She kissed him and although he was clearly rushing it, the sentiment of everything he had just said did not escape her. She knew it was hard for him to be emotional and sincere. She rarely saw that side of him so when she did, she dared not question it.
Danielle walked back through the mostly open spaces of the old brick building that would soon be her bar-slash-lounge. It was hard to think of it as hers, but that was very much the case.
When she stepped outside, the sun seemed brighter than it had when she had gone in. She smiled, still trying to make sense of everything her life had become. She thought of Chloe again and made the decision to call her in the next few days. Everything else in her life was going so well, she may as well try repairing the tense relationship between her and Chloe, too.
She got into her car and headed back to Sams other barthe bar he had hired her to work in six months ago. She was so distracted by the thought of going away with him for the weekend that she didnt notice the car parked on the side of the street as it inched out into traffic behind her.
If she had noticed it, she might have recognized the driver, though she hadnt seen him in a very long time.
Still, did a daughter ever truly forget what the face of her father looked like?
CHAPTER FIVE
When Chloe and Moulton arrived at Garcias office, Director Johnson was already there, waiting for them. It appeared that he and Garcia had been looking through case files; Garcia had a few pulled up on his desktop screen while Johnson had a small pile of printouts in front of him.
Thanks for coming so quickly, Johnson said. Weve got a case out in Virginiaa small town on the other side of Fredericksburg, in an upscale neighborhood. And I should probably start with saying that the victims family has some very powerful political friends. Thats why weve been called in. Well, that and the gruesome nature of the death.
As Chloe took a seat at the small table in the back of Garcias office, she did her best not to seem too obvious that she was trying to create some distance between herself and Moulton. She knew that she was probably glowing, beaming from the way the night and the morning had gone. She wasnt sure how Johnson might react to any kind of relationship between them and she honestly didnt want to test it.
What are we looking at? Chloe asked.
Four days ago, a husband came home from work to find his wife dead, Garcia said. But it was more than that. She had not only been murdered, but brutally so. There were multiple stab woundssixteen by the coroners count. The crime scene was a messblood everywhere. Its unlike anything the local PD has ever seen.
He slid a folder over to Chloe with a look of warning on his face. Chloe took it and opened it slowly. She peered inside, saw just a flash of the crime scene photo, and then closed it just as quickly. Based on her one glimpse alone, it looked more like a slaughterhouse than a murder scene.
Who is the victims family friends with? Moulton asked. You said someone in politics, right?
Id really rather not give out that information, Johnson said. We dont want it to seem as if the bureau plays favorites when it comes to bipartisan matters.
Whats the level of local police involvement? Chloe asked.
Theyve kicked off a county-wide manhunt and have the State PD involved, Garcia said. But theyre being asked to keep it quiet. The local PD is understandably upset because they feel like were hindering a case that is already a bit outside of their comfort zone. So I need you to get down there as soon as you possibly can. Alsoand please listen closely: I thought of you two for this case because of how well youve worked together in the past. And Agent Fine, you seem to have a knack for this small-town, isolated community sort of crime. However, if the case itself and those crime scene photos make you feel uneasylike it might be a little too much for you to handle at this stage of your careerlet me know now. I wont judge and it wont count as any sort of mark against you.
Chloe and Moulton exchanged a look and she could see that he was just as eager as she was to take the case. Still, unable to help himself, Moulton took a look at what was inside the folder. He grimaced a bit as he flipped past the few crime scene photos and scanned the very brief report in the back. He then looked back over to Chloe and gave a nod.
Were good as far as Im concerned, Chloe said.
Same here, Moulton said. And I appreciate the opportunity.
Glad to hear it, Johnson said, getting to his feet. Im excited to see what you two can do. Nowget moving. Youve got some driving to do.
***Moulton was behind the wheel of the bureau car, heading off of the beltway and heading toward Virginia. Barnes Point was only an hour and twenty minutes away, but the Beltway made just about anywhere feel like it was on the other side of the planet.
You sure about this? he asked.
About which part?
Working together on a case like this. I meanwe were making out like two horny teenagers about ten hours ago. Will you be able to keep your hands off of me while were working?
Dont take this the wrong way, Chloe said, but after what I saw in that folder, doing that with you again is the farthest thing from my mind.
Moulton nodded his understanding. He veered off onto the next ramp, hit a straight stretch, and stepped on the gas. All jokes aside, thoughI enjoyed last night. Even before the part back at your place. And Id like to do it again. But with work
We should remain strictly professional, she finished for him.
Exactly. And, to that end, he said, sliding his iPad out of the hollowed center of the console, I downloaded the case files while you were packing.
Did you not pack?
You saw my bag. Yes, I packed. But Im quick about it. He shot her a cute little sly grin as he said this, indicating that she had perhaps taken a bit longer than he had expected. I didnt get a chance to look it over, though.
Ah, some light reading material, Chloe said.
They both chuckled and when Moulton rested his hand on her knee while she started to read the file, Chloe wasnt sure they would be able to keep it professional.
She perused the case files, reading the important parts out loud for Moulton. They found that Garcia and Johnson had done a fine job of summing it up. The police report was quite detailed, as well as the pictures. They were still no easier to look at and Chloe didnt blame the local PD. She figured any small-town police force might be out of their element on something this violent and bloody.
They shared thoughts and theories and by the time they passed a sign telling them that Barnes Point was fifteen miles away, Chloe had changed her mind. She thought they would be capable of working professionally together. She had spent the last few weeks so wrapped up in her physical attraction to him that she had nearly forgotten how sharp and intuitive he could be when it came to casework.
The idea then occurred to her that if they could truly make this work, she might have what just about every woman on the planet desired: a man who respected her as an equal in career and intellect but also in the bedroom.
Youre not even a day into this, a voice said in her head. Danielles voice again. Are you really getting all dreamy and ga-ga about it already? Jesus, you made out with him for a few hours and didnt even sleep together. You barely know him and