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Once Stalked

CHAPTER THREE

As Riley followed Bill and Lucy down the hallway toward Chief Meredith’s office, she tried to figure out why she felt so unsettled. She couldn’t put her finger on just what was troubling her.

She realized that it was partly a sensation she was long since used to – that familiar heightened apprehension she got whenever she was about to get new orders.

But something else was mixed in with that feeling. It didn’t feel like fear or foreboding. She’d been on too many jobs in her career to be unduly worried about what was ahead.

It was something she barely recognized.

Is it relief? Riley wondered.

Yes, maybe that was it.

The ceremony and the reception had felt so bizarre and unreal, stirring up conflicting thoughts and waves of emotions.

Heading to Meredith’s office was familiar, comfortable … and it felt like an escape of sorts.

But an escape into what?

Doubtless into a well-known world of cruelty and evil.

Riley felt a shiver go up her spine.

What did it say about her that she was more comfortable with cruelty and evil than she was with celebration and praise?

She didn’t want to dwell on that question, and she tried to shake off that anxious feeling as she walked. But she couldn’t quite do it.

It seemed that she was feeling less and less comfortable in her own skin these days.

When Riley, Bill, and Lucy reached Meredith’s large office, the chief was standing beside his desk.

Someone else was already there – a young African-American woman with short straight hair and large, intense eyes. She stood up at the sight of Riley and her companions.

Meredith said, “Agents Paige, Jeffreys, and Vargas, I’d like you to meet Special Agent Jennifer Roston.”

Riley eyed the woman she’d spoken to on the phone right after solving the Matchbook Killer case. Jennifer Roston wasn’t tall, but she looked athletic and completely competent. The expression on her face was that of a woman who was secure in her own abilities.

Roston shook hands with each of them.

“I’ve heard great things about you,” Lucy told her.

“You’ve reset some records at the Academy,” Bill said.

Riley had also heard great things about Agent Roston. She already had an amazing reputation and had received some excellent commendations.

“I’m so honored to meet all of you,” Roston said with a sincere smile. Then, looking Riley straight in the eye, she added, “Especially you, Agent Paige. It’s great to meet you face to face.”

Riley felt flattered. She also felt a slight, nagging concern.

As they all made their way to chairs and sat down, Riley wondered what Roston was doing here today. Was Meredith going to put her on an assignment with Riley and her two colleagues?

The thought made Riley a little uneasy. She, Bill, and Lucy had built an excellent rapport, a seamless working relationship. Wouldn’t a new addition to their little team disrupt that, at least temporarily?

Meredith answered her question. “I wanted the three of you to meet Agent Roston because I’ve got her working on the Shane Hatcher case. The bastard has been at large for way too long. Headquarters has decided to make him a priority. It’s time to bring him in, and we need fresh eyes assigned to that specific case.”

Riley squirmed a little on the inside.

She already knew that Roston was working on the Hatcher case. In fact, that was what they had discussed over the phone. Roston had asked for access to Quantico’s computer files about Shane Hatcher, and Riley had given her that access.

But what was going on right now?

Surely Meredith hadn’t brought them all together to work on the Hatcher case. She wasn’t sure how much Meredith actually knew about her own connections with Hatcher. She would have been arrested if her boss was fully aware that she had let the escaped killer go because he’d helped her out.

She knew perfectly well Hatcher was probably up in the mountains hiding in the cabin she had inherited from her father – staying there with Riley’s full knowledge and approval.

How could she possibly even pretend to be trying to bring him to justice?

Bill asked Roston, “How is it going so far?”

Roston smiled.

“Oh, I’m just getting started – I’m only doing research at this point.”

Then looking at Riley again, Roston said, “I appreciate the access you gave me to all those files.”

“I’m glad to help out,” Riley said.

Roston squinted a little at Riley, her expression turning vaguely curious.

“Oh, it’s been a great help,” she said. “You’ve put a lot of information together. Even so – I thought there’d be more about Hatcher’s financial dealings.”

Riley suppressed a shudder as she remembered doing something rash right after that phone call.

Before giving Roston access to the Hatcher files, she’d deleted one called “THOUGHTS” – a file that not only contained Riley’s personal thoughts and observations about Hatcher, but also financial information that would likely lead to his capture. Or at least make it possible to cut off his resources.

What a crazy thing to do, Riley thought.

But it was done, and it couldn’t be undone even if she wanted to change that.

Riley now felt distinctly uneasy under Roston’s inquisitive gaze.

“He’s an elusive character,” Riley said to Roston.

“Yes, so I take it,” Roston said.

Roston’s eyes stayed locked on Riley’s.

Riley’s discomfort grew.

Does she already know something? Riley wondered.

Then Meredith said, “That will be all for now, Agent Roston. I’ve got another matter to discuss with Paige, Jeffreys, and Vargas.”

Roston got up and politely took her leave.

As soon as she was gone, Meredith said, “It looks like we’ve got a new serial case in Southern California. Someone has murdered three drill sergeants at Fort Nash Mowat. They were shot at long range by a skilled marksman. The most recent victim was killed early this morning.”

Riley was intrigued, but also a little surprised.

“Isn’t this more of a case for the Army Criminal Investigation Command?” she asked, noting the other name for the Army’s Criminal Investigation Division. She knew the CID typically investigated felony crimes that were committed within the US Army.

Meredith nodded.

“The CID is already working on it,” he said. “There’s a CID office in Fort Mowat, so they’re up and running. But as you know, Provost Marshal General Boyle is in charge of the CID. He called me a little while ago to ask the FBI to pitch in. This is looking to be an especially nasty case, with all kinds of negative PR repercussions. There’s going to be a lot of bad press and political pressure. The sooner it gets solved, the better for everybody.”

Riley wondered if this was a good idea. She’d never heard of the FBI and CID working together on a case. She worried that they might wind up stepping on each other’s toes, doing more harm than good.

But she didn’t raise any objection. It wasn’t up to her.

“So when do we head out?” Bill asked.

“ASAP,” Meredith said. “Do you have your go-bags here?”

“No,” Riley said. “I’m afraid I wasn’t expecting this so soon.”

“Then as soon as you can pack your things.”

Riley felt a sudden burst of alarm.

Jilly’s play is tonight! she thought.

If Riley left right now, she’d miss it.

“Chief Meredith – ” she began.

“Yes, Agent Paige?”

Riley stopped short. After all, the FBI had just given her an award and a raise. How could she back out of this now?

Orders are orders, she told herself firmly.

There was nothing she could do.

“Nothing,” she said.

“OK, then,” Meredith said, rising to his feet. “The three of you get moving. And solve this thing fast. Other cases are waiting.”

CHAPTER FOUR

Colonel Dutch Adams stood staring out his office window. He had a good view of Fort Nash Mowat from here. He could even see the field where Sergeant Worthing had been killed only this morning.

“Damn it to hell,” he muttered under his breath.

Less than two weeks ago Sergeant Rolsky had been killed in exactly the same way.

Then a week ago it was Sergeant Fraser.

And now it was Worthing.

Three good drill sergeants.

Such a stupid waste, he thought.

And so far, the agents from the Criminal Investigation Command hadn’t been able to crack the case.

Adams stood wondering …

How the hell did I wind up in charge of this place?

He’d had a good career overall. He wore his medals proudly – the Legion of Merit, three Bronze Stars, Meritorious Service Medals, a Meritorious Unit Commendation, and a hefty batch of others.

He looked back over his life as he stared out the window.

What were his best memories?

Surely his wartime service in Iraq, both in Operation Desert Storm and Operation Enduring Freedom.

What were his worst memories?

Possibly the academic grind of piling up enough degrees to get a commission.

Or maybe standing in front of classrooms giving lectures.

But even those weren’t as bad as running this place.

Driving a desk and filing reports and presiding over meetings – all that was the worst of it as far as he was concerned.

Still, at least he’d had the good times.

His career had come at a personal cost, though – three divorces and seven grown children who scarcely spoke to him anymore. He wasn’t even sure how many grandchildren he might have.

That was just how it had to be.

The Army had always been his true family.

But now, after all those years, he was feeling estranged even from the Army.

So how was his parting from military service going to feel in the end – like a happy retirement, or just another ugly divorce?

He breathed a bitter sigh.

If he achieved his final ambition, he’d retire as a brigadier general. Even so, he’d be all alone after he retired. But maybe it was just as well.

Maybe he could just quietly disappear – “fade away” like one of Douglas MacArthur’s proverbial “old soldiers.”

Or like some wild animal, he thought.

He’d been a hunter all his life, but couldn’t remember ever having run across the carcass of a bear or a deer or any other wild animal that had died of natural causes. Other hunters had told him the same thing.

What a mystery that had always been! Where did those wild creatures go to die and rot away?

He wished he knew, so he could go where they did when his time came.

Meanwhile, he had a hankering for a cigarette. It was a hell of a thing, not being able to smoke in his own office.

Just then his desk phone buzzed. It was his secretary in the outer office.

The woman said, “Colonel, I’ve got the provost marshal general on the line. He wants to talk to you.”

Colonel Adams felt a jolt of surprise.

He knew that the provost marshal general was Brigadier General Malcolm Boyle. Adams had never talked to him as far as he could remember.

“What’s it about?” Adams asked.

“The murders, I believe,” the secretary said.

Adams growled under his breath.

Of course, he thought.

The provost marshal general in Washington was in charge of all Army criminal investigations. Doubtless he’d gotten word that the investigation here was lagging.

“OK, I’ll talk to him,” Adams said.

He took the call.

Adams immediately disliked the sound of the man’s voice. It was too soft for his taste, didn’t have the proper bark for a high-ranking officer. Nevertheless, the man vastly outranked Adams. He had to at least feign respect.

Boyle said, “Colonel Adams, I just wanted to give you a heads-up. Three FBI agents from Quantico will be arriving there soon to help with the murder investigation.”

Adams felt a surge of irritation. As far as he was concerned, he already had too many agents working on it. But he managed to keep his voice calm.

“Sir, I’m not sure I understand why. We’ve got our own Criminal Investigation Command office right here at Fort Mowat. They’re on the case.”

Boyle’s voice sounded a little tougher now.

“Adams, you’ve had three murders in less than three weeks. It sure sounds to me like you folks could use a little help.”

Adams’s frustration was growing by the second. But he knew he mustn’t show it.

He said, “Respectfully, sir, I don’t know why you’re calling me with this news. Colonel Dana Larson is the CID commander here at Fort Mowat. Why aren’t you calling her first?”

Boyle’s reply took Adams completely aback.

“Colonel Larson contacted me. She asked for me to call in the BAU to help. So I put in a call and arranged it.”

Adams was aghast.

That bitch, he thought.

Colonel Dana Larson seemed to do everything she could to annoy him at every opportunity.

And what was a woman doing in charge of a CID office anyway?

Adams did his best to swallow down his disgust.

“I understand, sir,” he said.

Then he ended the call.

Colonel Adams was seething now. He banged his fist against his desk. Didn’t he have any say in what went on in this place?

Still, orders were orders, and he had to comply.

But he didn’t have to like it – and he didn’t have to make anybody comfortable.

He growled aloud.

Never mind people getting killed.

Things were going to get very ugly.

CHAPTER FIVE

As she drove Jilly, April, and Gabriela home, Riley couldn’t bring herself to tell them she was heading out right away. She was going to miss Jilly’s very first major event, a starring role in a play. Would the girls be able to understand that she was under orders?

Even after they all got home, Riley couldn’t tell them.

She burned inside with shame.

Today she’d earned a medal for perseverance, and in the past she’d been honored for valor and bravery. And of course, her daughters had been in the audience watching her receive her medal.

But she sure didn’t feel like much of a hero.

The girls headed outside to play in the backyard, and Riley went up to her bedroom and started packing her things. It was a familiar routine. The trick was to pack a small bag with enough necessities to last for a couple of days or a month.

While she was laying things out on her bed, she heard Gabriela’s voice.

“Señora Riley – what are you doing?”

Riley turned and saw Gabriela standing in the doorway. The housekeeper was holding a stack of clean linen that she was about to put in the hall closet.

Riley stammered, “Gabriela, I’ve – I’ve got to go.”

Gabriela’s mouth dropped open.

“Go? Where?”

“I’ve been assigned to a new case. In California.”

“Can’t you go tomorrow?” Gabriela asked.

Riley swallowed hard.

“Gabriela, the FBI plane is waiting right now. I’ve got to go.”

Gabriela shook her head.

She said, “It is good to fight evil, Señora Riley. But sometimes I think you lose sight of what’s good.”

Gabriela disappeared into the hallway.

Riley sighed. Since when did Riley pay Gabriela to be her conscience?

But she couldn’t complain. It was a job that Gabriela was getting to be all too good at.

Riley stood staring at her unfinished packing.

She shook her head and whispered to herself …

“I can’t do this to Jilly. I just can’t.”

All of her life she had sacrificed her kids for work things. Every time. Not once had she put her kids first.

And that, she realized, was what was wrong with her life. That was a part of her darkness.

She was brave enough to face down a serial killer. But was she brave enough to put work on the back burner and make her kids’ lives her number one priority?

At this very moment, Bill and Lucy were getting ready to fly out to California.

They were expecting to meet her at the Quantico airstrip.

Riley sighed miserably.

There was only one way to solve this problem – if she could solve it at all.

She had to try.

She took out her cell phone and dialed Meredith’s private number.

At the sound of his gruff voice, she said, “Sir, this is Agent Paige.”

“What’s the matter?” Meredith asked.

There was a note of concern in his voice. Riley understood why. She had never used this number except in dire circumstances.

She gathered up her nerve and came right to the point.

“Sir, I would like to delay my trip to California. Just for tonight. Agents Jeffreys and Vargas can go ahead of me.”

After a pause, Meredith asked, “What’s your emergency?”

Riley gulped. Meredith wasn’t going to make this easy.

But she was determined not to lie.

In a shaky voice she stammered, “My younger daughter, Jilly – she’s in a school play tonight. She’s – she’s playing the lead.”

The silence that fell was deafening.

Did he just hang up on me? Riley wondered.

Then with a growl Meredith said, “Would you repeat that, please? I’m not sure I heard you correctly.”

Riley stifled a sigh. She was sure that he’d heard her perfectly well.

“Sir, this play is important to her,” she said, growing more nervous by the second. “Jilly’s – well, you know I’m trying to adopt her. She’s had a hard life, and she’s coming out of a very difficult time and her feelings are very delicate and…”

Riley’s voice faded off.

“And what?” Meredith asked.

Riley swallowed hard.

“I can’t disappoint her, sir. Not this once. Not today.”

Another grim silence fell.

Riley was starting to feel more determined.

“Sir, it won’t make any difference in the case,” she said. “Agents Jeffreys and Vargas will go ahead of me, and you know how capable they are. They can get me up to speed when I do get out there.”

“And when would that be?” Meredith asked.

“Tomorrow morning. Early. I’ll head for the airport as soon as the play’s over. I’ll take the first flight I can get.”

After another pause, Riley added, “I’ll go on my own dime.”

She heard Meredith grunt a little.

“You certainly will, Agent Paige,” he said.

Riley gasped and caught her breath.

He’s giving me permission!

She suddenly realized that she’d barely been breathing during the conversation.

It took a lot of effort not to burst out into uncontrolled gales of gratitude.

She knew Meredith wouldn’t like that at all. And the last thing she wanted was for him to change his mind.

So she simply said, “Thank you.”

She heard another grunt.

Then Meredith said, “Tell your daughter to break a leg.”

He ended the call.

Riley breathed a sigh of relief, then glanced up and saw that Gabriela was standing in the doorway again, smiling.

She’d obviously been listening to the whole call.

“I think you are growing up, Señora Riley,” Gabriela said.

*

Sitting in the audience with April and Gabriela, Riley was thoroughly enjoying the school play. She’d forgotten how charming events like this could be.

The middle-school kids were all dressed in makeshift costumes. They had painted flat scenery to look like scenes from the story of Demeter and Persephone – fields full of flowers, a volcano in Sicily, the dank caverns of the Underworld, and other mythical places.

And Jilly’s acting was simply wonderful!

She played Persephone, the young daughter of grain goddess Demeter. Riley found herself remembering the familiar story as it unfolded.

Persephone was outside picking flowers one day when Hades, the god of the Underworld, rode by in his chariot and snatched her away. He took her down into the Underworld to be his queen. When Demeter realized what had happened to her daughter, she wailed with sorrow.

Riley felt chills at how convincingly the girl playing Demeter expressed her grief.

At that point, the story started getting to Riley in a way she hadn’t expected.

Persephone’s story seemed eerily like Jilly’s own. After all, it was the story of a girl who lost part of her childhood to forces much greater than herself.

Riley felt herself tearing up.

She knew the rest of the story very well. Persephone would regain her freedom, but only for half of every year. Whenever Persephone was gone, Demeter let the earth grow cold and dead. Whenever she came back, she brought the earth back to life, and springtime came again.

And that was how seasons had come into the world.

Riley squeezed April’s hand and whispered, “Here comes the sad part.”

Riley was surprised to hear April giggle.

“Not so sad,” April whispered back. “Jilly told me they changed the story a little. Just watch.”

Riley sat and paid close attention.

Fully in character as Persephone, Jilly cracked Hades over the head with a Grecian urn – actually a pillow in disguise. Then she stormed out of the Underworld and back to her overjoyed mother.

The boy playing Hades threw an enormous tantrum and brought winter to the world. He and Demeter then fought a tug-of-war, changing the seasons from winter to spring and back again, and so on again and again for the rest of time.

Riley was delighted.

When the play ended, Riley led the way backstage to congratulate Jilly. On their way, she ran into the teacher who had directed the play.

“I love what you did with the story!” Riley told the teacher. “It was so refreshing to see Persephone turned from a helpless victim to an independent heroine.”

The teacher smiled broadly.

“Don’t thank me,” she said. “It was Jilly’s idea.”

Riley rushed over to Jilly and gave her a big hug.

“I’m so proud of you!” Riley said.

“Thanks, Mom,” Jilly said, smiling happily.

Mom.

The word echoed through Riley. It meant more to her than she could say.

*

Later that night when they were all at home, Riley finally had to tell the girls she was leaving. She poked her head in Jilly’s door.

Jilly was fast asleep, exhausted from her great success. Riley loved the look of contentment on her face.

Then Riley went to April’s bedroom and looked in on her. April was sitting up in bed reading a book.

April looked up at her mother.

“Hey, Mom,” she said. “What’s up?”

Riley stepped quietly into the room.

She said, “This is going to seem weird but … I’ve got to leave right now. I’ve been assigned to a case in California.”

April smiled.

She said, “Jilly and I both pretty much guessed that was what your meeting back in Quantico was all about. And then we saw that go-bag on your bed. We actually thought you were going to leave before her play. You usually don’t pack it unless you’re out the door.”

She stared at Riley, her smile widening.

“But then you stayed,” she added. “I know you delayed the trip, at least for the play. Do you know how much that meant to us?”

Riley felt herself tear up. She leaned forward and the two of them embraced.

“So it’s OK if I go, then?” Riley asked.

“Sure, it’s OK. Jilly told me she hoped you’d catch some bad guys. She’s really proud of what you do, Mom. So am I.”

Riley felt moved beyond words. Both of her daughters were growing up so fast. And they were becoming really amazing young women.

She kissed April on the forehead.

“I love you, dear,” she said.

“I love you too,” April said.

Riley wagged her finger at April.

“Now what are you doing up?” she said. “Turn off that light and go to sleep. It’s a school night.”

April giggled and turned off the light. Riley went to her own bedroom to get her bag.

It was after midnight and she had to drive to DC in time for a commercial flight.

It was going to be a long night.