Page 100 of Temptation
She craned her head to see that second agent. Another man she knew. Unlike Gage, however, Sloane actually liked this guy.
He flashed her a wide grin. “Hey, there, Sloane. I hear you’ve been digging up some trouble.”
“That shit is not funny, Dominic,” Gage snapped.
“Hi, Dom,” she returned. “Good to see you again.” She actually meant that. Dominic Rush was one of the best agents she’d ever met, and she wondered who he’d pissed off in order to be partnered up with Gage.
“How do you know Sloane?” Preston asked, his attention seemingly on Dominic but his body still positioned close to hers.
“Sloane helped me save some lives.” Dominic’s hands were loose near his sides. “I know how important she is.”
“So do I.” A distinct growl from Preston.
Okay, there was a lot of testosterone in the air. Preston could dial things back a few notches. She hadn’t ever been involved with Dom. Time to move on.
“We’re taking over the investigation in town,” Gage announced, clearly trying to gain control of the situation. “With the three attacks, it is evident that our target is accelerating. We can’t afford to have another vic, so I need full cooperation from you both?—”
“Three attacks?” Sloane cut in.
Gage nodded. “How about we take this inside?”
Her feet had locked to the spot. “You’re counting Preston and I as one attack, aren’t you? Our kidnapping as one event? Then Bridget’s abduction and death as the second incident?” If that was the case… “Who is the third vic?” Had they found another body? She began to talk, probably far too quickly. “I thought someone else must have been taken before Preston. The perp didn’t act like an amateur. Even in the security footage of the abduction, you can see that he’s confident. He doesn’t get rushed. Doesn’t even get flustered when I spring out to attack him.” That was what she’d seen in the video. Confidence. Calm. Someone…who had done this before.
Gage pursed his lips. Seemed to absorb what she’d said. After a long beat, he nodded. “I’m surprised Lily isn’t with you.”
That was not an appropriate response to what she’d said. “She’s with Atlas.” The man needed to let go of his obsession with Lily. Or else Atlas would wreck him. “Who was the third victim?”
“The third vic…” It was Dominic who stepped forward. “He’s talking about the sheriff, Sloane.”
She felt the shock roll through Preston.
“What?” Preston snarled.
“Sheriff Debra Tooni.” Gage nodded. “She’s at the hospital now, being evaluated.”
“Debra was attacked?” Fury hardened each word from Preston. “When?”
Gage and Dominic shared a long look, then Dom revealed, “When she was at the coroner’s office. She was attacked from behind. Responders on scene suspect she received a concussion. The perp knocked her out and closed her in one of the body storage lockers.”
Sloane felt her mouth drop open in shock.
“Luckily, one of her deputies heard her banging from inside the drawer. He got her out.” Gage waved one hand toward the house. “Now, again, how about we take this inside? There are questions that need to be asked, and I would prefer not to do our Q and A session on your doorstep.”
“I want to see Debra.” Preston made no attempt to let the agents into his home.
“And you can,” Gage assured him, “after the doctors finish with her. After we finish our interrogation.”
Interrogation. Oh, but that had been a deliberate word choice from Gage. She could see the look in his eyes when he stared at Preston. That was when she realized…
He knows.
He was staring at Preston with far too much knowledge in his gaze. That was the thing about FBI Agent Gage Emerick. He was a dick, but…
He knew his killers.
Her hand curled around Preston’s arm.
Noting the move and quirking a brow, Gage noted, “You found some remains recently, didn’t you, Sloane? I can’t wait to learn more about that discovery. Do tell me everything.”
