Shades of Temptation by Virna Depaul

Porter’s grandmother have to do with this, sir?”
    “She’s filed a wrongful death suit against the state. It’s
nothing I’m worried about, necessarily, but it won’t hurt to have a more
experienced agent work The Embalmer case with you.”
    She stiffened, her mouth tightening. “What you really mean is
that if Martha Porter’s claims of incompetence against me prevail, the state
will have a defense against future allegations that The Embalmer case was
mishandled, too. Because a more senior detective would have supervised my every
move. Isn’t that right?”
    Stevens didn’t even flinch. “Let me worry about the politics of
the job, Ward. Just know that if I didn’t believe in you, you wouldn’t be going
anywhere near The Embalmer case, partner or not.”
    Staring at him, she could see he was being honest. Her
shoulders relaxed slightly. “Assuming that’s going to be Agent Tyler, then which
one of us is going to take the lead? Because I was under the impression it was
going to be me. Has that changed?”
    “Not necessarily. Earlier, I asked Agent Tyler his opinion
about whether you should work this case as the lead. He, too, expressed doubt.
But he, too, confessed he couldn’t say with one hundred percent certainty that
his doubt wasn’t the result of the fact you are a woman, and one he cares for on
a personal level to boot.”
    Carrie’s eyes rounded. It took everything she had not to glance
at Jase again and to just listen to what the commander was saying.
    “The problem is, Agent Ward, as enlightened as we all want to
believe ourselves, you are the only female on this team and we are naturally
protective of you. But I can’t let that stop me from giving you what you need in
terms of your career. So I’m not going to. You’ll continue to be the lead agent
on this case. For now.”
    “For now?” Carrie automatically bristled. “Does that mean
you’re simply waiting for me to fail? And let me guess. Agent Tyler here will be
waiting in the wings to take over?”
    Commander Stevens held up his hand. “Hear me out. As I already
said, I want Jase to team up with you on this case. It’s a complicated one.”
    “It was complicated two days ago and you never said anything
about having me work with Agent Tyler. I anticipated having a partner, of
course, but I don’t need to be babysat.”
    “No, but Jase has worked several serial cases before. And he
told me you’ve already discussed several theories about the case with him. Is
that right?”
    She gritted her teeth. It was her own fault for accepting his
help, she thought. “Yes. But this serial killer is a slow-moving one. I have all
kinds of notes prepared for our meeting later today—”
    “He was slow-moving. That might not
be the case any longer. As such, things have just changed.”
    “Sir?” she asked. Both she and Jase straightened and leaned
forward in their chairs.
    “We’ve just gotten word of another possible victim in the
case.”
    “Another—?” Carrie couldn’t help looking at Jase now. He looked
as surprised as she felt. “But it’s only been three days since SFPD discovered
Cheryl Anderson’s remains. Most serial killers wait months before striking
again, and that’s certainly been The Embalmer’s M.O.”
    “I’m not certain this latest murder was actually committed by
The Embalmer. That’s going to be one of the things you’ll be focusing on. Both
of you. You’ll have the lead for now, Agent Ward, but if it turns out we’re
dealing with a copycat, it becomes a whole different ball game. There’s no way
we have the manpower to handle a serial killer and a copycat. And if it’s a
copycat, he won’t be satisfied with just one victim. More will surely follow. I
won’t have any choice but to call in the FBI. They’ll have jurisdiction on The
Embalmer case, leaving you and Jase free to work the second case. That is, if
you’re willing to abide by my orders. Otherwise, I’ll put Tyler on the case