Had the UNSUB known Sloane would be there? Did he expect her to decode it? Did he know what she could do? And if he did
You know about my mothers case. What if you know about the program, too?
Lia, the lipstick. I tried to keep my voice steady, tried not to let the panic in my chest worm its way to the surface. The Rose Red lipstickwhere did you get it?
A few days ago, it had seemed benign: a cruel irony, but nothing more. Now
Lia?
I told you, Lia said, I bought it.
I hadnt recognized the lie the first time around.
Where did you get it, Lia?
Lia opened her mouth to dish out a retort, then closed it again. Her eyes studied mine. It was a gift, she said quietly. I dont know from who. Someone left a bag of makeup on my bed last week. I just assumed I had a makeup fairy. She paused.
Honestly, I thought it might be from Sloane.
I havent stolen makeup in months. Sloanes eyes were wide. My stomach lurched.
There was a chance that the UNSUB knew about the program.
The only people who would have been able to reconstruct my mothers crime scene so exactly, the only people who would have known about the blood on the light switch, were people who had access to the crime-scene photos.
And someone had left a tube of my mothers favorite lipstick on Lias bed.
Inside our house .
CHAPTER 34
I was going to go out on a limb and guess that was about as diplomatic as Lia got.
I need to call Agent Briggs, I said, and then I paused. I dont have his number.
Dean fished his phone out of his pocket. There are only four numbers in my contacts, he said. Briggs is one of them.
The other three were Locke, Lia, and Judd. My hands shaking, I dialed Agent Briggs.
No answer.
I called Locke.
Please answer. Please answer. Please, please answer .
Dean?
Like Agent Briggs, Locke didnt bother with hello.
No, I said. Its me.
Cassie? Is everything okay?
No, I said. It isnt.
Are you alone?
No.
Locke must have heard something in my voice, because she flipped into agent mode in a heartbeat. Can you talk openly?
I heard steps in the hallway. Agent Starmans opened the door without knocking, glared pointedly at Lia, then resumed standing guard, right outside the door.
Cassie, Locke said sharply. Can you talk?
I dont know.
I didnt know anything except for the fact that there was a very real possibility that the killer had been inside our housefor all I knew, the killer could be inside the house now. If the UNSUB had access to FBI files, if he had access to us
Cassie, I need you to listen to me. Hang up the phone. Tell whoevers around you that Im in the middle of something and Ill stop by the house as soon as Im done. Then take the phone, go to the bathroom, and call me back.
I did what she told me to do. I hung up the phone. I repeated her words to the rest of the roomand to Agent Starmans, who was standing right outside.
What did she say? Lia asked, her eyes locked on to my face, ready to call me out the second a lie passed my lips.
She said, Im in the middle of something, and Ill stop by the house as soon as Im done.
Technically, Agent Locke had said those exact words. I wasnt lyingand Id just have to take the chance that Lia wouldnt pick up any cues that I was withholding a chunk of the truth.
Are you okay? Dean asked.
Im going to the bathroom, I said, hoping theyd read that as me not wanting to admit that I wasnt okay. I walked out of the room without ever looking Michael in the eye.
The second I closed the bathroom door behind me, I locked it. I turned on the sink faucet, and then I called Agent Locke back.
Im alone, I said softly, letting the sound of running water mask my words for everyone but her.
Okay, Locke said. Now, take a deep breath. Stay calm. And tell me whats wrong.
I told her. She cursed softly under her breath.
Did you call Briggs? she asked.
I tried, I said. Hes not picking up his phone.
Cassie, I need to tell you something, and I want you to promise me that youre going to keep it together. Briggs is in a meeting with Director Sterling. We have reason to believe that there might be a leak in our unit. Until we get firm evidence to the contrary, we have to assume that your protection detail has been compromised. I need you to get out: quietly, quickly, and without drawing anyones attention.
I thought about Agent Starmans, out in the hallway, and about the other agents downstairs. Id been so caught up in the case I hadnt paid attention to them.
To any of them.
Ill call Starmans and the others, Locke said. I should be able to buy you a few minutes unguarded.
I have to get out of here, I said. The idea that the UNSUB might be one of the people who was supposed to protect me
You have to calm down, Locke said, her voice firm. You live in a house full of very perceptive people. If you panic, theyll know it.
Michael. She was talking about Michael.
He doesnt have anything to do with
this, I said.
I never said he did, Locke replied, but Ive known Michael for longer than you have, Cassie, and hes got a history of doing stupid things for girls. The last thing we need right now is someone playing hero.