“What do you mean?” he asks, resting his elbows over my desk, his hands clasped under his chin.
Breaking my gaze away from the screens, I stalk over to him and grab the dull yellow folder from I tucked it earlier, dropping it in front of him. “Here.”
“What’s this?” he asks, flipping it open to the first page, which has a copy of her driver’s license. “Other than the fact that she’s pretty, I don’t see your point.”
Leaning over him, I grab my phone and swipe up to the notes I collected at 2 a.m. the other night while sitting in my car, parked outside her townhouse. “She’s a crime author who writes under a pen name.”
“And?”
“Her dad is a homicide lieutenant,” I add, waiting for him to connect the dots.
Sebastian suddenly sits up straight when it finally registers. “Is that why she didn’t want to be there when the cops showed up?”
“That’s my guess.” I lean a hip against my desk and continue. “And getthis, the books she writes are inspired by some of the biggest homicide cases in the Pacific Northwest.” I press my palm against the stack of documents in front of us. “I spoke with Christian earlier and he sent me everything he has on her.”
“Now,I’mintrigued,” he says, bringing two fingers to his chin. “Do you think she’s somehow connected to the ring, and that’s why they took her? Like, they know who her dad is?”
“I’m not sure yet what their exact motive was, or if they knew her father is part of law enforcement.”
“Or she was a random woman?” Sebastian folds his arms across his chest.
“Could be,” I agree. “Christian is working on discovering more about Hughes, so hopefully we can determine a better motive than their desire to get back at women in general.”
“I also thinkyouwanted more information about the woman from the cabin, as well.”
“Lux,” I correct him using her name.
The corner of his mouth quirks. “Yes.”
I sigh. “Fine. You’re right. I also wanted it for myself. Happy now?”
“Not until you say it.”
I roll my eyes, annoyed that he’s putting me on the spot like a young kid with a crush. “I think she’s attractive, but there’s more to her story. I know it.”
“And I bet you’re going to make it your mission to find out?”
I push off the glass edge and toward the door of my office. “The rest of the men are still out there. If they discover she’s still alive, they could capture her again.” I’m surprised by my desire to protect her. Have I somehow made it my responsibility? What makes her so different? “It’s about keeping her safe.”
Sebastian rises to his feet. I’m prepared for him to continue to push back, but he doesn’t. He might be concerned, but he lets it go. “You’re right.” His eyes flicker to the camera displaying Lux’s bedroom. “And we’ve only sunk our teeth into how to bring these guys down.”
“Exactly,” I agree.
This project will be the biggest and most complex one we’ve ever undertaken. Lone wolves are never a match for my team, but taking on a group of sick fucks will be a challenge.
Sebastian rubs the back of his neck, absorbing the information I’ve just told him. “When will Christian have another update?”
“He said in a few days,” I inform him, gesturing for him to follow me out the door.
“Going to her house?” he asks, even though he already knows the answer.
“Yes.”
Once we’re out of my office, I turn to set the security system attached to it.
“Still don’t trust me with your office?”
“I trust you with everything,” I reply. “But I don’t allow anyone in here without me. You know that.”
