenant Griega sent over.” He pulled open a drawer and withdrew three bulging file folders. “Here.” He shoved all three across his desktop toward them. “Familiarize yourself with this, and determine your manner of investigation. Clear it with me before you talk to anyone or question anybody.” His expression was fierce. “I’m keeping a tight hand on the reins on this case. I don’t want any surprises.”
The biggest surprise, Jaid thought as she rose to collect the files, was that they were being given the task at all. She wouldn’t expect Hedgelin to extend their team any leeway, not with Adam a part of it.
She remembered in the next moment that she and Shepherd were supposed to be keeping Raiker in check for the duration of the case. Maybe that was Hedgelin’s ace in the hole. Give Adam enough freedom to come up with something the bureau hadn’t—like the evidence of spyware—but keep him contained at the same time. He wasn’t above taking advantage of Adam’s staggering knowledge and his contacts. He employed some of the most brilliant criminologists in the country, after all. But when the case reached a successful conclusion, it was a certainty that Cleve Hedgelin would make damn sure Adam got none of the credit.
“Find an empty conference room and familiarize yourself with Patterson’s case file,” the assistant director ordered brusquely. “I’ll expect a tentative outline of investigation prior to your taking any action.”
Adam and Shepherd stood. Jaid’s gaze fell unenthusiastically to the pile of folders she held as she rose. The information would take hours to go through, and that was assuming they each took charge of a folder and summarized it for the others. Stifling a sigh, she turned toward the door.
“Jaid, do you have a makeup mirror?”
Pausing in the midst of rubbing her eyes, she aimed a jaundiced look toward Shepherd. “You trying to tell me something?”
His eyes looked as bleary as hers felt. They’d been poring over the file folders for—she checked the clock on the wall—six hours. Without a break, if one didn’t count the run to a nearby deli she’d volunteered for three hours ago.
“Did they also examine Patterson’s phone?”
The assistant director nodded. “And found the same singed spot. It’s unusual enough to raise suspicion.”
“That’s another link between the murders,” Shepherd put in. “The note cards may have been copied, but the phones suggest a connection.”
Hedgelin scrubbed a hand over his jaw. For the first time Jaid noted the fatigue that shadowed his face. He’d put in long hours on this case. It was undoubtedly the most high-profile of his career. She’d heard rumors that he had his eye on the bureau director’s job when the man’s term was up. A successful resolution to a case like this would go a long way toward impressing a future president and the Senate when the next opportunity arose.
Left unsolved, however, the case would be his career coffin.
“So far we’ve kept the detail about the card found at the site of Reinbeck’s shooting out of the press. Done a damn good job of keeping most crime-scene details suppressed, as a matter of fact. I want it to stay that way. The three of you will be assigned to determine if there are any other intersections in the two homicides. Did the victims know each other, have mutual friends, show up at the same social functions?”
“I assume DCPD compiled a client list for Mr. Patterson?” Adam’s tone was wry. “Given the bloodbath on Wall Street a couple years ago, it might also act as a list of potential enemies.”
The assistant director nodded. “I doubt too many came out on top of that disaster. But the specifics should be in the file Lieutenant Griega sent over.” He pulled open a drawer and withdrew three bulging file folders. “Here.” He shoved all three across his desktop toward them. “Familiarize yourself with this, and determine your manner of investigation. Clear it with me before you talk to anyone or question anybody.” His expression was fierce. “I’m keeping a tight hand on the reins on this case. I don’t want any surprises.”
The biggest surprise, Jaid thought as she rose to collect the files, was that they were being given the task at all. She wouldn’t expect Hedgelin to extend their team any leeway, not with Adam a part of it.
She remembered in the next moment that she and Shepherd were supposed to be keeping Raiker in check for the duration of the case. Maybe that was Hedgelin’s ace in the hole. Give Adam enough freedom to come up with something the bureau hadn’t—like the evidence of spyware—but keep him contained at the same time. He wasn’t above taking advantage of Adam’s staggering knowledge and his contacts. He employed some of the most brilliant criminologists in the country, after all. But when the case reached a successful conclusion, it was a certainty that Cleve Hedgelin would make damn sure Adam got none of the credit.
“Find an empty conference room and familiarize yourself with Patterson’s case file,” the assistant director ordered brusquely. “I’ll expect a tentative outline of investigation prior to your taking any action.”
Adam and Shepherd stood. Jaid’s gaze fell unenthusiastically to the pile of folders she held as she rose. The information would take hours to go through, and that was assuming they each took charge of a folder and summarized it for the others. Stifling a sigh, she turned toward the door.
“Jaid, do you have a makeup mirror?”
Pausing in the midst of rubbing her eyes, she aimed a jaundiced look toward Shepherd. “You trying to tell me something?”
His eyes looked as bleary as hers felt. They’d been poring over the file folders for—she checked the clock on the wall—six hours. Without a break, if one didn’t count the run to a nearby deli she’d volunteered for three hours ago.
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